Should I slope, or should I use trench shoring & shielding equipment?
Contractors and utilities often ask the TrenchSafety staff this very question. We have created this Sloping Calculator (for soil) to provide you with the excavation requirements with each method.
As always, the safety of your employees is the most important consideration.
Enter the following information:
One or more of the values you typed are outside the range of this calculator. Please call TrenchSafety -- (800) 865-5802 -- for help with this trench.
1. Type of soil
A
B
C
2. Depth of trench:
Maximum allowed value is 25 feet. (See Note 1 below)
3. Width of trench, at the bottom:
Maximum allowed value is 15 feet.
4. Length of trench:
feet
Typical Drawing
For illustration purposes only. Not to scale.
Comparison Data
Sloping Results (See Note 2 below)
Shielding Results
Slope Angle
1 ½ : 1 (H:V) or 34°
0°
Volume to be removed, stored, and replaced
0 cubic yards
(the volume inside the blue dotted lines in the drawing)
0 cubic yards
(the volume inside the solid orange area in the drawing)
Width of trench, at top
4 feet
(including the OSHA-required 2-foot set-back on each side for spoil and equipment)
4 feet
(including the OSHA-required 2-foot set-back on each side for spoil and equipment)
If you choose to use an installable protective system (for example, trench shield, hydraulic shoring, or a slide rail system), only 0 cubic yards of
material will have to be excavated, temporarily stored, and replaced. That's a % reduction from sloping. Also, surface restoration
costs will be lower, and the overall job will take less time.
Note 1 — When sloping at depths greater than 20 feet, OSHA says that a Registered Professional Engineer, licensed in the state where the work is to be performed, must determine the proper angle of slope. See OSHA's Subpart P, Excavations, for requirements.
Note 2 — These are the MINIMUM SLOPING REQUIREMENTS, including the OSHA-required spoil and equipment set-backs. Additional material may need to be excavated, as determined by the onsite Competent Person, to provide a safe workplace.
Note 3 — Construction techniques and equipment usage must be in accordance with all governmental
regulations and manufacturer's instructions. All orders placed with TrenchSafety, including training, are subject to the terms, conditions, and warranty limitations in TrenchSafety's rental and sales agreements.
