Excavation is an essential early step in many commercial construction projects. By getting rid of existing rock and soil, workers create a “blank canvas” for a new structure’s foundation.
However, unstable soils can cause erosion and other problems that might get in the way of excavation work. Retaining walls built with precast lagging panels are great at stabilizing soil, but you’ll get the most out of your wall if you take time to think about your panel specifications.
Why Soil Stabilization Matters During Excavation and Construction
Soil stability plays a big role in determining the success or failure of commercial excavation/construction efforts. This can affect a project’s:
- Structural integrity. If your soil isn’t stable, the structures you build on it will be more likely to collapse or encounter other problems.
- Environmental impact. Stabilizing soil lowers your risk of land degradation, sedimentation, and erosion.
- Cost efficiency. Since it can protect your structure, soil stabilization will help you avoid costly repair or reconstruction work.
- Timeline. Construction work moves faster with stabilized soil, allowing workers to complete jobs as efficiently as possible.
- Overall safety. Unstable soil can fail in sudden and unexpected ways, so you shouldn’t expect your workers to attempt excavation before this situation is under control.
While there are a number of ways to stabilize soil, retaining walls are one of the most effective soil stabilization methods. These structures do an excellent job of protecting foundations and controlling erosion on construction and excavation sites.
The Benefits of Precast Lagging Panels
If you’re thinking about installing a retaining wall for excavation and construction work, your first step will be to decide what materials you’ll use. Precast concrete lagging panels are a great choice when you’re concerned about factors like:
Time Sensitivity
When your construction project has a tight deadline, you can’t afford to waste a second on retaining wall installation. Since they’re designed to meet strict standards, precast lagging panels shine in situations where time is of the essence. According to PCI Midwest, the average daily installation rate for precast products is 20-30+ pieces per crew/crane on a job site.
Site Constraints
Are you handling excavation work in an urban area (or anywhere else where space is a concern)? If so, you’ll need to make the most of the work area you have – and precast lagging panels can help.
One of the biggest advantages these building materials deliver is the fact that they aren’t manufactured on-site. Because of that, you won’t have to devote valuable real estate to this process.
Weather Resistance
Concrete can stand up to all sorts of weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold. That makes this material an excellent choice for retaining walls, which need to be ready for situations like these.
Regulatory Compliance
At every step of your commercial excavation project, you’ll have to keep safety and environmental standards in mind. Naturally, these standards apply to the retaining walls you use in these projects – and precast concrete lagging panels can meet these requirements with ease.
Cost Control
Unfortunately, any construction project can run into unexpected costs caused by complications or delays. Since precast concrete lagging panels aren’t manufactured on the job site and are easy to install, these materials can help you keep this risk to a minimum.
Precast lagging panels will lower your long-term expenses, too. Compared to timber, these lagging panels have a significantly longer service life (50-100 years, according to the National Precast Concrete Association). Because of that, you shouldn’t need to buy replacement panels in the foreseeable future.
Tips on Specifying Lagging Precast Components and Panels for Retaining Walls
With these advantages in mind, it’s easy to see how commercial excavation projects benefit from retaining walls. However, you’ll need to create clear specifications for your lagging panels if you want your wall to succeed.
As part of this process, it’s important to:
Clarify Lagging Panel Sizing
If your lagging panels aren’t the right size for your retaining wall, this structure won’t be able to function as intended. Because of that, your specifications need to list:
- The span between soldier piles (AKA steel beams) in your wall
- The thickness of your lagging panels
- The joints your lagging panels should use
Have a Reinforcement Strategy for Inserts, Bar Supports, and Stability
Reinforcement helps lagging panels reach their full potential in terms of performance and durability. Your strategy for reinforcing these materials should account for:
- Crack control
- Edge durability
- Lifting points
Include Clear Tolerances for Precast Lifting Anchors
Retaining walls are meant to deal with a certain amount of variation while they’re in use, so some level of flexibility in these walls isn’t an issue. However, the people in charge of these projects should still define tolerances for backfill contact, panel bearing, and pile spacing variability in their walls.
Think About Drainage and Positioning
Drainage is one of the most important factors to consider while designing a retaining wall. When the soil held back by these walls absorbs water, hydrostatic pressure can build up if that water has nowhere to go.
Fortunately, incorporating drainage into your retaining wall can make this a non-issue. Your drainage strategy could include weep holes, geocomposite drains, chimney drains, and outlet protection.
Keep Logistics in Mind
If you aren’t manufacturing concrete panels on the job site, you’ll need to know how to get them there in one piece. To do that, it’s crucial to think about things like:
- The weight of your concrete panels
- How you’ll get heavy equipment for panel installation onto your job site
- Where you’ll store precast lagging panels before installation
- How you’ll protect your panels from damage during transportation
Not sure where to start with these concerns? Don’t worry – the best precast concrete providers can assist you by storing, delivering, and (upon your request) coordinating installation for concrete lagging panels.
A Precast Lagging Panel Supplier You Can Trust for Expert Handling
When you’re looking for precast lagging panels to use in a retaining wall for commercial excavation, you shouldn’t settle for less than the best. American Precast Concrete Inc. can help – we provide made-to-order precast panels that will meet your exact specifications. If you’d like to get started, contact us today!