Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
(OP)
We have a plan to excavate to a depth of about 7' below grade for building foundations. The excavations are 45'-70' wide and about 10' from a roadway. They are from 70'-200' long (one of the sites will be a multi-family complex). The buildings are slab-on-grade and the deep excavations are really to compensate for soft soils.
This is, of course, not a trench situation but I would assume that OSHSA requirements for excavations over 4' deep would apply. Is there any situation where shoring (or benching, sloping,et) would not be required? Could we fill to within 4' of grade and remove the shoring?
Also - the proximity to the roadway may be a concern. We are planning for, at a mimimum, saftey fence but would chain link be more appropriate for fall protection and general pedestrian safety? Would jersey barriers be required to 'protect' or vehicular traffic? Any standards for barriers between construction sites and pedestrian/vehicular traffic.
This is, of course, not a trench situation but I would assume that OSHSA requirements for excavations over 4' deep would apply. Is there any situation where shoring (or benching, sloping,et) would not be required? Could we fill to within 4' of grade and remove the shoring?
Also - the proximity to the roadway may be a concern. We are planning for, at a mimimum, saftey fence but would chain link be more appropriate for fall protection and general pedestrian safety? Would jersey barriers be required to 'protect' or vehicular traffic? Any standards for barriers between construction sites and pedestrian/vehicular traffic.





RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
Yes, you would not necessarily need sheeting if you can safely open cut the site according to OSHA regulations.
Check local DOT standards for traffic barrier requirements. However, as singingk said, you have not provided enough information for anyone to give you proper advice.
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
I have been around numerous excavations where the contractor has taken upon himself the work without any substantial shoring. This is bad practice, but it does give rise to a practical question of when, if at all, one could safely excavate in these conditions. It would seem a question of degree of risk (and not a safe gamble!), for a contractor to undertake any work without proper shoring. I could see in a rocky situation that it may be possible, but given the soft soil it defies logic that the excavations could stay open for any appreciable amount of time.
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
www.osha.
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
RE: Shoring Requirmenets for Building Excavation
Anyway, for the question of shoring or not shoring, engage your geotechnical engineer to run slope stability analysis for various side slope configurations. Specialty laboratory testing will be required. Use OSHA requirements for the starting point for slope configurations.