Construction Support, Temporary Structures & Shoring

Project Overview

Location: Colorado and California Type: Construction Engineering, Temporary Works

Construction projects frequently require temporary structural systems to support the work in progress: holding up elements before they can support themselves, retaining excavated soil, or providing platforms for workers and materials at height. These temporary structures are engineering problems in their own right, and they carry real consequences if they fail: worker injuries, project delays, and damage to adjacent structures or utilities.

Frontier provides construction support engineering for contractors, developers, and owners who need a licensed structural engineer to design, review, or take responsibility for temporary works.

Shoring and Falsework

Shoring supports partially constructed elements: concrete slabs and beams before they cure, structural steel before connections are complete, masonry walls before lintels and bond beams are in place. Falsework holds formwork in position during a concrete pour and must resist the fluid pressure of freshly placed concrete, which behaves like a heavy liquid before it sets.

Shoring and falsework designs specify the shore size and spacing, the required bearing area at the top and bottom of each shore, and any lateral bracing needed to keep the system stable under construction loads and wind.

Excavation Support and Bracing

Deep excavations require lateral support to prevent the surrounding soil from caving in. Depending on the soil conditions, excavation depth, and adjacent structures, this support may take the form of sloped cuts, timber lagging with soldier piles, or engineered shoring systems. Frontier designs these systems to hold the excavation open safely for the duration of construction, protecting workers and maintaining stability of any adjacent buildings or utilities.

Bracing for Partially Constructed Structures

Structural steel and masonry buildings pass through an intermediate state during construction when they are structurally incomplete and potentially vulnerable to wind and seismic loads. Temporary bracing keeps partially erected frames and walls stable until the permanent lateral system is in place. Frontier designs these bracing systems and coordinates the erection sequence to ensure the structure is never left in an unstable condition.

Ready to Talk Through Your Project?

Frontier Structural Engineering brings 20 years of commercial and residential design experience to projects across Colorado and California. Whether you're in schematic design or already in the field, we're available.