Bracing walls in a trench?

I need to set a drainage pipe. The deepest part of it will be about 7 or 8 feet and then tapering down to grade. Other than renting bracing for the walls, does anyone have recommendations for what types of materials I would need, how to install it, and perhaps what are the best soil conditions for the trench not collapsing (dry, wet or somewhere in between)? Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

Christopher

don't go down in a ditch that deep without a certified trench brace or what ever they call it . it always looks fine until it caves . rent one if you can .

Would you be able to step the banks back. If you are 8 foot deep step the top 4 foot of bank back 4 feet. Could amount ot a lot of digging. But if you are digging 8 foot deep the equipment you will be using should be able to handle the task. Limiting factor may be the worksite.

DO NOT DO NOT try to go in a trench that deep with out over digging or using a slip box.rule of thumb is 1 foot down 2 ft. wide so at 7 ft. down 14 ft wide. anyone not doing that for me will be looking for a new job.....

I have worked in Water line and sewer line construction as an operator for several yrs, I would suggest that you see a contractor that does this kind of work, maybe you can rent or borrow a trench box, as you probanly allready know this is very dangerious work with out a box. you will need a piece of equipment to pull the box along as you dig and lay the pipe,make sure the pipe layer stays in the box when laying pipe, come out the top instead of at the ends. If I can answer any more questions don't hesitate to contact me. Dry conditions are best

Yes, our Fire Company, and others have rescued a bunch of people from trench collapse! Some went on to live their lucky lives out, and some didn't.
Trouble with trench collapse--there ain't any warning! And, if the dirt reaches your chest-better hope your life insurance is paid up!
Also, you might survive the initial collapse, but they don't stop there. The dirt keeps sliding into the hole, and first thing ya know, yer covered up. Lots of trouble breathing, after that! Yes, a trench box seems like a lot of bother putting one in, but, once the dirt starts to slide in--its too late!

DO LISTEN TO MARLOWE!!!! Do not even attempt to do any kind of temporary shoring. If you can"t dig the 2 to 1 ratio bank slope then hire someone with the proper equipment and experience to do that kind of job.... To attempt to do anything different is a death wish. Phil

Just wondering. Are you the Friedell Hinton from Axtel Ky? Thats a rather uncommon name , so just guessing you must the one I know. If so, just thought I would say hello.
Joe Payne

This just happened last week.

SALEM TWP. - A man was rescued and flown to a hospital and another man died when a trench about seven to eight feet collapsed at a camp ground construction site Thursday morning.



click image to enlargeFamily members of the victims of a trench accident console one another at the scene of the incident.

Aimee Dilger / The Times Leader


click image to enlarge
Gary Visgaitis / Times Leader graphic

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store
Ann Yalowe, of Berwick, said her uncle, Steve Bodnar, was one of two men buried when the trench collapsed at the Bodnarosa Motel and Camp Site at state Route 11 and Confers Lane just before 9 a.m.

Yalowe said Bodnar owned the land and was building small log cabins and a motel.

Rescue crews from multiple departments worked tirelessly for more than an hour to remove Bodnar from the collapsed trench.. He was transported by Berwick Ambulance at about 10:22 a.m. to Geisinger Life Flight and flown to a hospital.

"It feels good that my uncle is doing okay," Yalowe said. "I'm trying to stay strong."

Yalowe said the man who died was an employee.

The Luzerne County Coroner's Office identified the deceased man as 35-year old James Berry, of Berwick. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning.

Salem Township fire fighter Travis Petty said the trench that collapsed is about six to eight feet deep.

"There were a couple of guys working in the trench that collapsed around them," Petty said. "There is one that expired."

Petty said one of the difficulties in the rescue was making sure the trench was secure.

Rescue crews placed make-shift boards and planks along the trench wall to shore it up.

"We had to make scene secure and safe; shore up the trench and started digging and doing everyone we could," Petty said.

There are two trenches at the construction site being dug for underground utilities and pipes. The trench that collapsed is along a hillside while the other trench is closer to Route 11 and measures about five to six feet deep, and 10 feet by 15 feet wide.

Route 11 was closed for nearly three hours and has reopened. Reports indicate there is a three to four mile backup in the southbound lanes of Route 11.

POSTED: 10:07 a.m.

SALEM TWP. - One person has died and another was seriously injured when a trench collapsed at a construction site just off state Route 11 Thursday morning.

The Luzerne County Coroner's Office have been called to the scene where the Bodnarosa Camp Site is under construction near the intersection of Confers Lane.

The trench

What kind of drainage pipe?
With a good hoe operator using a laser one can lay plastic drainage tile without ever getting down in the trench. Connections if needed can be done on top if you don't need a tee in the deep part.

I am going to be building a root cellar/ storm shelter sometime this year and would like to have a gravity drain in it so I don't have to run a sump pump. Depending on how deep I make the cellar, I would have to go about 60-80 feet to allow the proper drop on the drain line. I was going to hire a backhoe to dig the hole for the cellar and the drain at the same time. I guess I probably don't have to be too meticulous with the slope but rather drop the drain pipe in and make sure it is generally running downhill.

Christopher

I dig for a living so listen to everyone DON'T do it.............. Have an expierenced contractor do it. Jim

If the operator can give you a couple of inches of slope a clod or two will not cause a problem. You can always poke a clod or small stone out of the way with a 2"x 4" from on top. The guy with the hoe will help you out and back fill after the drain has been dropped in place. 60 80 feet is not a big job.

did not read others posts,.. JUST Be Careful ,OK... Lost a fine cousin back in 1975 to a cave-in ,,, he could do anything with a piece of heavy equipment ... jan 2008,fella that knew what he was doing was crushed in a ditch that slid over .... these things can happen to the best ...

As has been said, it's best to get an expert to do that work. There's NO way to tell how stable those walls will be. As a certified Rescue tech., I will tell you the temporary shoring you would have to use would be too expensive and time consuming to be worth it.

Yes, Jim, Chris Hauswald had done some work for our family not long before...and he was about as experienced as anyone around here on that type of work. But it happens.

I did one quite similar. I had a trench about 50 feet long and 8 to 14 feet deep. I dug the trench with a backhoe, put about 6 inches of sand in the bottom. Then I pulled a 2x8 along the bottom to level the sand. I glued the 4 inch PCV pipe together and then lowered it in the trench. No one had to enter the trench.

Laying a pipe down there without a trench box would be penny wise and pound foolish. The cost of the trench box is pennies compared to what can happen if the trench collapses on you or a friend...

that deep you better go with at least schedule 40 plastic pipe,

Chris, I think you figured out to stay out of the trench. If you have to make a tie in at one end, then have the hoe dig you a big enough man hole that cave in won't be a problem. The hoe operator will know the ropes. Your soil in MO probably isn't a problem but you didn't say specifically what you have. I've been in plenty of 3' ditches but I wouldn't go near much more than that but there is no reason to anyway. If this is like a drain away from the house or somewhere, then you will have a pipe and elbow so you never touch the ditch.

Make up connections on the ground and lay in trench later. Anything bigger than 1" pvc requires 2 people and if you are doing a long run of 4" to 6" then 3 people. I had to redo some 2" I glued. 20' joints laying on the ground and I pick up the middle to clean, glue, and push together and one person can't pull the pipe in tight due to the weight of the pipe and not being straight. So one guy has to hold one end and help push it. If you are using that black drainage pipe from TSC then it is easy to work with and do the connections up above.

I have done and seen lots of 2" to 6" pvc laid down in clay without any sand or anything underneath it. We have a hoe operator that will dig a sewage pit for $500 and lay the drainage line for a dollar a foot. He works by him self and no one lays sand or gravel in the hole. But then we don't really have the rocks that could break the pipe with ground heave. Wouldn't hurt if you got rocky soil but your hoe operator will know unless you rent, then the rental place will know.

I guess you know and your hoe operator will know if it is too muddy to dig. If the top of the ground is dry, you are ok.

Good luck. I'd come over and help but I can't find a shovel that fits my hands anymore. A real bummer.