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The latest knowledge, advice and in-depth equipment rundowns from the expert team at SEL.

Culvert puller

Equipment Focus: The Culvert Puller

Culvert pullers can install concrete pipes and culverts safely and efficiently. Learn all about them in this deep dive into culvert pullers. Posted by The SEL Team What is a culvert? A culvert is a vital component of infrastructure – it is a structure that channels water past an obstacle and its sole purpose is to allow water to drain to prevent flooding. There are various types of culverts, namely, box culverts that are usually pre-cast, pipe culverts and arch culverts and these can be constructed from a number of materials, including pre-cast concrete, galvanised steel and aluminium. The maintenance and regular inspections of culverts are vital as debris, sediment or vegetation can cause a culvert to become clogged, thus reducing its capacity to convey water. This can cause a culvert to fail, resulting in flooding. In this article, we explore the importance of culvert maintenance and the significance of culvert pullers in modern infrastructure maintenance. The importance of culvert maintenance Apart from flood prevention, culverts also ensure that roads remain unobstructed and safe and protects structures from water damage. For these reasons maintenance is essential and responsibility for this lies with landowners. Historically, the maintenance and replacement of culverts were time consuming and labour-intensive. However, with the arrival of innovative machinery like culvert pullers, the task has become more efficient and cost effective. What is a culvert puller? A culvert puller is an electrohydraulic machine which is used to install reinforced concrete pipes and culverts, safely and quickly. Using an electrohydraulic culvert puller greatly improves the installation process as it pulls the units together and is powerful enough to be used with a sealing agent, which results in culverts being joined with a watertight bond. Culvert puller hire at Site Equipment Ltd The Culvert Pullers available at Site Equipment

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X-ray style picture of some acrow props

Our Essential Guide to Acrow Props

Understanding acrow props and their uses in construction Posted by the SEL Team Acrow props are a mainstay in modern construction. They are a reusable, steel, telescopic support system that has remained largely unchanged in design due to its effectiveness and reliability.  These props are ideal for temporary support on a variety of structures such as beams, lintels, walls and floors. They can also be used in conjunction with U-Heads, Needle Beams and Strongboys for the removal of walls and for supporting soffit formwork. This makes it suitable for scaffolding, for use during the removal of walls, and for supporting formwork. Light-weight and easy to install, acrow props will enable you to get on with your construction job without much delay. The Basics of Acrow Prop Use These props are not designed to be used horizontally – use Slimshore for horizontal bracing instead. How to Choose the Right Acrow Prop for Your Project Various Sizes for Different Needs Acrow props are designed to provide support on a range of different construction projects due to the many sizes available. Each size is adjustable and therefore can be used for a variety of height and load requirements within different construction scenarios. The acrow props available at Site Equipment Ltd can support a maximum capacity of 3.5T with open heights from 1.82m to 4.87m. Other propping solutions What we like about Dokaflex and Slimshore Dokaflex 124 Soffit Support System is hugely popular because it is such a simple falsework support solution. This propping system can be used when constructing basements, bridges and high-rise buildings, such as offices, apartments and hotels. It has a number of benefits over traditional slab falsework methods for slabs up to 30cm thick.  Information on the installation sequence can be found here. The Slimshore Propping Solution is the preferred

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Anti-skid road plates from Site Equipment Ltd

Road Plates and Trench Covers – Equipment Spotlight

Learn how ground protection equipment serves as a vital safeguard against damage and hazards, whether on a construction sites or employed at outdoor events Posted on by The SEL Team  Road Plates and Trench Covers are designed to cover excavations and trenches, so that whilst construction crews dig up roads or pavements, they provide safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, ensuring all can safely cross without risk or injury.  Ground Protection Mats (or “Turf Mats”) can be used to cover uneven surfaces at outdoor events such as festivals, concerts and roadshows, whilst also protecting the ground underneath from vehicle movement and heavy footfall. When it comes to ground protection equipment, Site Equipment Ltd provides a number of options. Anti-skid Road Plates These anti-skid road plates are made from steel, with a resin-adhered bauxite-coated surface, reducing the risk of slips, trips and falls in bad conditions, increasing grip for vehicles and pedestrians. At 20mm thick they are suitable for heavy duty vehicle traffic and come supplied with lifting eyes in each corner for easier handling during installation and removal. Holding down bolts can be provided to keep road plates securely in place when in use. Steel Road Plates Our steel road plates are 20mm thick and are very durable. These are available in 2.4m x 1.2m and 1.2m x 1.2m sizes and can also be supplied with holding down bolts. Lifting eyes are present on all steel road plates for loading and unloading purposes and for moving around site. Ground Protection Mats Ground Protection Mats allow vehicles up to 60 tonnes, both tracked and wheeled, to cross stable ground. Ground mats are perfect for preventing damage to the ground or turf from vehicles and pedestrians during outdoor events or festivals. PVC Ground Mats are 2.4m x 1.2m in size. Each mat weighs

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Ground support bracing system

Deep Excavations – What You Should Know

Need to do a deep excavation? We take a closer look at when a deep excavation is needed, why an engineer’s solution is required and how excavation brace systems are used to keep your team safe. Posted by The SEL Team. Deep excavations are a critical aspect of modern construction and plays a pivotal role in large-scale urban development, the building of underground infrastructure and ambitious architectural projects. In this article we will explore and share our insights on this type of groundwork, the key considerations for a deep excavation and the best equipment to ensure the health and safety of those working within a deep excavation. The benefits of deep excavations in modern construction An excavation ‘above head height’ is considered a deep excavation and our ability to dig deep has some real benefits for the modern built environment, especially in the UK where land and space need to be maximised.  Planning is the very first step when it comes to deep excavation works and contractors will do well to instruct an engineer to complete a Temporary Works Design (TWD) Taller Structures Maximise Land Use By digging deeper, buildings can have more floors, which is essential for urban construction where taller structures are needed to maximise land use. Deep excavations also allow for the construction of basements, which is useful for multi-level underground parking facilities and/or the provision of basement storage for high-rise residential apartments, or for the installation of infrastructure for utilities and services. Flood prevention  Flood prevention is also a key benefit of our ability to excavate deep. Most new development sites will require a storm attenuation strategy to control the amount of storm water landing on site and this requires the installation of huge tanks underground, made possible with deep excavations. Tunnel construction  Tunnel construction also

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Equipment Focus: The Impact Mole and Trenchless Technology

Unearthing The Benefits of Impact Moles Posted by The SEL Team Trenchless technology has revolutionised the way underground infrastructure projects are carried out in the construction and civil engineering industries. Traditionally, underground works such as pipe laying, water and sewer works required extensive excavations, but trenchless technology, particularly the use of impact moles, proved a gamechanger – shaping the way this type of work is done in modern construction with the added benefit of minimal excavation. Why is trenchless technology a gamechanger? Trenchless technology is an innovative method in construction that negates the need for an open-cut excavation when it comes to jobs like underground pipe laying or placing an electrical conduit in the ground between two defined points underneath roads, buildings and other structures without much disruption to people and surrounding environment. Unlike excavations, trenchless methods minimise impact on the environment as disturbance to soil, organisms in the ground and water bodies are greatly reduced. Other benefits of trenchless technology include time and cost savings when it comes to surveys and design calculations and with fewer unknowns underground, installation time is often reduced. Impact moles can be used underneath roads, railways, buildings, and other structures to lay pipes and cabling with minimal disruption or damage There are a number of trenchless methods regularly being deployed to boost efficiency in modern construction, but impact moling stands out as particularly efficient. The advancements in trenchless technology, such as those seen in horizontal directional drilling, have broadened the applications for impact moling, benefiting from improved steering technology that was initially developed for HDD drilling rigs. In this article, we dig into why the impact mole is so useful. What is an impact mole? Also described as a soil displacement hammer, the impact mole operates by using compressed air to force a piston-driven

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Frami Formwork Panels on site

The Benefits of Frami and Slimshore

Formwork – the building blocks for concrete structures Posted by The SEL Team Concrete construction is a fundamental component of our built environment and the various shapes and sizes that concrete structures can be moulded into cannot happen without formwork. What is Formwork? Formwork is a temporary structure used to contain wet concrete to mould it to the dimensions required and to provide temporary support until the concrete structure can support itself. Traditionally, timber shuttering was used for temporary support in concrete works, and although the use of timber is still a proven method, modern technology and techniques have improved formwork in many ways – making life easier when it comes to building concrete structures. Considerations for Formwork The following considerations need to be taken into account when deciding on formwork: Formwork need to be strong enough to withstand load – these are forces that can cause stresses, displacement and deformations on a building. Loads the formwork is designed to take include pressure from wet concrete, access loads from access platforms and/or working platforms attached to the formwork and wind loading. Formwork need to be capable of holding its shape by being efficiently propped and braced horizontally and vertically, it needs to be designed to prevent leakage of cement and needs to be able to be removed in various parts without causing damage to the concrete.  It’s important for Formwork to be resting on a firm base and accurately set to the desired line. In addition, good formwork should be as lightweight as possible, be resistant to warping and distortion and suitable for re-use. Types of Formwork According to The Concrete Centre, the main types of formwork used in modern construction include the following: At Site Equipment Ltd (SEL) the preferred formwork system is the Frami Panel System and Slimshore

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Propping and needling work on BoxPark Bristol

Propping And Needling In Action

Adaptable and flexible, Slimshore Soldiers are quick and effective when Propping and Needling is required during construction. Here’s all you need to know. Posted by The SEL Team Used as a means of support for a structure during construction works, propping and needling systems are a form of temporary works intended to maintain building safety by avoiding the collapse of walls and ceilings during alterations of an existing structure.  For instance, this kind of equipment is often used on a construction site when creating an opening in a load-bearing wall. An adaptable and flexible system, propping and needling is quick and easy to deploy in most cases and can be used in both residential and commercial properties – and in all manner of challenging buildings. To give some examples, this method has been used when working with stone, old timber frames and even traditional cobb-style walls. Spotlight on Slimshore Formwork soldiers have proven to be an effective system for Propping and Needling and come in a range of sizes. A modular propping system with a variety of uses, Slimshore’s soldier units are a useful means of facilitating temporary support of structural walls in construction projects using conventional propping and needling techniques. Slimshore soldiers can be used for a range of purposes, such as prop units (including HD push-pull props and HD props), raking shores and needle beams – making them extremely versatile on site and adaptable to meet a project’s needs at short notice. Using a 4no. or 6 no. M16x40 bolted joint, soldiers can be connected end-to-end, making their deployment quick and easy. This modular approach also makes the kit is easy to transport. When used as needle beams, Slimshore soldiers may be laterally restrained using light or heavy duty raking props to ensure stability, depending on the loading

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Why Trenchless Technology?

Taking a closer look at our top quality equipment: the Impact Mole, Grundoburst and Grundowinch Posted by the SEL Team For those who may be less familiar with trenchless technology and its uses in construction, this is essentially a method of installing or replacing underground piping (often to expand pipeline carrying capacity) without the need for trenching, creating minimal disturbance to the site you’re working on. These solutions can be used for a variety of applications, including water and sewer lines, gas and oil pipelines, and communications and power cables; for instance, you might need to access a pipe beneath a busy road or carry out construction work in close proximity to a tree or other utility networks. We often see trenchless technology used at heritage sites where it’s important to avoid potential impact on structures that have been in place for hundreds of years. What are the benefits? Cost effective Using a trenchless method can be more cost effective as it avoids the expense of more labour-intensive options or the costs involved in restoration following surface damage or arranging road closures, for example. Environmentally friendly There are also the environmentally friendly benefits that come with avoiding a large excavation project and the impact that can potentially have on the surrounding landscape. A safe option There are fewer health and safety implications to consider when it comes to trenchless solutions. There’s no need to secure a trench to avoid accidents when not in use, nor the need to introduce the necessary measures to protect construction workers in and around an open excavation. Spotlight on pipe bursters Pipe bursters are amongst our most in-demand trenchless site equipment products and offer an efficient, convenient means of replacing buried pipelines, without the need for excavation – so let’s take a deeper dive into how pipe bursters

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Temporary works design being discussed over laptops

How Temporary Works Design Can Give Excavation Works A Solid Foundation

What is Temporary Works Design, and how can it help you get your construction project off to a successful start? Posted by the SEL Team Excavations are an important first step in any construction project. Whether the site is large or compact, this process is essential for site preparation and to lay solid foundations before a construction project can commence. No construction job or site is the same and therefore excavation works can face many complications. Forward planning is a key component to avoid pitfalls and ensure the success of this part of the construction programme. Temporary Works Design, done in consultation with a reputable Engineer, is a means to secure the desired outcome. It can give your construction job that solid foundation to deliver a successful and safe method. At Site Equipment Ltd (SEL), we always recommend getting an expert Engineer’s solution for on-site construction works. What Is Temporary Works Design? Temporary Works Design is about forward planning. It can be applied to a number of construction jobs, such as formwork, structural support and groundworks, which include excavations. By definition, “Temporary Works”, is a widely used expression in the construction industry for an “engineered solution”. It is used to support or protect an existing structure or the permanent works during construction; to support an item of plant or equipment; the vertical sides or side-slopes of an excavation; to provide access. Depending on the construction job and the nature of the site, the site excavation phase of the job can become rather complicated. Therefore the expertise of an Engineer could be a good investment. Temporary Works Design provides assurance to the safety and buildability of a solution used on site; often, designs are required to satisfy Health and Safety requirements, but can also be instrumental in a Contractor’s method statement and

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