The underestimated strength of aluminium trench shields, modular panels & soldier sets.

Do you think aluminium shoring is strong? Check out how our aluminium shields and modular panels are rigorously tested and made to ensure the perfect strength-to-weight ratio so it is easy for contractors like you to use them on sites and get your team home safely each night to their friends and families.

All our shields are tested vigorously, keeping your crew protected and your mind at ease!

How our aluminium shields are tested:

In the image, you can see our shields being rigorously tested at National Trench Safety, a large American company that sells, hires and trains in all things trench shoring in the USA. These shields were subjected to an 80-tonne load of steel road plates, demonstrating their incredible durability and resilience under extreme pressure. 

How our aluminium modular panels are tested:

Similarly, our aluminium modular panels were tested at GME in the USA with a hydraulic ram pushing into the centre of the aluminium extrusion the modular panels are made of. The breaking point was 2,565kg (5,655 lbs) for a 200mm wide (8 inches) extrusion.

The aluminium extrusions our shields and modular panels are made from is engineered by heating aluminium until it’s soft, then using a large ram to press it through a cross-sectional profile die, resulting in aluminium extrusions. The die is what the manufacturer uses to create the famous lightweight-to-strength ratio of our aluminium shields.

Steel vs Alloy – weight & kPa:

A steel 5m shield weights 3,311kg with a 67kPa rating while our 5m aluminium shield weights 1,628kg with a 55KPA rating; the alloy shield works out to be almost half the steel shield weight – 49% to be exact with only a 18% drop in kPa. This displays aluminium’s impressive strength to weight ratio. See more HERE.

All certified and up to spec, the shield you can trust.

All our shields and manual soldiers are certified to: British and European Standards BS. EN 13331.1 and 13331.2, Australia & New Zealand Standard AS 4744.1-2000 & compliant with the United States Standard, OSHA Sub Part P.

Our hydraulic vertical shores and our modular panels are compliant with the OSHA standard 29 CRF, Part 1926, Subpart P, Excavations. This means all our gear is tested to meet or exceed the NZ trench safety standards, ensuring that your team will be safe in the trenches when our gear is in place. Gear sorted job done.

What these certifications mean:

1.     British and European Standards BS. EN 13331.1 and 13331.2

EN 13331 covers all metallic trench lining systems, not just steel. This means aluminium systems are acceptable if they meet the material standards.

The standard includes design rules, performance criteria, and calculation methods, similar to AS 4744.1.

The minimum system capacity must be 30 kPa (higher than the 20 kPa in AS 4744.1).

It also provides a way to calculate maximum deflection based on typical system resistance.

2.     Australia & New Zealand Standard AS 4744.1-2000

AS 4744.1-2000 was based on the draft version of EN 13331 (parts 1 and 2).

AS 4744.1 only applies to steel trench lining systems, so it doesn’t directly cover the aluminium systems we use. However, some of its guidelines contain useful information, this is why our shields are certified to multiple standards.

Key requirements in AS 4744.1 include:

• A method for calculating expected soil pressure for a given site and excavation.
• A minimum system capacity of 20 kPa, with maximum deflection limited to 1/60 under rated load.

Standards Australia withdrew AS 4744.1-2000 on 29/11/2018 without replacing it.

3.     AS/NZS 1664.2:1997

This standard sets requirements for designing aluminium alloy load-bearing members and elements. It provides allowable stress design (ASD) criteria as an alternative to limit state design (LSD) criteria outlined in AS 1664.1.

4.     OSHA standard 29 CRF, Part 1926, Subpart P

OSHA Part 1926 Subpart P covers regulations for excavations and trenches.

Shields must be either premanufactured or job-built, following sections 1926.652(c)(3) or (c)(4).

These sections allow design using tabulated data or by a registered professional engineer.

The regulations also define soil types, benching, and battering methods, as well as installation requirements for timber or aluminium site-built shoring—though these aren’t directly relevant to trench shields.

Most design details are provided in tables that specify maximum spacings and member sizes for shoring.

However, they don’t clearly show the exact soil pressure being considered, unlike EN standards, which provide a method for calculating soil pressure profiles.

Strength you can see. Safety you can feel.

We are committed to delivering high-quality, safe, and practical solutions for your trench safety needs. Our shields protect your people day in and day out so they can do what really matters: get home safely to their family and friends every night.

Contact us on 0508 41 41 41 for more information on the strength of our shields or emailsales@guardiancivil.co.nz for inquiries and further information.

View our range of shields here: https://www.transquip.co.nz/blog/Guardian-Trench-Shield-Hire-Flyer

View our Steel vs Alloy shield blog here: https://www.transquip.co.nz/blog/aluminium-vs-steel-trench-shields-which-one-suits-you-best