Sustainable Shoring-Paper

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The study compares the upfront embodied carbon of three temporary excavation-support systems for boring and receiving pits on Seattle’s Ship Canal Water Quality Project: conventional soldier piles, steel plate lagging and welded walers; steel sheeting with hydraulic bracing; and a modular slide rail system.<br /><br />Using the EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator, the assessment covers life-cycle modules A1–A5: material production, transport to site, construction activities and waste. For reusable equipment, the analysis assumes a 10-year service life and 50% utilization. It finds that conventional steel shoring has the highest emissions, while the slide rail system has the lowest. Slide rail produces about 35% of the conventional system’s embodied carbon—approximately a 64% reduction. Hydraulic bracing also reduces emissions compared with the conventional design.<br /><br />The savings are attributed chiefly to modular systems’ reusability and lower material requirements, as well as faster installation, easier transportation and less on-site fabrication. These features can also reduce fuel use, soil removal and waste. The authors argue that temporary shoring should be included more consistently in early-stage carbon assessments, when design choices can still reduce a project’s environmental impact.

Keywords

embodied carbon

temporary excavation support

Seattle Ship Canal

soldier piles

steel sheeting

hydraulic bracing

slide rail system

EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator

life-cycle assessment

construction emissions