Protecting deep, long or irregular excavations is a job in itself. Crews can easily spend days or weeks welding walers and chairs for steel beam bracing. The work is hot, time-consuming and hazardous. In some cases, there’s a better solution.
High-load-capacity modular hydraulic bracing systems, available for rent, can help contractors save time, money and effort while boosting safety. These systems can replace traditional support systems and eliminate the need for welding in many applications, including cofferdams, basements, bridge abutments and tunnels. Additionally, they reduce materials costs and waste.
With these systems, companies can often begin work inside the excavation sooner.
What is a modular hydraulic bracing system?
Modular hydraulic bracing systems run the perimeter of an excavation. They consist of an adjustable hydraulic ram unit with up to a meter of adjustment connected by pins to extension sections, available in different lengths, from 1 to 12 meters. The hydraulic rams utilize water-based, biodegradable fluid to alleviate hazardous contaminant concerns. They’re often used as part of a sheet pile bracing system, or in conjunction with slurry walls, or beam and lag walls. The system hangs from chains anchored to the tops of the sheet piles or to higher-level braces. The corners can be adjusted at different angles as needed to fit irregularly shaped excavations.
United Rentals can assemble sections prior to delivery that would be installed with a crane or excavator to minimize on-site assembly and labor, or deliver short, manageable sections to be connected onsite.
To support large excavations, modular hydraulic braces can be used in conjunction with high-load-capacity hydraulic struts. These struts require little to no fabrication or welding and come in a range of load capacities, from 150 tons to as large as 750 tons. The MP750, which can handle loads up to 7,355 kN, is the largest hydraulic strut available in the continental United States, only from United Rentals, according to the manufacturer. Load pins can be installed to allow wireless monitoring of the load.
A complete hydraulic bracing and struts system can support a number of excavation length and width dimensions ranging from 10 feet to 100-plus feet.
Benefits of modular hydraulic shoring
Time, minimizing material waste and safety are the major benefits of these versatile, high-tech solutions. By largely eliminating the need for welding, a hydraulic shoring system can keep workers out of harm’s way while reducing shoring time by as much as two-thirds.
Removing a modular hydraulic bracing system is relatively easy. Thanks to the modular nature of the system, it can be removed with relatively light-duty equipment.
Engineered plans are a must
Designing a hydraulic shoring and bracing system for the excavation and the anticipated load is a job for registered professional engineers. United Rentals is a leader in the use of hydraulic shoring and bracing systems in the U.S. and is adept at developing engineered plans for even the most complex environments. Once the system is designed, United Rentals can help ensure that it’s installed according to the plan.
With its extensive inventory of hydraulic shoring and bracing equipment and engineering expertise, United Rentals can quickly provide systems and components that increase shoring productivity and deliver savings to the bottom line.
United Rentals is the largest rental equipment provider in North America. Backed by a dedicated Trench Safety team with experience and expertise, the company is ready to help tackle any job big or small.
800-UR-RENTS (800-877-3687) | unitedrentals.com/trench
