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Trench Shoring & Protective System Selector

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Trench Shoring & Protective System Selector
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Features & Capabilities

OSHA Decision Tree

Full OSHA 1926.652 decision tree with Appendix A soil classification guidance. Walks through the standard step by step.

Slope Angle Tables

Maximum allowable slopes per Appendix B: Type A (3/4H:1V, 53 degrees), Type B (1H:1V, 45 degrees), Type C (1-1/2H:1V, 34 degrees).

Timber Shoring Data

Tabulated timber shoring data from OSHA Appendix C covering trench depths from 5 to 20 feet.

Hydraulic Shoring Tables

Aluminum hydraulic shoring tables from OSHA Appendix D with waler spacing and cylinder sizing.

Trench Shield Ratings

Trench shield (trench box) minimum rating requirements calculated from soil lateral pressure at the specified depth.

Soil Type Rules

Automatic disqualification of benching for Type C soil per OSHA requirements. Groundwater presence auto-downgrades Type A to Type C.

Frequently Asked Questions

OSHA requires a protective system (sloping, benching, shoring, or shielding) for all trenches 5 feet deep or greater, unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. For trenches less than 5 feet, a competent person must determine if protection is needed based on soil conditions.
No. OSHA specifically prohibits benching in Type C soil. The only options for Type C soil are sloping at 1-1/2H:1V (34 degrees), shoring designed for 80 psf per foot of depth, or shielding with a trench box rated for the soil pressure.
Type A is the most stable: cohesive soil with unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tsf or greater (stiff clay, caliche, hardpan). Type B has lower strength (0.5 to 1.5 tsf) or is granular cohesionless soil like angular gravel. Any previously disturbed soil (even if originally Type A) is automatically downgraded to at least Type B.
Disclaimer: This tool is an educational reference based on OSHA 29 CFR 1926.652 and its appendices. It does not replace a competent person's on-site evaluation. Actual soil conditions, surcharge loads, adjacent structures, and changing weather may require more conservative protective systems than the tabulated minimums. A registered professional engineer must design protective systems for trenches deeper than 20 feet.

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