TrenchingandExcavationOperations

SLOPINGANDBENCHINGSYSTEMS

OBJECTIVES
Uponthecompletionofthissection,theparticipantshouldbeableto:

1. Describe the difference between maximum allowable slope and

actualslope.

2. Observehowtheangleofvariousslopedsystemsvarieswithsoil
type.

3. Evaluatelayeredsystemstodeterminethepropertrenchslope.

4. Illustrate how shield systems and sloping systems interface in

combinationsystems.

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SLOPINGSYSTEMS

If enough surface room isavailable, slopingor benchingthe trench walls

willofferexcellentprotectionwithoutanyadditionalequipment.Cuttingtheslope
oftheexcavationbacktoitsprescribedanglewillallowtheforcesofcohesion(if
present) and internal friction to hold the soil together and keep it from flowing
downsthefaceofthetrench.Thesoiltypeprimarilydeterminestheexcavation
angle.

Sloping a method of protecting employees from caveins by excavating to

form sides of an excavation that are inclined away from the
excavationssoastopreventcaveins.

Inpractice,itmaybedifficulttoaccuratelydeterminetheseslopingangles.
Mostofthetime,thedepthofthetrenchisknownorcaneasilybedetermined.
Based on the vertical depth, the amount of cutback on each side of the trench
can be calculated. A formula to calculate these cutback distances will be
included with each slope diagram. NOTE: Remember, the beginning of the
cutback distance begins at the toe of the slope, not the center of the trench.
Accordingly, the cutback distance will be the same regardless of how wide the
trenchisatthebottom.

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OSHA provides slope information based on the maximum allowable slope.

Tousethemaximumallowableslope,siteconditionsmustbeideal.Ifanysigns
of distress are observed, the actual slope is required to be less than the
maximumallowableslope.SignsofdistressthatOSHAlistsare:

Developmentoffissuresintrenchface

Appearanceofstresscracks

Materialslumpingfromface

Bulgingorheavingofthetrenchbottom

Spallingorraveling.

Ifthisoranyotherconditionisobservedwhichthecompetentpersonbelieves
would jeopardize the integrity of the trench, the steepest slope which can be
used is the maximum allowable slope plus an additional 1/2H: 1V. This is the
steepest actual slope. Depending upon conditions, theangle of this slope may
havetobefurtherreducedtoprovideadequateprotection.Whilenotasspecific,
the Standard states that the competent person must allow a safety factor
(decrease the slope) in situations where surcharge loads, or vibration could
weakentheslopewallsaswell.

The prescribed sloping angles andbenchdimensions can bedetermined by

usinganyofthefollowingoptions:

1. AssumeTYPECsoil.Thisgivesamaximumallowableslopeof34degrees
(1.5H:1V).Nobenchingisallowed.Soiltestingisnotrequired.

2. UseofTabulatedDataapprovedbyaRegisteredProfessionalEngineer.
Datamustincludesystemselectionparameters,datalimits,andexplanatory
information. A copy of the tabulated data is required to be at the job site
duringconstruction.Soiltestingrequired.

3. Use a slope or benching configuration designed by a Registered

ProfessionalEngineer.Acopyofthedesigndataisrequiredtobeatthejob
siteduringconstruction.Soiltestingrequired.

4. Use Appendix A (Soil Testing) and Appendix B (Sloping and Benching).

Soiltestingrequired.

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APPENDIXBSimpleSlopingSystemsforTYPEASoil
ForTYPEAsoilandatrenchdepthoflessthan20feet,thesteepestmaximum
allowableslopeis53degreesfromthehorizontal.Thistranslatestoa0.75H:1V
inclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=0.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

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Manytrenchesareopenforsuchashorttimethatthe
cohesiveTYPEAsoilhasnotimetodryout.Therefore,OSHA
allowsforasteepermaximumallowableslopeforthosetrenches,
whichare12feetorlessindepthandwillremainopenforlessthan
24hours.

ForTYPEAsoilandatrenchdepthoflessthan12feetfora
trenchopen24hoursorless,thesteepestmaximumallowable
slopeis63degreesfromthehorizontal.Thistranslatestoa0.5H:
1Vinclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=0.5xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.0xDepth(V)

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APPENDIXBSimpleSlopingSystemforTYPEBSoil
TYPE B soil is not as stable as TYPE A. and the incline for the sloped
systemisnotasgreatasitwouldbeforTYPEAsoils.

For TYPE B soil and a trench depth of less than 20 feet, the steepest
maximumallowableslopeis45degreesfromthehorizontal.Thistranslatestoa
1H:1Vinclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.0xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.5xDepth(V)

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APPENDIXBSimpleSlopingSystemforTYPECSoil
TheinclineofaslopeforTYPECsoilistheflattestsinceTYPECsoilis
theleastcohesiveandthemostflowable.

For TYPE C soil and a trench depth of less than 20 feet, the steepest
maximumallowableslopeis34degreesfromthehorizontal.Thistranslatestoa
1H:1.5Vinclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.5xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=2.0xDepth(V)

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BENCHINGSYSTEMS
Rather than excavating a flat trench face, benching leaves steps on the
sideoftheexcavation.Thiscaneitherbefoundasasinglebenchatthebottom
of the trench or a multiple bench system. There are really two main reasons to
benchatrenchratherthanslopeatrench.Ofgreatestimportanceistheaffectit
hasontheweightthattheburiedconduitmustbear.ThroughworkdoneatIowa
State University, it has been shown that allowing a bench above the conduit to
bear some of the lateral weight (force) of the soil canlessen soil weight, which
theconduitmustsupport.

APPENDIXBBenchSystemsforTypeASoil
ForsimplebenchsystemsinTYPEAsoilandatrenchdepthoflessthan
20feet,thesteepestmaximumallowableslopeis53degreesfromthehorizontal.
Thistranslatestoa0.75H:1Vinclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

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FormultiplebenchsystemsinTYPEAsoilandtrenchdepthoflessthan
20feet,thesteepestmaximumallowableslopeis53degreesfromthehorizontal.
Thistranslatestoa0.75H:1Vinclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

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APPENDIXBBenchSystemsforTYPEBSoil

ForsimplebenchsystemsinTYPEBsoilandtrenchdepthoflessthan20
feet, the steepest maximum allowable slope is 45 degrees from the horizontal.
Thistranslatestoa1H:1Vinclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.0xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.5xDepth(V)

FormultiplebenchsystemsinTYPEBsoilandatrenchdepthoflessthan
20feet,thesteepestmaximumallowableslopeis45degreesfromthehorizontal.
Thistranslatestoa1H:1Vinclineandisshownbelow.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.0xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.5xDepth(V)

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COMBINATIONSLOPED/BENCHEDSYSTEMS
Avariationontheslopingandbenchingconceptyieldsthishybrid,which
is widely used. In this combination, the bottom of the trench face is vertical.
Towardthetop,thetrenchfaceisslopedback.

APPENDIXBCombinationSystemsforTYPEASoil
Forcombinationslope/benchsystemsinTYPEAsoilandatrenchdepth
oflessthan8feet,thesteepestmaximumallowableslopeis53degreesfromthe
horizontal. This translates to a 0.75H: 1V incline and is shown below. The
maximumheightoftheverticallowerportions3.5feet.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

Thissystemisfavorablefromapipeweightloadingstandpointandcanbe
quicklyexcavated.Itallowsshorttrenchboxedorshieldssystemstobeusedin
deepertrenches.Further,inTYPEAsoils,theverticalportionatthebottomcan
remain unsupported. Therefore, a relatively deep trench can be excavated with
minimalsloping.

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Forcombinationslope/benchsystemsinTYPEAsoilandatrenchdepth
greaterthan8feetbutlessthan12feet,thesteepestmaximumallowable
slopeis45degreesfromthehorizontal.Thistranslatestoa1H:1Vincline
andis shown below. The maximum height of the verticallower portionis
3.5feet.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

Forcombinationslope/benchsystemsinTYPEAsoilandatrenchdepth
of less than 20 feet, the steepest maximum allowable slope is 53degrees from
the horizontal. It is allowed only if a trench supports or shield is used. This
translates to a 0.75H: 1V incline and is shown below. The trench shield must
extendatleast18inchesabovethetopoftheverticalside.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

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APPENDIXBCombinationSystemforTYPEBSoil
TheonlyoptionforcombinationsystemsinTYPE BorTYPECsoilsare
whenasupportorshieldsystemguardstheverticalside.

Forcombinationslope/benchsystemsinTYPEBsoilandatrenchdepth
of less than 20 feet, the steepest maximum allowable slope is 45degrees from
thehorizontalisallowedonlyifatrenchsupportorshieldisused.Thistranslates
toa1H:1Vinclineandisshownbelow.Thetrenchshieldmustextendatleast18
inchesabovethetopoftheverticalside.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

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APPENDIXBCombinationSystemforTYPECSoil

Forcombinationslope/benchsystemsinTYPECsoilandatrenchdepth
of less than 20 feet, the steepest maximum allowable slope is 34degrees from
thehorizontalisallowedonlyifatrenchsupportorshieldisused.Thistranslates
toa1.5H:1Vinclineandisshownbelow.Thetrenchshieldmustextendatleast
18inchesabovethetopoftheverticalside.

MaximumAllowableSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=.75xDepth(V)

SteepestActualSlope

Cutbackdistance(H)=1.25xDepth(V)

LAYEREDSYSTEMS
Digging in layered systems is essentially like digging two separate
trenches one on top of the other. In Appendix B, OSHA recognizes systems
composed of only two layers. If more than two layers are encountered, sloping
shouldbedesignedtodealwiththeweakestsoiltype.

Twothemesrunthroughthelayeredsoilsslopingcriteria:

1. If the stronger soil is below the weaker soil, the sloping for each layeris
thesameasthesimpleslopeforthatsoiltype.

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2. If the stronger soil is above the weaker soil, the entire system is sloped
accordingtotheweakersoilssimpleslope.

The following diagrams will illustrate layered system sloping angles. When
calculatingcutbackdistances,assumethatthetoeofthetoplayeristhatpointon
thetrenchfacewherethetoplayerbegins.

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Surchargeloadsmustbeplacedatleast2feetbackfromtheedgeofthe
trench.Whenspoilorsurchargeloadsareplacedatthetopofslopedorbenched
systems,theymuststayatleast2feetbackoffromtheedge.Further,thecenter
of the spoil pile can be no closer than the imaginary line formed by the
continuation of the slope. This is true for positioning outriggers on heavy
equipmentaswell.

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