Trench Boxes and Trench Shields Upcoming Auctions

About Trench Boxes & Shields

Trench boxes (also known as sewer boxes, manhole boxes, or tap boxes) and trench shields use panels and sometimes spreaders to protect workers in excavated areas from potential side wall cave-ins. Trench shoring (or trench bracing) equipment is a more heavy-duty form that also physically props up the walls of the excavation. Both are commonly used in construction, utilities, and pipeline work.

What Are Trench Boxes & Shields Made Of?

The side wall panels (or trench sheets) of a trench shield or trench shoring system are usually made of steel, aluminum, or a combination of both, such as aluminum panels in a steel frame. Some, such as Pacific Shoring’s EZE Shoring, are made of composite materials and provide a non-conductive trench bracing system for tasks like servicing underground electrical lines.

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2022 Kundel 4X10 Trench Box

Trench shield panels may be spaced apart by adjustable steel or aluminum spreaders, or by front and rear panels in a box configuration. A trench box may be assembled and inserted into the trench or excavation, then backfilled to keep the shield from moving. 

Others may be assembled in the trench itself. Examples of this last type include trench shoring systems with hydraulic or pneumatic spreaders that press the panels firmly against the sides of the trench to brace the soil.

Types Of Trench Boxes, Shields & Shoring

A trench shield or box can be moved to allow workers to operate safely at various points along the trench. Panels may have knife-edge bottoms instead of flat bottoms to allow the trench shield to be moved more easily. A portable trench box is a wheeled, preconfigured variation that can be quickly moved into position.

A sliding rail system is a type of trench shoring equipment with panels that can move upward or downward on vertical posts. As the trench is excavated deeper, the sliding panels can be pushed down into the trench to keep the walls stabilized.

Modular shoring systems are also available, including Efficiency Production’s Build-A-Box and Aluminum Trench Box’s Buildable Panel Box. These use lightweight, interlocking panels that can be quickly assembled by hand. These easily transportable systems use stackable aluminum panel sections, often with lightweight foam cores for strength. Modular shoring equipment is also ideal for excavations into slopes and hillsides that only require protection from soil walls on two or three sides.

Why Use A Trench Box Or Trench Shield?

In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires cave-in protection for workers in trenches 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep or deeper, except for excavations made in stable rock.

A side wall collapse can be very dangerous, as a cubic yard of dirt can weigh 2,000 to 3,000 pounds (900 to 1,360 kilograms), depending on water content. To meet OSHA safety requirements, manufacturers also provide tabulated data on their trench shield and shoring products that spell out their safe working parameters.

Besides keeping workers safe from cave-ins, trench boxes and shoring also allow them to work in a steeper trench with less dirt excavated, saving time and fuel. Trench panels can also keep the walls from eroding during a longer construction project.

Who Makes Trench Boxes?

Pro-Tec Equipment and Kundel Industries are among the many manufacturers of trench boxes and related equipment. Pacific Shoring, a maker of aluminum trench shields, trench boxes, and manhole shields, expanded its steel offerings with the acquisition of Xterra in 2021. Aluminum Trench Box offers portable trench shoring systems as well as panel trench boxes and shoring boxes.

Find The Right Trench Equipment

You will often find new and used trench boxes for sale on MachineryTrader.com from Efficiency, Kundel, and Pro-Tec, among other manufacturers. Related trench equipment categories on this site include trenchers and cable plows, with ride-on, walk-behind, and stand-on units, among others.