The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Fri May 07, 2010 7:19 am**

what is the best method of retaining the pea shingle round a recently laid drainage pipe whilst I make a new connection?

I am concerned that it tends to flow from around the exposed hole which could cause subsidence in the immediate area later on in life.

I was thinking of trying to put a aluminium sheet in before digging out to hold back, but knowing this is something you guys may have come across on more regular basis you may have a better (easier) solution.

thanks.

Posted: **Fri May 07, 2010 1:52 pm**

we use a 10mm thick blast plate, on its side when back filling with stone in big holes, i'll dig out a photo

but a sheat of 3/4 ply braced also works on anything no deeper than a metre

used in running sand to stop wall collapsing as we dug down 2.4 metres to add a rodding eye onto ic.

with the steeel you can push it with the machine so far then let it slip down as you excavate next to it.

or we use it for back filling around drains like this

Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1273239674

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2010 7:08 am**

thanks for the reply giles, my excavation is on alot smaller scale!! but the principal remains the same! unfortunately without restraint pea shingle always seems to flow like water

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2010 11:47 am**

that last picture looks decidedly dodgy giles
we had an excavation 2.7m deep and the digger man lowered my trusty lieutenant down in the bucket to bottom out.
he then lifted him out again
the <crack!> like a pistol shot,the lot went
from being 500mm wide and 2.7m deep it became a metre wide and a metre deep in 1 second
I dont like digging in sand
LLL

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2010 5:32 pm**

Bloody hell LLL. A man of your experience should know better than lower men in machine buckets, that is so o o o. And to put a man in an excavation that deep without shoring it up, is unforgivable. You are lucky you are'nt facing a manslaughter charge. trenches need shoring and battering/shelving.

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2010 7:08 pm**

it wasnt like that sean,i turned my back to talk to the building inspector and the 2 of them cooked up the hairbrained idea between them
funny enough the BCO said you better pour that before the lot goes in and it did
it was on an old brick pit which had been filled with rubbish 100 years ago,made up ground is the worst
cheers LLL

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2010 7:12 pm**

I think we've all done silly things with digger buckets!

I've been hoisted up to a first floor window in a 3ft digging bucket to break into a property! (Numpty customer locked herself out)

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2010 9:10 pm**

That would be instant dismissal on my firm. A chippie did the same as you dave, but it was to erect a sign. Bucket came off and broke the guys pelvis and leg. He could'nt claim a penny and also got the gooner.

The Brew Cabin

Retaining pea shingle during pipe exposure