Pro-Tec Equipment | Lightweight Steel Trench Shields | Trench Boxes

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Lightweight Steel Trench Shields | Trench Boxes

Lightweight Steel Trench Shields | Trench Boxes

The Pro-Tec Equipment Pal Series trench shields (trench boxes), available in 3” and 4” sidewalls, are specifically designed for municipal (i.e. municiPAL) utility installation and maintenance, water, sewer, gas, fiber optic and cable installation, and other projects where rubber tire backhoes and small excavators are used.

How To Size a Lightweight Trench Shield

How to size a trench shield

To determine the right size of trench shield for your job, there are a series of questions you have to answer. Here are the main ones. Answer them, consult the tables and information which accompany our specific products, and always refer to manufacturer's serialized specific tabulated data* and all applicable safety standards prior to each use.

What kind of job is it?

E.g., sewer, repair, water main, manhole, pump station, bore pit, etc.

Depth of cut?

Soil conditions?

B-soils (45 lbs per foot of pressure)
C-60 soils (60 lbs per foot of pressure)
C-80 soils (80 lbs per foot of pressure)
Hydrostatic

Figuring out spreader length

If working with pipe, what is the outside diameter of the pipe? (It is recommended that the trench shield be at least 12” wider than the pipe)

What is the width of the bucket, including any side cutters? (It is recommended that the trench shield be at least 12” wider than the bucket)

Figuring out Trench Shield length

If working with pipe, what is the length of the pipe sections? (It is recommended that the trench shield be 2’ – 4’ longer than the pipe)

Figuring out maximum weight of trench shield system

Take the working weight of the machine that is going to be used at the job site and divide it by 5. That will give you the maximum weight your machine can handle for a trench shield (including spreaders).

Example:
Cat 336E L has an operating weight of 86,200 lbs. 86200/5 = 17240. A trench shield with spreader pipe would need to weigh less than 17,240 pounds to be used with this excavator.

Standards & Options - Pal Series Trench Shields

Trench Shields standards & options

Pro-Tec Equipment

Pal Series Trench Shield Standards

Pro-Tec Equipment trench shields (trench boxes) incorporate standard performance features that help improve productivity while increasing safety on the job.

  • Industry’s first standard 4-point lifting system
  • Industry’s strongest knife edge
  • Full length double top rail provides built-in “I” beam strength – on all 4” trench shields
  • Recessed collar assemblies
  • Professionally engineered and certified

Options

What you need when you need it

  • Foam filling: Excessive weight buildup from soil and water inside of side walls is prevented by foam filling. (Not available on Single Wall Trench Shields)
  • Extended collars: The extended collars provide increased usability from standard spreader pipes and are available on all Pro and Pal series trench shields. Extended collars allow the width of trench shield system to be extended in 6” increments, while using the same size spreader pipe.
  • Stacking pockets: Pro-Tec Equipment’s trench shields can be equipped with stacking pockets to connect shields vertically, while restricting lateral movement. With Pro-Tec Equipment’s stack pocket locations, all sizes of Pro-Tec Equipment Pro and Pal trench shields may be stacked with each other.
  • Cutouts/replaceable doors: Not every project is the same. Some projects require pipe to go through the trench shield. Pro-Tec Equipment can handle that problem by incorporating cutouts into the trench shield. Replaceable doors are also available.
EG 4 sided-Example Double-Square

Railing Post Systems

Pro-Tec Equipment's Railing Post System serves as an extra precautionary measure, providing temporary railing around excavations that involve trench shoring and trench shielding equipment.


Certified by a Registered Professional Engineer to meet or exceed O.S.H.A. handrail standards, the Railing Post Systems are two-piece, lightweight systems that can be adapted to work with sheetpile, aluminum and steel trench shields and our Slide Rail Shoring panels.

Railing Post System features:

  • Two-piece system: Post and Saddle are pinned together, enabling the posts to be easily removed to provide digging access for excavators.
  • Universal saddles: One saddle to fit sheetpile, aluminum trench shields, steel trench shields and slide rail shoring panels
  • Lightweight system: Constructed of tube steel. Designed to enable two workers to carry and place assembled systems on site.
  • Registered by a Professional Engineer: meets O.S.H.A. handrail standards. Each system has a stamped technical data sheet.


PAL3 Series - 3" thick Lightweight Trench Boxes

PAL3 Series - 3" thick Trench Shields | Trench Boxes

PAL3 Series

Lightweight 3" Shields

The Pro-Tec Equipment Pal3 Series trench shields (trench boxes) are available in 3” sidewalls and are specifically designed for municipal utility installation/maintenance, water, sewer, gas, fiber optic and cable installation, among other projects. The Pal3 models are available in a single-wall or a double-wall shield, offering even more flexibility for use with light-duty excavators and backhoes.

PAL3 standard features

  • Industry’s first standard 4-point lift system
  • Recessed collar assemblies
  • Choice of 3” or 4” collars
  • Professional Engineer Certified to meet or exceed O.S.H.A. requirements
  • On knife edge shields: the industry’s strongest knife edge

PAL3 series options

  • Foam filling – prevents soil and water buildup
  • Extended collars 
  • Cutouts and replaceable doors
  • Single or double wall models
  • Stacking pockets
  • Custom sizes

PAL Series 3" Single Wall Shields

Standard Metric
Height x Length Model Weight** Pipe Clearance Shield Capacity* Depth of Cut* B-Soils Depth of Cut* C-60 Depth of Cut* C-80
ft lbs in psf ft ft ft
4 x 4 PAL 3-44 S 790 24 3000 66 50 38
4 x 6 PAL 3-46 S 1050 24 1860 41 31 24
4 x 8 PAL 3-48 S 1250 24 1009 22 17 13
4 x 10 PAL 3-410 S 1490 24 647 14 11 8
4 x 12 PAL 3-412 S 1790 24 500 11 8 6
6 x 4 PAL 3-64 S 990 36 1380 30 23 18
6 x 6 PAL 3-66 S 1290 36 960 20 16 13
6 x 8 PAL 3-68 S 1590 36 780 16 13 11
6 x 10 PAL 3-610 S 1990 36 590 13 10 7
6 x 12 PAL 3-612 S 2350 36 500 11 8 6
8 x 4 PAL 3-84 S 1350 36 1500 32 25 20
8 x 6 PAL 3-86 S 1700 36 1020 21 17 14
8 x 8 PAL 3-88 S 1990 36 840 17 14 12
8 x 10 PAL 3-810 S 2750 36 660 13 11 9
8 x 12 PAL 3-812 S 3200 36 480 9 8 7

PAL Series 3" Double Wall Shields

Standard Metric
Height x Length Model Weight** Pipe Clearance Shield Capacity* Depth of Cut* B-Soils Depth of Cut* C-60 Soils Depth of Cut* C-80 Soils
ft lbs in psf ft ft ft
4 x 6 PAL 3-46 1170 24 3000 67 50 38
4 x 8 PAL 3-48 1460 24 2830 63 47 35
4 x 10 PAL 3-410 1740 24 1770 39 39 22
4 x 12 PAL 3-412 2120 24 1080 24 18 14
4 x 16 PAL 3-416 2590 24 680 15 11 9
6 x 6 PAL 3-66 1630 36 3000 66 50 38
6 x 8 PAL 3-68 2060 36 2760 60 46 35
6 x 10 PAL 3-610 2510 36 1500 32 25 20
6 x 12 PAL 3-612 2960 36 1080 23 18 14
6 x 16 PAL 3-616 3700 36 680 15 11 9
8 x 6 PAL 3-86 2100 48 2040 44 34 27
8 x 8 PAL 3-88 2590 48 1740 37 29 23
8 x 10 PAL 3-810 3220 48 1320 28 22 18
8 x 12 PAL 3-812 3800 48 1080 23 18 15
8 x 16 PAL 3-816 4850 48 680 13 11 9

PAL4 Series - 4" thick Lightweight Trench Boxes Lightweight 4" Thick Trench Shields

Pal4

PAL4 Series

PAL4 standard features

  • Industry’s first standard 4-point lift system
  • Full-length double top rail provides built-in “I” beam strength
  • Recessed collar assemblies
  • Choice of 4” or 7” collars
  • Professional Engineer Certified to meet or exceed O.S.H.A. requirements
  • On knife edge shields: the industry’s strongest knife edge
  • On flat bottom shields: full-length double bottom rail provides built-in “I” beam strength

Pal4 series options

  • Foam filling – prevents soil and water buildup
  • Extended collars 
  • Cutouts and replaceable doors

PAL 4 Series Trench Shielding and Shoring

Standard Metric
Height x Length Model Shield Weight 4" collars** Shield Weight 7" collars** Pipe Clearance Shield Capacity* Depth of Cut* B-Soils Depth of Cut* C-60 Soils Depth of Cut* C-80 Soils
ft lbs lbs in psf ft ft ft
4 x 8 PAL 4-48 1800 2100 24 2400 53 40 30
4 x 10 PAL 4-410 2190 2490 24 2100 46 35 27
4 x 12 PAL 4-412 2490 2790 24 1740 39 29 22
4 x 14 PAL 4-414 3000 3300 24 1320 29 22 17
4 x 16 PAL 4-416 3200 3500 24 1020 22 17 13
4 x 20 PAL 4-420 3850 4150 24 660 15 11 9
4 x 24 PAL 4-424 n/a 5120 24 540 12 9 7
6 x 8 PAL 4-68 2490 2790 36 2400 53 40 30
6 x 10 PAL 4-610 2950 3250 36 2100 46 35 27
6 x 12 PAL 4-612 3390 3690 36 1740 38 29 23
6 x 14 PAL 4-614 3850 4150 36 1500 33 25 19
6 x 16 PAL 4-616 4300 4600 36 1140 24 19 15
6 x 20 PAL 4-620 5250 5550 36 780 16 13 11
6 x 24 PAL 4-624 n/a 6530 36 540 12 9 7
8 x 8 PAL 4-88 3100 3400 48 2400 53 40 30
8 x 10 PAL 4-810 3650 3950 48 2100 46 35 27
8 x 12 PAL 4-812 4250 4550 48 1740 37 29 23
8 x 14 PAL 4-814 4800 5100 48 1500 32 25 20
8 x 16 PAL 4-816 5400 5700 48 1140 24 19 15
8 x 20 PAL 4-820 6750 7050 48 780 16 13 11
8 x 24 PAL 4-824 n/a 8380 48 540 12 9 7

Trench Box Spreaders for Pal-Series

4" Schedule 40 Pipe Including Pins & Keepers

4 Pipe Spreader Sets

Standard Metric
Model Inside Width Weight
in lbs
L 4-24 24 140
L 4-24 30 170
L 4-24 36 190
L 4-24 42 210
L 4-24 48 230
L 4-24 60 270
L 4-24 72 320
L 4-24 84 360
L 4-24 96 400
L 4-24 108 450
L 4-24 120 490
L 4-24 144 580

5" Schedule 80 Pipe Including Pins & Keepers

4 Pipe Spreader Sets

Standard Metric
Model Inside Width Weight
in lbs
M 4-24 24 220
M 4-30 30 270
M 4-36 36 310
M 4-42 42 350
M 4-48 48 390
M 4-60 60 470
M 4-72 72 560
M 4-84 84 640
M 4-96 96 730
M 4-108 108 810
M 4-120 120 890
M 4-132 132 1000
M 4-144 144 1100

8" Schedule 80 Pipe Including Pins & Keepers

4 Pipe Spreader Sets

Standard Metric
Model Inside Width Weight
in lbs
H 4-24 24 470
H 4-30 30 560
H 4-36 36 650
H 4-42 42 740
H 4-48 48 820
H 4-60 60 1010
H 4-72 72 1170
H 4-84 84 1350
H 4-96 96 1510
H 4-108 108 1692
H 4-120 120 1860
H 4-132 132 2040
H 4-144 144 2210

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*PSF (pounds per square foot) ratings indicate maximum shield capacities. Depths are based on B, C and C-80 soil types as described in OSHA's 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart P, October 31, 1989 with Type B not exceeding 45 PSF per foot of depth, Type C not exceeding 60 PSF per foot of depth and Type C-80 not exceeding 80 PSF per foot of depth. Determine actual soil pressure and consult manufacturers Tabulated Data prior to each use.

Job site photos are strictly intended for general product information only and may not comply with all applicable safety standards. Always refer to manufacturers’ serialized specific tabulated data, O.S.H.A. 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P for excavations and all applicable safety standards prior to each use.