Trenching in construction refers to the process of excavating a small trench beneath the ground’s surface with an earthmoving machine known as a trencher. Trenches are deeper than they are wide, as opposed to ditches, and narrower than they are long, as opposed to a hole or pit.
What’s the Difference Between Trenching and Excavating?
While all trenches are excavations, not all excavations are trenches. An excavation is any man-made trench, hole, or depression caused by soil removal below the ground’s surface, whereas a trench is any excavation that is narrower in comparison to its length. An excavation can be any form or size, although a trench typically has a depth larger than its breadth and a width no greater than 15 feet.
What Are Trenches Used For?
Trenching is used in a wide range of civil engineering and construction tasks, including the installation of pipelines, electric cables, sewage lines, and telephone wire. Trenching is most commonly employed in the home for excavating irrigation or installing water connections, power wires, and heating system pipes. Trenching is utilized at the city level to lay drainage and sewage systems, as well as city-wide power lines.
