Contractors R & M Utility and Civil Engineering Services recently identified MGF’s lightweight GRP shoring range, GRiPSHORE, as the only available safe solution to complete sewer section replacement works in a heavily congested trench for their client South West Water.
R&M Project Manager, James West explained that the use of the lightweight GRP shoring was the only viable, safe solution to entering the heavily congested trench “During the programming of the works & reviewing temporary works designs it was confirmed that no conventional shoring system would have allowed for safe entry into the excavation, due to the extent of utility apparatus present & the fact we were installing a 600mm pipe. Being able to use the newly marketed GRiPSHORE™ Vertishore rails from MGF allowed us to achieve a comprehensive temporary works design that met with the specific site requirements, whilst also reducing manual handling risks, speeding up installation times & reducing the cost of the temporary works equipment.”
R&M were contracted to replace a 140m sewer run in Exmouth, Devon. The works required a full road closure and the route was highly congested with services. The contractors were having difficulty identifying a shoring solution that could provide a safe working environment for operatives needing to enter the excavation. Traditional shoring methods were deemed inappropriate as they were not flexible enough to work around the multitude of crossing services.
MGF were appointed by R&M following a demonstration of the GRiPSHORE™ product range, where the lightweight shoring technology was identified as the only viable solution for the obstacles experienced at the St Johns Road site. After discussing the feasibility of the scheme with MGF’s design department, the GRP Vertishore rails were immediately dispatched to site that same day and MGF’s engineers attended the site to agree the installation methodology.
The 140m long scheme was divided into sections, the first being the excavation of a 2m deep, 1.1m wide trench in the most congested section. The MGF Exeter depot provided 20 sets of 500mm GRP Vertishore rails from the GRiPSHORE™ range along with hydraulic struts, bucket pump and required ancillaries together with a variety of larger boards and walers.
R&M operatives were able to reduce safety risk without compromising cost or time by using the GRP Vertishore rails. The lightweight shoring enabled them to progress the works safely where a traditional shoring system would have further congested the working area.
Through the lightweight nature of the GPR components, operatives sped up the install process by handling and installing them manually without reliance on an excavator. They optimised the working space in which to thread the 600mm diameter plastic pipe which enabled them to focus on the sewer replacements works, reducing the time the road was closed causing less disruption to public access.
For more information on the GRiPSHORE™ product range browse our website, or contact us to set up a product demonstration on 01942 402 700.
