tukipaalut

Tukipaalut are temporary piles used in construction to provide vertical and lateral support during excavation or when installing formwork, scaffolding, or other temporary structures. They transfer loads to deeper, more stable soil layers and help prevent trench collapse, wall movement, or shifting during concrete works.

Materials and installation: Tukipaalut can be timber, steel, or reinforced concrete. They are installed by driving or hammering into the ground, by drilling and grouting, or by vibro-piling, depending on soil conditions, load requirements, and duration. Timber piles are common for short-term works; steel piles offer high strength and reuse potential; concrete piles provide rigidity for longer-term or permanent uses. The piles are typically arranged in a grid or line to provide bracing and may be connected with shores, struts, or frames to form a temporary support system.

Applications: Used to shore excavations, stabilize trenches, support formwork for walls or slabs, and temporarily support structures during construction.

Removal or retention: Temporary piles are usually removed after the permanent foundation or support is in place, but in some cases they are incorporated into the final structure or left as buried elements if designed accordingly.

Safety and planning: Their use requires geotechnical assessment and structural design by qualified engineers, and adherence to safety regulations, including spacing, alignment, and monitoring for settlement.

Etymology and scope: The term tukipaalut is used in Finnish construction language to describe these temporary support piles, and similar terms exist in other languages as shoring or bracing piles.