Groundwork is a Work of Art

We cannot say it often enough, "Earthwork is a Work of Art." Unfortunately, we still see unsafe excavations passing by on a daily basis. In the Netherlands, we have turned controlling groundwater and keeping our country dry with an ever-rising sea level into a true specialty. So why aren't we doing groundwork at that same level?

The success of a project is often closely related to how the earthwork is done. There is secretly a lot involved in digging a hole or trench. Before one starts digging, it is important to know what soil layers one will encounter and where the groundwater is. Excavating under a natural embankment is only possible if one is aware of the location and soil layers. After all, an embankment of clay and loam will stay in place more easily than an embankment of loose sand. So it is certainly not the case that a natural slope is always equally steep or that this can be determined from the space available.

Hoisting a sewage pipe within a closed building pit from SoilBoX with a Double-Guided BoX system.

An overly steep embankment can remain in place in some cases, but it can also go badly wrong. Factors such as rainfall, groundwater and the load behind the embankment, can cause an embankment to simply slide and cause settlement. Consequences include subsidence of surrounding buildings, sewerage and/or cable lines, and the consequences for workers in the trench may be obvious.

Of course, the above consequences will not occur just like that, and there are plenty of situations where things are just fine. But if the consequences of subsidence are so severe, why would you even consider digging without a soil barrier in a questionable case at all? It's like wearing PPE or applying a fall protection device, the risks of the work are clear and you protect yourself from that one time it goes wrong because if that happens then it goes immediately right.

Based on the above, the choice of applying a BoX system should be easy to make. The opposite is true because applying a BoX system has implications for your project. There are numerous other benefits to name besides safety when applying a BoX system. Less earthwork is required because no slopes need to be excavated and then backfilled. Less work space is required and loads can be placed directly behind the pit or trench in the form of equipment and material storage. Logistically, this creates many advantages that can benefit planning and lead time. Other benefits include fall protection if the BoX system is chosen to protrude above ground level or a fence can be clamped on.

As disadvantages of using trench shoring, it is often mentioned that it slows down. Assembling the BoX systems takes time and the digging in does not always go smoothly either, so this also takes extra time. Is this really the case? The speed of assembling a BoX system lies in proper preparation and education. At BodemBoX, we make sure that construction workers have the right knowledge to assemble a BoX system right away. They do this by providing a detailed implementation drawing customized for your project. Also, a manual is provided with the delivery of BoX systems and this is not a book but a single clear worksheet. With every BoX system you purchase, you will receive free instruction on the project, if desired, from one of their trained instructors. Last but not least, BodemBoX can provide the necessary extra hands to assemble the BoX-system and assist with digging in. In this way, you are guaranteed a safe pit or trench while still being assured of a fast and practical implementation method. You the earthwork and BodemBoX the artwork!