"Vibration restrictions at the hospital eliminated the option of using vibratory-hammer installed sheeting and bracing," continued Wright.  "Also, installing a beam and plate or lagging system was off the table due to the two week schedule given to complete the project.  When it was all said and done, a Slide Rail Shoring System really was the best option for the tank installation; it was the most cost effective system for the job," Wright concluded.

After designing a slide rail shoring plan, Wright and Moreland called Efficiency Production in Mason, Michigan-a leading manufacturer and engineering specialist of Slide Rail Systems-for proposal drawings for a three bay, 4-sided Multi-Bay Slide Rail System that would allow T & B to completely shore an unobstructed pit 56 feet long, 16 feet wide on the ends, down to a depth of 16 feet.

Efficiency's unique Parallel Beam cross-trench design fits in tight spot
Efficiency's Universal Slide Rail is a component shoring system comprised of steel panels (similar to trench shield sidewalls) and vertical steel posts.  The versatile system can be used in a variety of configurations, such as small four-sided pits; large unobstructed working pits as big as 50 x 50 feet with Efficiency's ClearSpan System; or in a linear Multi-Bay configuration to install length of pipe over 40 feet.  For T & B's tank installation project, an unobstructed opening of more than 55 feet was made possible utilizing Efficiency's unique Parallel Beam cross-trench support design incorporating external ClearSpan waler I-beams.

"When Jim (Wright) first suggested Slide Rail, I was a bit skeptical, because I wasn't at all familiar with it, and it didn't sound anything like other shoring systems I've used," said Burnside.  "But, Jim did a great job explaining to me what it is, its advantages, and how it works."

Slide Rail safest choice for strict requirements
Tonn and Blank has an exceptional safety record for all their construction projects and Slide Rail was a perfect fit for their strict requirements.  Slide Rail is installed simultaneously as the trench or pit is excavated by sliding the panels into integrated rails on the posts-either double or triple rails depending on needed depth-then pushing the panels and posts incrementally down to grade as the pit is dug; a process commonly referred to as a "dig and push" system.  Slide Rail is unique in that it is installed and removed incrementally, which allows the trench to be properly shored and safe for workers to be in the excavation throughout the entire installation or removal process.