April 2010 Vol. 65 No. 4

Z-Shore is designed for wider excavations. Built around a system of hydraulic rams, Z-Shore features a steel jacketed structure to withstand the rigors of heavy duty jobs.

Mabey sheet pile is available in a wide range of sizes for various applications and can be used together with Mabey’s hydraulic framing systems when needed.

Five new compact CX B Series excavators from Case offer zero tail swing and a center-swing boom for maximum productivity in even the tightest working spaces.

The new E18B zero tail swing, compact excavator delivers more digging performance and an adjustable track gauge for easy maneuverability in tight spaces.

Kobelco Short Radius ACERA excavators use the new Integrated Noise Dust Reduction system.

The E35 is a zero tail swing (ZTS) model gives unrestricted rotation and greater flexibility when you work close to objects or walls.

The Volvo ECR145C short swing excavator has a heavy counterweight and stable center of gravity.

Recently upgraded to the Dash-3 series, the Hitachi Zaxis 35U-3 meets EPA Interim Tier-4 emissions requirements.

The XT850 features a dual-pivot excavator system with a 260 degree total excavator sweep for wide offset digging capability.

The 60D and mid-sized 85D join the D-Series excavators. Both excavators feature reduced tail-swing designs that allow them to rotate freely within a small radius and get closer to objects on congested jobsites.

The ProSeries steel line includes 4-, 6- and 8-inch thick sidewall models. The PalSeries Lightweight steel shields include 3-inch single wall and 3- and 4-inch double wall models.

Efficiency Production provides a wide selection of standard and custom trench shielding and shoring systems.

ultraSHORE trench shields are made of a specially corrugated aluminum that are lightweight and easy to install and save money.

Quik-Shor’s Double Cylinder Power Shore utilizes two, 2-inch diameter hydraulic cylinders.

Vertical Shores are the quickest, simplest and safest way to shore a trench. Designed for use in more stable soils, they can be placed as fast as you excavate, usually by one person.

With our many years of experience, American Shoring has designed and manufactured quality trench shields for all levels of underground construction.

<strong>Madewell</strong> The Madewell PortaMortar machine mixes, pumps and sprays high build restoration mortar and 100 percent solids epoxy coatings in difficult to reach areas.

Burst and replace water, sewer, gas and other pipes with the Grundoburst static pipebursting system from TT Technologies.

Underground Tools Inc. (UTI) is offering a new line of custom-built hole openers for HDD applications.

The <a href="www.RhinoHitKit.com">Rhino HIT Kit</a> records damage to buried facilities with a perspective that tells us the whole story.

The RAPTOR UIFD1 handheld Ultrasonic Imaging Flaw Detector combines a hand-held flaw detector with a fully capable imaging system at the price of most mid-level flaw detectors.

A complete line of 100 percent polyethylene outrigger pads is now available from AlturnaMats.

Business news from Vermeer, Caterpillar, Astec Industries, Ditch Witch, SAK Construction, MasTec, Akkerman, Volvo Construction Equipment, JCB, Advanced Drainage Systems, Pressure Pipe Inspection Company and PSI.

Advertisers from the print edition of Underground Construction, Vol. 65 No. 4, April 2010.

This year’s Golden Beavers Awards were presented at the 55th Annual Beavers Awards Dinner on Jan. 22, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, CA. More than 2,000 members of the construction industry attended the black-tie event where Newt Gingrich was a keynote speaker.

Don't gamble with your safety — if you're a professional excavator or a homeowner, smart digging always requires a call to 811. Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before you dig will help protect you from injury and prevent damages to utilities, service disruptions and potential fines and repair costs.

In 2010, the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) celebrates its 20th anniversary. Founded in 1990, NASTT is composed of trenchless professionals who are concerned with underground systems and the applications of trenchless technology.

Without a doubt, the most misunderstood facet of sewer cleaning is the relationship between flows and pressures. Generally, pressure is mistakenly viewed as the wildcard or the reason for concern, and flow is usually ignored. Operators often misunderstand the operation of their pump, the relationship to hose diameter and length to performance and other variables of jetting.

The completion of another record breaking pipe installation, this time at Parris Island, a marine training base in Beaufort, SC, marks a series of successful and lengthy crossings of Fusible PVC (FPVC) pipe. Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) contracted Mears Group Inc. to horizontally directional drill two crossings, 6,400 feet of 16-inch DR 18 FPVC and 600 feet of 16-inch DR 21 FPVC.

For excavation projects requiring manned entry, shielding and shoring trench walls is a major cost. Material and labor prices escalate as excavations cover more area and become deeper. On many large projects -- especially long runs of large-diameter pipe installation -- slide rail systems have become the preferred method of preventing the collapse of trench walls.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Interim Tier 4 emission standards for off-road equipment powered by diesel engines of 175 to less than 750 horsepower will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2011. From that date through Tier 4’s final implementation in 2014, the equipment marketplace will begin to change for equipment manufacturers and dealers and their customers.

Many United States municipalities and utility districts face federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates to correct water quality problems caused by discharges from combined sanitary and storm sewer systems.

There are few, if any, basements beneath the homes and office buildings of South Florida. The cellar (root or otherwise) is a rarity there and if you’re in search of an underground parking garage, you may spend a lifetime looking.

Communication in the underground locating business is vital to providing accurate and timely information between one-call centers, utilities, locators and excavators. However, often even the best lines of communication can break down, whether it’s transferring data or just communications between the different stakeholders.

One of the most dangerous aspects of underground construction is working in closely confined spaces as manholes, underground vaults, sewer pipes, tunnels and pipes, other enclosed areas and open excavations more than four feet deep.

<a href="insitu">Insituform awarded domestic, international contracts</a> <a href="slip">Slipline fits in proactive approach</a> <a href="robot">Robots to help repair aging water pipes</a>

Congressional concern about "fracing" took another step forward when the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to eight companies asking for details on the chemicals they use during horizontal drilling of shale gas deposits. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the committee, implied in a memorandum to committee members that the "Big Three" of fracing may have violated a voluntary memorandum of agreement they signed with the EPA in 2005.

Politics is a tough business. Just ask the U.S. Conference of Mayors. After years of largely underfunding and ignoring the festering problem under their streets, this group authorized a “special report” stating the obvious: they’ve got serious problems with their sewer/water systems, including the underground piping infrastructure.

<a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/april-newsline-new-orleans-reinstates-sewerwater-program-keystone-pipeline-grabs-raising-rates-fund-#NOLA">New Orleans sewer, water board to reinstate program in wake of Hurricane Katrina</a> <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/april-newsline-new-orleans-reinstates-sewerwater-program-keystone-pipeline-grabs-raising-rates-fund-?page=2#gov">Governor wants piece of Keystone Pipeline pie</a> <a href="http://www.undergroundconstructionmagazine.com/april-newsline-new-orleans-reinstates-sewerwater-program-keystone-pipeline-grabs-raising-rates-fund-?page=2#rates">Higher water rates could fund infrastructure projects</a><strong></strong>

Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Facility, the largest seawater desalination plant in the U.S., has passed its final two performance milestone tests. The tests required the plant to produce 25 million gallons of water per day (MGD) for 120 consecutive days and also average 20 MGD for 12 consecutive months.