Shoring Expertise Keeps Teams Safe in the Trenches

For Barry Crowley, keeping his customers safe in worksite trenches is one of the most important parts of his job.

As United Rentals’ General Manager Engineering, and resident expert in shoring technology, his safety focus brings together high-quality product design and compliance to help ensure worker protection.

“We make our own trench boxes, we own the IP [intellectual property], and we insist on third-party certification. It’s so important for our customers to be aware of that because it gives them confidence that when they step into a trench using our equipment, they’re safe and compliant to the highest standard.”

United Rentals provides a comprehensive range of shoring, propping, and pumping products along with in-house engineers and qualified installers to meet customers' specific needs.

Locally made helps maintain quality control

Barry says an essential part of United Rentals’ service is manufacturing shoring and propping equipment locally to enable it to maintain strict quality control standards and respond quickly to customer demand.

“We take great care to ensure compliance, and because we manufacture in Australia, it means the process is stringent, and we maintain the care factor. It also means we are supporting local employment and manufacturing.”
 

Industry-leading expertise sets the standard

With more than 20 years’ experience as an engineer in the temporary works sector, Barry was one of four members of a committee in 2025 that reviewed and updated shoring standards.

The new AS 4744.1:2025 – Shoring and trench lining, Part 1: Design standard replaces the version issued in 2000, which covered only steel trench boxes. The new standard applies to all prefabricated shoring solutions made from steel and aluminium.

United Rentals’ range of Steel and Aluminium Trench Shoring Boxes complies with the new design requirements.

Barry says the changes strengthen safety consistency, formalise best practice, and bring the standard in line with modern industry practice.

“The updates clarify specifications, materials, coatings, and documentation processes rather than overhauling design principles. It provides solid guidance for the entire industry about compliance standards to eliminate gaps and inconsistencies that can compromise safety.”

It also introduces ratings based on Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL) and triangulated pressure load configurations, and changes to elastic deflection limits and the designations for Trench Boxes, Trench Panels, and supporting struts.

Improving safety standards industry-wide

Barry says improving safety across the industry is an essential part of the revised standards.

“Safety is always our highest priority. However, the standards also need to work practically on-site daily. That’s where our shoring and propping experts come in, to ensure these often-complex standards are translated into practical safety outcomes for worksites.”

“One of United Rentals’ competitors was also on the standards committee alongside me, which is key from an industry perspective,” says Barry.

“Safety and compliance is not about competition. It’s something the whole industry must be on board with to continually improve standards right across the sector.

“We are the ones who bridge the gap between the academic and technical application of the standards with practical, on-the-ground challenges of day-to-day operations.”

An additional consideration was ensuring the standards are future-proof to account for the evolution of the industry.

Innovation and maintenance key to high standards

Product innovation and ongoing maintenance are key to gaining customer trust in equipment and products.

“They are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but both are critical,” says Barry.

A dedicated United Rentals’ product development team drives innovation through advanced research and development and product modelling to deliver solutions to meet customers’ diverse needs.

Barry cites United Rentals’ Shore Brace 400 Hydraulic Bracing system as an example of a solution developed to address both current challenges and the future needs of the industry.

Equally important are maintenance checks and regular inspections to ensure products and equipment remain compliant and safe.

“Well-maintained shoring and propping equipment enhances safety and maximises productivity on site by giving customers peace of mind that they’re using quality gear. It means they can trust that every trench box meets or exceeds the latest safety and compliance requirements.”