The Redland Company, headquarted in Homestead, Fla., was recently subcontracted by project owner Layne Heavy Civil to perform utility work converting all residential and commercial buildings in Islamorada, Fla., from septic tank to sewer system. The project is part of the village’s Sewer System Conversion.

The utility project requires a variety of sewer pipe installation including vacuum sewer line, force main, low pressure main and gravity. Material of pipe being installed varies including HDPE to SDR; also in various lengths and diameter. Additionally, as with all remediation and conversion utility projects, existing utilities are common and frequent. For Redland, that meant installing pipe around water, phone and electrical lines and some storm drainage.

All of these variables posted a unique challenge for Redland to keeping its workers safe in the pipe installation trench, and the type of shoring system Redland used. Flexibility was central, and Redland found that flexibility by renting an Efficiency Production manufactured Build-A-Box modular trench shield from Efficiency Shoring & Supply’s Miami branch office.

Build-A-Box is designed to easily assemble into two, three or four-sided configurations. The advantage of the modular shoring system is that the 2 ft. (.6 m) aluminum panels can be added, taken out and even pinned up in the corner posts to allow for crossing utilities to travel under the shield’s sidewalls.

For the Islamorada project, Efficiency Shoring delivered two sets of 6 x 4 ft. (1.8 x 1.2 m) two-sided shields with short spreaders so Redland could dig a narrow trench for installing the pipe; a critical consideration while working in the more congested sections of the Islamorada area.

"The biggest challenge was trying to stay within OSHA [excavation] standards while laying pipe," said Cliff Scott, Redland Company. "At first, the Build-A-Box did not seem practical, but after trying different things and making the adjustments that [Efficiency Shoring & Supply’s] David Diaz recommended; it really helped ease the situation.

"They have gone above and beyond to make my job easier and have peace of mind," Scott said.

Founded more than 50 years ago, The Redland Company is a third generation engineering contractor providing full site development and infrastructure contracting services throughout Florida and Georgia.

For more information on Redland Company, visit www.redlandcompany.com

For more information on Efficiency Shoring, visit www.efficiencyshoring.com.

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