Conway, South Carolina, contractor Express Construction LLC was recently subcontracted by housing developer R.S. Parker Homes to install a new wet well as part of the infrastructure for a new upscale residential subdivision in the Carolina Forest area near Myrtle Beach. Express Construction opened its doors in 2006 as a small organization in the single-family housing construction companies industry.

The depth of the excavation, nearly 30-feet-deep, required the contractor to use a trench protection system. At the recommendation of Jarrette Hicks, Outside Salesman at Comeback Equipment Rentals, Express' Project Manager, Brian Squires, chose an Efficiency Production manufactured Slide Rail System to shore the excavation. "I've worked with Jarrette (Strickland) for almost eight years," said Squires. "Jarrette is a great guy and has always provided excellent customer service."

Contractor Discovers Advantages of Slide Rail System

Squires was familiar with Slide Rail, having installed other systems in the past. However there was a couple of advantages to the Efficiency system that Squires was quick to point out. "First, I really liked the open-face rails on the posts," Squires said. "It made it very easy to swing panels into the posts when installing the system and provided a little slack in the inner rail on the posts that made it easier to pull out the inside panels."

"The second thing I liked is Efficiency's Ground Quick-Release Shackles. Those were impressive," said Squires. "My guys didn't need to climb ladders to the top of the posts to unscrew regular shackles. It just made the whole operation faster and safer."

Also receiving high praise was Efficiency's "Job Box," a project equipment box that contains all the slings, shackles, lifting tools, and other certified rigging required to install a Slide Rail System. The Job Box also features custom tools that help square the Slide Rail System, plus set the corner posts properly during installation. Efficiency's Job Box is provided on rent with every Slide Rail project.

Express' Brian Squires was also very impressed with Efficiency's Shoring Specialist, Al Baron, who provided factory-direct installation assistance. "It's not every day you get someone who knows what they are doing, and Al really knows what he is doing," Squires said. "Al was very polite and great to work with. I'd like to have him on our next project." Baron is a part of Efficiency Production's SpecialOperations Shoring Division.

Versatility Sets System Apart

Efficiency's Universal Slide Rail is a component shoring system comprised of specialized steel posts and panels.  The versatile system can go 32-feet-deep in a variety of configurations, such as small four-sided pits; large unobstructed excavations as big as 60 by 60 feet or more with in a ClearSpan configuration; or in a Multi-Bay configuration to install tanks and other structures, or lengths of pipe over 40 feet.

Slide Rail panels are installed into integrated rails on the posts-an outside slotted rail first, then an open-face rail on the inside-then the panels and posts are incrementally pushed down to grade as the excavation is dug; a process commonly referred to as a "dig and push" system.

Wet Well Completely Installed Quickly

The Slide Rail System equipment was rented locally from Comback Equipment Rentals. Comeback is Efficiency Production's newest dealer in their nationwide network of factory-supported distributors. Comeback Equipment Rentals brings the knowledge of 30 years of experience in the shoring rental industry. They offer small and large equipment, landscaping materials, and propane for homeowners, contractors, and vacationers to the Myrtle Beach area.

The 8-foot diameter pre-cast wet well needed to be installed at a 30 feet deep grade, however rather than shoring that entire depth, Express took advantage of the uncongested location to "bench" down, or excavate, the whole work site about 15 feet, which left only half the distance to excavate to grade. The worksite also needed to be dewatered for a week, and the lower starting depth made it possible to use well points.

 Once the site was prepared, it took Express only two days to install the 16 by 16 by 16 foot deep Slide Rail System, set the precast wet well, and then remove the shoring system and clean up the job site.

The pieces of heavy equipment Express Construction used on the project were:

·       Caterpillar 326E and 320E Excavators

·       Caterpillar D5 Dozer

·       John Deere front-loader

·       Two Caterpillar off-road trucks