Trench Prop Hire in Crowborough, East Sussex —
Keep Your Excavation Open and Your Team Safe
The trench is open and the health and safety plan requires it shored. Adjustable steel struts from Crowborough comply with CIRIA C580 and keep your crew safe. Call 01892 662 777.
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Trench sheets hold the face. Trench props hold the sheets apart. Together they form a complete, CDM-compliant shoring system for open-cut excavations where workers need to descend. Three prop sizes — No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 — covering trench widths from 450mm to 1,680mm. At 3.00 per prop per week, they are one of the most cost-effective safety items on any site.
Trench Prop Hire -- Sizes and Rates
Trench props (also called trench struts or soldiers) are adjustable steel cross-bracing members set horizontally between two runs of opposing trench sheets. They are tightened using a screw adjustment to transfer the lateral earth pressure from each sheet face through the prop to the opposing face, preventing the sheets from deflecting inward.
Rates are per prop per week. No daily rate. Props are hired alongside trench sheets for a complete shoring system. Both can be placed on the same account. Prices exclude VAT.
When Do You Need Trench Props?
Trench props are the lateral bracing component of a sheet piling shoring system. They are required when trench sheets are used to support excavation faces that are under active earth pressure — in other words, almost any sheeted trench of any significant depth.
The propping arrangement for your trench should be specified in the method statement and risk assessment. For notifiable construction work, building control and the principal contractor will expect to see the temporary works scheme before excavation begins.
For full specifications and pricing on our complete trench prop range, browse the Coppard online catalogue.
Trench Props and Trench Sheets -- The Complete Shoring System
Trench props are almost always hired alongside trench sheets -- the two components work together as a system. The sheets provide the vertical face support; the props provide the lateral restraint that stops the sheets from deflecting under earth pressure.
The standard installation sequence is: pitch the first pair of sheets on opposing faces to the required depth. Set the top row of props to hold the sheets apart at the correct working width. Continue excavating. As the trench deepens, add further rows of props at vertical intervals specified in the method statement -- typically every 1.2 to 1.5 metres of depth. Transfer props downward as the face progresses, never working without bracing in position.
In Wealden Clay, the ground can appear stable without propping in the short term. Do not be misled -- clay under lateral load will creep, particularly in wet conditions, and can move suddenly if a tension crack develops behind the sheet. Props must be in position before operatives enter the trench.
Coppard can supply trench sheets and props from the same account. If you are unsure of the correct prop size for your trench width, call our Crowborough depot with the planned trench dimensions and we will confirm the right combination.
We regularly supply trench prop hire to customers across Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, East Grinstead, Heathfield, Wadhurst, Forest Row and Tonbridge. Same-week delivery available from our Crowborough depot across East Sussex and Kent.
Trench Props for Contractors Operating in Kent and Surrey
Groundworks contractors and utility companies operating across Kent and Surrey use trench props extensively. Drainage replacement, new connections to public sewers, highway utility installation and broadband duct networks all require shored excavations where ground conditions or depth demand formal support.
For contractors already holding a Coppard account, adding trench props and sheets to an existing plant hire is straightforward — one call to Crowborough, same invoice, same delivery if required. Many groundworks contractors operating in the Crowborough, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks areas use us as their single plant supplier for both excavators and temporary works equipment.
For NRSWA-regulated works on public highways in East Sussex and Kent, the shoring system forms part of the traffic management scheme documentation. Both the trench sheet specification and prop arrangement are typically included in the method statement submitted with the permit application.
If your prop and sheet combination needs to meet a specific temporary works design, Coppard can provide equipment load data on request. Our account team can supply the relevant product information to support a temporary works calculation by your engineer.
Why Hire Trench Props from Coppard?
Coppard stocks trench props and sheets from the same depot, which simplifies the logistics of a trench shoring project. No separate supplier for the sheets and another for the props.
Call Crowborough on 01892 662 777 to confirm stock and book props alongside trench sheets.
Searching for the best trench prop hire near me? Coppard’s Crowborough depot covers Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, East Grinstead, Heathfield, Tonbridge, Forest Row, Wadhurst, Hartfield and the wider High Weald area of East Sussex and Kent. Call 01892 662 777.
For the full range of Plant & Machinery Hire available from our Crowborough depot, visit our Plant & Machinery Hire page.
Browse the full Trench Prop Hire catalogue on the Coppard website — full specifications, models and current availability.
Frequently Asked Questions — Trench Prop Hire in Crowborough and East Sussex
How many trench props do I need per metre of trench?
As a general guide for a trench in cohesive clay soil, one row of props per 1.2 to 1.5 metres of depth is a starting point. So a 2.4-metre-deep trench would typically have two rows of props — one near the top of the sheets and one at mid-depth. The exact arrangement should be specified in a temporary works method statement. For shorter, shallower trenches in good ground, the arrangement may be simpler, but always confirm with your method statement.
What is the maximum trench width the No. 3 prop covers?
The Trench Prop No. 3 adjusts to a maximum open dimension of 1,680mm. If your trench is wider than this, hydraulic struts or a larger steel soldier frame system may be required. Contact our team to discuss options for wider excavations.
How do I install a trench prop correctly?
Position the prop horizontally between the opposing sheet faces at the required height. Adjust the screw extension to bear firmly against both sheet faces — the prop should be snug but not so overtightened that it bows the sheets inward. Props should be plumb in the vertical plane and level or slightly inclined toward the sheet face. Never use a prop as a climbing aid — use proper access equipment to enter and exit the trench.
Can I use trench props without trench sheets?
No. Trench props are lateral bracing members designed to work in conjunction with trench sheets or other face support panels. Without a sheet or panel to push against, a prop provides no useful structural function. If you are considering an alternative support system (hydraulic trench box, drag box), we can discuss options. Coppard can advise on system selection for your specific trench dimensions.
What is the minimum hire period for trench props?
One week, at 3.00 per prop per week. Most drainage and utility jobs run over at least one or two weeks between mobilisation, dig, installation and backfill phases. If your job finishes early, you pay for the minimum one-week period.
Are trench props the same as acrow props?
No. Acrow props are vertical columns used to support loads from above — lintels, floor slabs, beams. Trench props are horizontal struts designed to resist lateral earth pressure from the side. They look superficially similar (both are adjustable steel tubes) but they are designed for different load directions and are not interchangeable.
Need trench prop hire near you in East Sussex or Kent?
Call 01892 662 777. Same-day collection from Crowborough. Delivery across East Sussex, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Uckfield, East Grinstead and beyond.
