MAX SLOPE FOR TRENCHES DURING CONSTRUCTION

[maximus808]

Can someone help me find the max slope for trenches during construction? Thanks.

 

[Dexman PE]

CERM (10th edition) Chapter 82: Construction & Jobsite Safety. Part 2. Trenching & Excavation.

It explains there are 3 soil classifications for trenching A, B, & C with C being the most unstable.

Type A: .75/1 (H:V) max slope

Type B: 1:1

Type C: 1.5/1

In Colorado, the standard practice is to assume ALL soils are Type C unless proven otherwise.

 

[FLBuff PE]

Check OSHA for those guidelines. The ones Dex just posted are the OSHA guidelines. I believe that those guidelines are applicable for trenches/excavations deeper than 4 feet.

 

[jamie]

here are links to the applicable sections from OSHA

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.sh...&p_id=10932

this section has the soil classifications

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.sh...&p_id=10931