What is Shoring in Construction?
Shoring is a common construction term. A civil engineering technique, the Encyclopedia Britannica defines shoring as a ‘form of prop or support, usually temporary, that is used during the repair or original construction of buildings and in excavations.’ This form of temporary support may be required in various scenarios to support a weaker or unstable structure. For example, supports may be required during deep excavations to prevent soil from collapsing inwards.
Examples of Where Shoring Is Used
Shoring techniques are used in constructions, excavations, demolitions, and even during the remodelling of a property. The main reason behind using these techniques is to ensure the safety of the construction site and its workers. Some examples of its use include,
- To repair walls that have cracked due to unequally settled foundations.
- To prevent cave-ins during excavation works.
- Providing support to party walls while other load-bearing structures are removed or replaced.
- To support adjacent structures during demolitions.
- To support the upper part of a wall while creating an opening in the lower part.
- To support a roof when a support wall is being replaced by a beam.
Shoring is also used as a temporary fix in unstable buildings until repairs can be carried out.
What are the Different Types of Shoring Methods?
Shoring may be hydraulic or pneumatic. Hydraulic shoring methods are usually considered safer and are hence more popularly used. Depending on the work at hand, aluminum or timber is used to create shoring systems.
Types of Shoring
How shoring is installed is dependent on the project at hand. Some of the best-known types of shoring include:
- Raking shoring
- Flying shoring
- Dead shoring
- Soldier Pile and Sheet Pile Shoring
1. Raking Shoring
Rakers are used to giving temporary lateral support to unsafe walls. Timbers slope between the structure to be supported and the ground at precise angles, typically meeting the wall at an angle of 60 to 70 degrees. The number of timbers varies depending on the size of the structure to be supported. Wall plates on the timbers are used to increase the area of support.
2. Flying Shoring
Flying shores provide support to parallel walls of two adjacent buildings where the building in between has to be rebuilt or demolished to prevent their collapse. A flying shore consists of wall plates, struts, staining pieces, horizontal shores, needles wedges and cleats.
3. Dead Shoring
Also known as vertical shoring, it is used while rebuilding the lower part of a defective load-bearing wall or rebuilding or deepening existing foundations. It contains an arrangement of posts and beams to support the weight of a structure above.
4. Soldier Pile and Sheet Pile Shoring
These forms of shoring are used during excavations typically for slope stabilization, remediation or earth retention. Sheet piles are useful when going below the level of groundwater during excavations. Soldier piles involve the use of H or I shaped structures that are vertically driven or drilled into the earth at regular intervals prior to excavation. Sheet pile shoring uses continuous vertical sheets to provide effective retention for both earth and water.
Whether you need to carry out demolitions in an eco-sensitive zone or an erosion and sediment control plan, North Construction has the expertise to install the perfect shoring for your project and provide end-to-end construction management expertise.
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