Eiffel 101: Advantages of Slide Rail Shoring Systems

Slide rail shoring is a type of modular component shoring system that’s used in place of driven tight sheeting or build-in-place timber shoring systems. Slide rail shoring is unique in that it employs a “dig and push” installation method that allows for quick, efficient setup. Furthermore, this dig and push method can reduce cave-ins and trench collapse that might occur during the excavation, and which is common in other excavation methods.

Slide Rail Shoring System Overview

Slide rail shoring systems can be used for a wide range of applications and provide enhanced safety for both personnel and those in nearby structures. When used properly, these systems allow for exceptional pipe clearance and large free span work zones. Rolling carts can be moved up and down the spreader assemblies as needed for the placement of equipment, and to change the free span work zone provided by the system.

Slide rail systems allow for flexibility, especially when encountering crossing utilities or underground obstacles. Many of the components of these systems are designed to allow for safe and quick installation of protective systems around such obstacles so that a project can continue without large time delays or costly disruptions.

Slide Rail Shoring Applications

Slide rail shoring systems are designed for a wide range of applications. These systems can be used on a variety of job sites, including:

• Tank installations

• Restricted areas

• Areas with poor soil conditions

• Areas that are sensitive to vibration

• Near rail roads

• Soil remediation

• Bore pits

• Pump stations

• Cast-in-place

• Linear pipeline runs

Safety Advantages of Slide Rail Shoring

Excavation work can be hazardous to laborers, and cave-ins have been known to take place even after safety precautions are taken. Shoring systems can be used to reinforce trench walls and prevent cave-ins during excavations.
Slide rail shoring is comprised of vertical steel posts and steel panels, similar to those of a trench box. A four-sided pit system is created when the panels slide into the posts. The posts and panels are slowly pushed into the pit as the site is being excavated, and as the site grows deeper, the slide rail system is also pushed deeper. Due to this gradual installation, trench wall loss can be prevented, which works to prevent cave-ins.

Without the use of a slide rail shoring system, cave-ins and worker injury would be more commonplace, as would the potential risk of injury for pedestrians and those in nearby structures; if the cave-in is large enough, it has the potential to impact wider zones, upsetting the integrity of nearby buildings or disrupting traffic near the construction size. Each of these things can lead to more damage and injury, either at the moment of the cave-in or later. Worker safety is a top priority on any construction site, but especially during excavations, as these are some of the most dangerous work zones. By utilizing slide rail shoring, common excavation setbacks can be avoided and worker injury circumvented.

Project Advantages of Slide Rail Shoring

Slide rail shoring systems are engineered to save contractors time and money. When compared to traditional tight sheeting, sloping or complex trench shield assemblies, a slide rail shoring system comes with a number of benefits.

Slide Rail Shoring Provides More Clearance than Standard Trench Shields

Trench shields are usually constructed with sidewalls of varying thickness and are held apart by spreaders, which can be interchanged to match the width of the trench. Trench shields have a maximum clearance that they can withstand without buckling. Slide rail shoring provides more clearance than standard trench shields.

Slide Rail Shoring Minimizes Site Restoration Costs

After a project is complete, trenches must be backfilled and the site restored. By using slide rail shoring, site restoration costs can be reduced.

Slide Rail Shoring Enables Smaller Excavators

Slide rail shoring is a durable, modular component system that allows workers to push the system in place while digging the excavation to depth. Due to its design, the components of a slide rail shoring system require only smaller, more accessible machines during installation and removal than those needed to dig the same excavation using tight sheeting or trench shields. Furthermore, the individual components of a slide rail system are lighter and easier to handle than large trench shields.

Slide Rail Shoring Decreases Labor Time

Due to the ease and efficiency of its design, slide rail shoring decreases the overall installation and removal times of the system.

Slide Rail Shoring Controls Ground Subsidence

Land subsidence is a gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth's surface. Subsidence is caused due to underground material movement such as the removal of water, oil, natural gas, or mineral resources out of the ground by pumping, fracking, or mining activities. Slide rail shoring is effective in controlling ground subsidence.

Buy and Sell with Eiffel Trading

Eiffel Trading is the prime source for used and new heavy civil equipment and materials. Our equipment inventory includes used shoring equipment including used slide rail systems, used shoring towers, and used trench boxes, among many others. In addition, we house a wide-range of material inventory ranging from used hdpe pipe, to used steel plates, to brand new h-pile beams.

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Ready to sell your used heavy equipment or construction material? List your products today for free on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.