What Is Shoring?

Shoring is a system used to support a structure to prevent it from collapsing during construction. Usually, shoring is employed during building alterations, repairs, or when there is a risk of structure failure.

Shoring is most commonly used during the earliest phases of construction, when walls are undergoing reinforcement, when there are large openings in a wall (such as a doorway or archway that is being built), and when a nearby structure needs to be demolished (to prevent the shored building from crumbling along with it). Shoring is also utilized during excavations in order to reinforce trenches; trenches are notoriously unstable and can cave in, but shoring a trench can help stabilize the walls and keep workers safe.

Shoring vs. Scaffolding

Though both are temporary systems used during construction, shoring and scaffolding are not the same. Scaffolding is a structure that provides support for workers. When a scaffolding is in place, workers can stand on its platforms to carry out tasks such as painting, plastering, and bricklaying. In contrast, shoring is only used to support a structure and to prevent collapse. Shoring is not meant to be stood upon by workers.

What Type of Structures Do Shoring Support?

Shoring systems support two main types of structures: buildings and trenches.

For buildings, there are several types of shoring, including raking shores and foundation shores. In the case of raking shores, inclined members called rakers give temporary lateral support to an unsafe wall. For building foundations, a shoring system such as piles and lagging support the surrounding loads until the underground levels of the building are completed and can bear the weight of the rest of the building.

For trenches, there are three main types of shoring systems: hydraulic shoring (employing the use of hydraulic pistons that can be pumped outward to press against the trench walls); beams and plate shoring (created from steel I-beams); and soil nailing (where the trench is reinforced with relatively slender elements, such as steel reinforcing bars). In all cases, trench shoring is meant to steady the trench walls to prevent cave-ins.

What are the Benefits of Shoring?

Shoring supports trench walls and prevents structure collapse. Shoring systems are used as a preventative measure to hold unstable structures in place while construction is underway. Shoring also prevents trench cave-ins, which is vital to the safety of workers.

If a site collapses, it’s not only dangerous to workers, but it can cause delays, which puts the contractor behind schedule. Shoring a trench or building helps ensure that a project runs smoothly.
Shoring reduces costs. Collapsed excavations lead to damage and loss of work. By preventing such collapses, shoring ensures the efficiency of workers and prevents wasted resources and delays that inevitably result from a collapse.

Finally, shoring gives workers peace of mind. When working on an unstable building or in a trench, workers don't have to worry about structure collapse or cave-ins, meaning they can do their jobs with less stress and a better working environment.

Buy and Sell with Eiffel Trading

In addition to used shoring towers and used slide rail systems, Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace sells additional equipment including used concrete formwork, used pile breakers, and more. When it comes to used materials, our inventory ranges from used f-shape barrier wall, to used steel pipe pile, to used hdpe pipe, and everything in between.

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