Trench Struts

Trench Struts are telescopic steel bracing members in size series 0 to 4, with square claw end plates and pin-and-screw fine adjustment placed across excavations between walings and trench sheets to hold the walls in place during digging and filling. They brace excavations in trench-shoring systems throughout temporary works. Specify the size, finish and the quantity you need.

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At a glance

Trench Struts at a glance.

Claw end plate design

Square claws grip walings and trench sheets

Both ends of the strut carry reinforced square claw plates that clamp hard onto the waling or trench sheet when the adjustment nut is tightened. The claw geometry spreads the grip force across the surface, so the strut holds the walls firm without denting or crushing the timber waling or steel sheet.

Two-stage height adjustment

Pin sets coarse height; nut fine-tunes the grip

A pin through the inner tube sets the approximate height — lift or drop it to lengthen or shorten the strut. Once the strut spans the trench opening, screw the adjustment nut to drive the claw ends outward and tighten them against both the waling and sheet so the walls cannot move or collapse.

Size range and dimensions

Five sizes from 0.32 m to 1.73 m

Sizes #0–#4 for different trench widths: #0 0.32–0.47 m, #1 0.49–0.73 m, #2 0.69–1.09 m, #3 1.03–1.73 m. Square claw end plates, inner tube with pin, screw nut for fine adjustment. Zinc plated, hot dip galvanized or painted.

Also known as

Also called trench shores in the US. Spanish-speaking crews call it codal.

US English: trench proptrench shoretrench strut
Español (US): codal

Trade names for the whole range ↗

How it works

Pin the height, screw tight until claws grip both walls

Set the pin at the opening width your excavation spans. Insert the strut horizontally across the gap so the claw ends rest against the waling on one side and the trench sheet on the other. Screw the adjustment nut to drive both claw plates outward simultaneously — the claws bite into the waling and sheet and hold them from moving or collapsing as you dig and place spoil.

Common applications

Where it is used.

Application

Bracing deep utility trenches during installation

Trenches for water, sewer, electrical and gas lines need temporary bracing while crews work safely below ground. Trench Struts pinned between walings on either side hold the soil and prevent wall collapse, letting the work proceed without the ground moving.

Application

Holding sheet piling in soft ground excavations

Sheet piling driven into soft or wet ground needs horizontal bracing to resist inward pressure from soil and groundwater. Struts screwed tight against the sheets on both sides hold the excavation open at full width, preventing the sheets from creeping inward and closing the working space.

Application

Temporary shoring for deep building foundations and basements

Falsework and temporary shoring for major construction excavations uses arrays of struts to hold soil back and keep foundations accessible. The claw end plates distribute load across the waling or sheet, so a number of struts together can hold even wide deep openings.

What else are trench struts called?

In the they're called trench props or trench struts. In the US they're called trench shores. Spanish contractors call it a codal.n suppliers may call them trench jacks.

How are trench struts sized?

Trench struts are sized by the width they span: size 0 spans 0.32 to 0.47 m, size 1 spans 0.49 to 0.73 m, size 2 spans 0.69 to 1.09 m and size 3 spans 1.03 to 1.73 m. Each extends on a pin and screw to press its claw end plates against walings or sheets.

Scaffolding & Shoring Systems

Bracing for trench-shoring systems

Trench Struts cross the excavation between walings or trench sheets, pinned and screwed to hold the walls firm. They work with Planks and other temporary-works components to form complete trench-shoring structures.

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Trench Struts specifications