Do trench boxes qualify as "shoring"?

[driller03]

Background: A 25' wide trench has to be constructed 14' deep in a 25' corridor. There is no room to lay back the slopes. There are buildings on shallow foundations adjacent to the trench.

If the design engineer has specified that the contractor use shoring for the construction of the trench---do trench boxes qualify as "shoring"?

 

[dgillette]

"...it's not up to you to allow him to re-visit his bid and add money to included shoring..."

Seems like this is the owner's call, rather than the engineering consultant's. If permitted by the fine print in the bid documents (and considering potential litigation from the unsuccessful bidders), the owner may expect some big cost savings to be had from lower unit costs on other items of work. Obviously, the owner isn't going to pursue it for a dollar per yard on a few thousand yards, but if the money looks more substantial, it might make sense.

 

[Bluefoot]

A phone call with the engineer should clear it all.

 

[Bluefoot]

Ground movement may also induce damages to the services in the close proximity. If the adjacent buildings are so close and in an old neighborhood, these may be something you do not want to occur.

 

[molerat2210]

Trench boxes are for worker safety only and do not qualify as an excavation support system. Trench boxes are a form of "shielded" excavation rather than a "shored", "braced" or other form of tight excavation support system. Excavation support systems are intended to prevent damage to surrounding structures in addition to providing worker safety.