{"id":11518,"date":"2020-01-26T03:42:10","date_gmt":"2020-01-26T03:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/cnstrctr\/glossary\/shoring\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T10:07:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:07:33","slug":"shoring","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/academy\/glossary\/shoring\/","title":{"rendered":"Shoring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shoring<\/strong> is temporary support used during construction to hold up a structure, or to hold back soil, until the permanent work can support itself. In buildings it usually means the posts and frames that carry formwork<\/a> and wet concrete. In excavation work it means the system that keeps trench and basement walls from collapsing.<\/p>\n

Shoring is also used to support existing buildings during renovation, underpinning or repairs.<\/p>\n

Types of shoring<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Type<\/th>\nWhat it supports<\/th>\nTypical use<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Post shores (adjustable steel or aluminium)<\/td>\nFormwork and slabs<\/td>\nElevated concrete slabs and beams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frame or tower shoring<\/td>\nHeavier or taller formwork<\/td>\nHigh floor-to-floor heights, transfer slabs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reshoring and backshoring<\/td>\nStripped slabs carrying loads from floors above<\/td>\nMulti-storey concrete buildings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Raking, flying and dead shores<\/td>\nExisting walls and floors<\/td>\nRenovation, demolition, damaged buildings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hydraulic and timber trench shores<\/td>\nTrench walls<\/td>\nUtility and service trenches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soldier piles and lagging, sheet piles, secant piles<\/td>\nExcavation walls<\/td>\nBasements and deep excavations, often near property lines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Shoring vs reshoring<\/h2>\n

Shores carry the formwork and fresh concrete during the pour. Once the concrete has enough strength the forms are stripped, but the slab may still be too young to carry the weight of the next floors being poured above it. Reshores<\/strong> are then installed to share those loads down through several floors. The engineer sets the shoring and reshoring sequence and removal criteria, especially for post-tensioned<\/a> slabs.<\/p>\n

Shoring vs scaffolding<\/h2>\n

A scaffold<\/a> is a working platform for people and materials. Shoring carries structural loads. Some frame systems can be set up as either, but a scaffold should never be used to support formwork or structure unless it has been designed and approved for that load.<\/p>\n

Shoring in excavations<\/h2>\n

For trenches, US OSHA rules (29 CFR 1926 Subpart P) recognise three ways to protect workers: sloping or benching<\/strong> the walls, shoring<\/strong> them, or shielding<\/strong> workers with a trench box. Protection is generally required in trenches 5 feet (1.5 m) deep or more unless the excavation is in stable rock, and excavations 20 feet (6.1 m) deep or more need a protective system designed by a registered professional engineer or based on tabulated data approved by one. Canada, the UK and Australia have their own rules, so check your jurisdiction.<\/p>\n

Safety and inspection tips<\/h2>\n