Manual EXCAVATION" means an operation for the purposes of movement or removal of earth, rock or other materials in or on the ground, or otherwise disturbing the subsurface of the earth, by the use of powered or mechanized equipment, including but not limited to digging, blasting, auguring, backfilling, test boring, drilling, pile driving, grading, plowing-in, hammering, pulling in, trenching, [and] tunneling, reclamation processes, and milling; excluding the movement of earth by tools manipulated only by human or animal power and the tilling of soil for agricultural purposes.

"THRUST BORING" or auger boring, is a jack and bore drilling method typically used for installing steel pipe casing beneath an existing surface where the risk of hole collapse whilst installing larger diameters has been identified or where the grade is critical. Thrust boring is typically performed by placing an auger equipped with a cutting head inside a 200mm to 1500mm diameter steel pipe. The auger is then attached to the rotation shaft of a thrust boring machine. Steel pipe casing is typically installed in 6-meter lengths so an entry pit at least 10.6 meters long is required to accommodate the combined length of the pipe and thrust boring machinery.

Thrust boring generally works best in soils that are located above the groundwater table. When groundwater is present during a boring operation, special dewatering measures must be taken to prevent the steel pipe casing from being flooded with water.

ADVANTAGES

•        Accurate installations +1-25mm over distances up to 100 meters between pits

•        Can operate from shafts as small as 2.40mØ

•        Ideal for gravity drainage pipes, cable ducts or accurate installations

•        Can install a variety of pipe materials, such as clay, steel, PE, concrete or GRP

•        Dry method of installation - unlike micro tunneling does not generate a slurry

•        Auger boring is unaffected by surface obstacles

•        No disruption to surface, buildings, road, river, rail or traffic

•        By boring underground, the working area is confined to entry and exit points

•, Unlike micro tunneling, Guided Auger can be retracted back to the working pit

•        Can be used to install pipes in changeable ground conditions

•        Auger boring is quick and, in many cases, has lower overall costs