Sheet piling keeps construction sure-footed
Sheet piling has many applications, from hiding a construction site against prying eyes, to keeping trespassers out and controlling access points.
But another use for sheet piling is to protect the site against the elements, as interlocking piling can create a temporary or permanent wall around the edge.
With wet weather likely in the weeks and months leading up to the summer, keeping water off of the site can be a good first step towards maintaining safe underfoot conditions.
HSE guidance warns that, if surfaces below foot are allowed to become muddy, they may need covering or treating with stone to avoid slips and falls.
Sheet piling is a good first step towards preventing this from happening – and even if the ground does become muddy, you should be able to avoid the worst of any minor floods that take place when the spring rains arrive.
Choose your sheet piling based on how long it needs to remain in place.
Temporary sheet piling is perfect for building sites that need privacy against passers-by, but where the wall created is not a lasting part of the plans.
Permanent sheet piling, meanwhile, can quickly create a retaining wall during construction, which can then be left afterwards for architectural or safety reasons.
What is Sheet Piling?
As you may well know, there are different types of piling available to suit different construction jobs. One of these types is sheet piling, which has a very specific purpose in construction. Read on to find out more.
Typically, sheet piling is used to create a wall surrounding the area of construction. Depending on the needs of the specific job, this wall can either be temporary or permanent. Sheet piles can be found in a range of heights and thicknesses, and the walls are created by interlocking the piles. Sheet piling has two main purposes: to add protection or hide the construction site.
One of the main purposes of sheet piling is to prevent cave-ins. This is something that can be a risk if a construction job is taking place on soft ground. The sheet piling protects the ground and the construction site, allowing work to continue while reducing the risk of problems. It can also prevent flooding on building sites – something that really matters in a country with so much rain.
This means that sheet piling is very versatile and so it is often used in construction jobs. Metal sheet piling is the most popular variety, but it can also be made out of wood or vinyl depending on the needs of the specific job.