In the world and business of infrastructure and utilities, trenching is a highly important sector of work of which we complete. When you think of trenches, you may imagine a bunch of soldiers huddled together but that’s not the only thing trenches are used for. Trenching, to be put simply, is a construction method that involves digging a narrow trench in the ground for the installation, maintenance, or inspection of pipelines, conduits, or cables. What constitutes as a trench however depends on the size it is both width and length wise. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), excavations are designated as trenches when they are deeper than they are wide (not exceeding 15 feet (4.5 meters) in width).
To give a brief history of trenching, this form of infrastructure was first used by the Romans, as they installed indoor plumbing by a system of aqueducts and pipes amongst homes, public wells and fountains. The Empire’s builders also had to protect their water supply system while ensuring that it reached its destination. In order to do this, they dug trenches. They also installed piping systems and backfilled them, burying the pipes under the soil/ground, so they were out of reach of potential damage. This means that trenching as a system, has been used for thousands of years, with the Romans dating back to anywhere between 753 BC–476 AD. Believe it or not, this type of cut-and-cover method is still in use today.
So, that is what trenching is and how it came about. But why is trenching so effective?
Ourselves at Citi Utilities are accustomed to the traditional trenching process and are equipped with the appropriate equipment. Even though many municipalities have begun using the less disruptive and more cost-effective method of trenchless construction and rehabilitation, the situation still arises where trenching is inevitable. For example, where pipe deflection has damaged pipes, trenchless rehabilitation methods may not work and trenching may have to be done in the affected area to rectify the problem.
The inevitability of trenching comes about with utility work. Gas, electric and cable companies rely heavily on trenchers to dig the trenches they need to run wires, piping and cabling. They also use them to dig up the ground to reach objects that require maintenance, repair or removal.
Other reasons may be:
- Irrigation projects
- Cutting rock or pavement
- Building French drains
- Severing roots
- Shovelling dirt
- High precision cutting and digging applications
In fact, trenching is the most cost-efficient solution for most applications. Through its productivity and logistics advantages, one large trencher can substitute up to 15 excavators. More production with fewer machines and operators results in a lower cost of logistics and makes it easier to manage the worksite of which the job is being completed. With fewer machines, this means less CO2 emission, with the machines also producing less dust, vibration, and noise than using explosives so they can be potentially used in areas near bridges, roads, railways, and populated areas in general.
Here at Citi Utilities, we are able to facilitate the use of two trencher/top cutting machines at one time.
Please choose from the following:
CASE 860 TURBO
Cutting Blades in two sizes: 250mm and 450mm. With a total cutting depth of 800mm
CASE 560
Cutting Blade 250mm wide. Total cutting depth of 450mm
Available to hire for competitive rates. Driver also available. We also provide other services that may go hand-in-hand with hiring a trencher, such as hotboxes, re-instatement, traffic management, top-soiling, landscaping and site clearance. Get in contact with us today for more information.