Dirt Vacuum Truck
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Excavation Equipment 0 Comments

Why Should You Choose A Vacuum Truck For Your Next Excavation Project

It is common knowledge that traditional excavation used manual techniques, which not only posed dangers but were also time consuming and costly. A dirt vacuum truck today makes a huge difference in excavation procedures. It requires less number of workers to operate, does not create a fuss in the surrounding, and it is also cost-effective, as compared to traditional methods. This has been quite beneficial to industries looking for newer and safe ways to excavate. Let’s take a look at what vacuum trucks do and how they benefit businesses.

What is a Vacuum Truck?

Vacuum trucks are nothing but vacuum tanks mounted onto a truck or trailer. Depending on the method of excavation used (hydro or air excavation), these trucks may also include a water pipe. Typically, industrial dirt vacuum trucks are used to load dry waste or slurry. They are used in various industries including chemical and construction. Industrial vacuum trucks help with excavation and cleaning purposes in a quick and safe manner.

What are the Benefits of a Dirt Vacuum Truck?

Less Manpower Required

This is an obvious one. When there are dirt vacuum trucks being used, less manpower is required. This means low cost and less time-consuming methods. Using dirt vacuum trucks can save you time and money, which is the biggest disadvantage of traditional methods.

Safety Assured

Traditional methods used manual digging tools like backhoes, which risked the safety of the manpower and the underlying pipes and utilities. Since no conventional equipments are used when you deploy the dirt vacuum truck, the safety of the workers, as well as the underground utilities is ensured.

No Surrounding Damage

When combined with hydro or air excavation techniques, these trucks use high pressure water or air to excavate the area and use the vacuum to suck in the debris. No conventional equipments are used that could damage the environment and disturb the surrounding areas. Using dirt vacuum trucks results in a non-destructive excavation.

Time Efficient

As an industrial vacuum truck loads wet or dry waste into the tank with the help of the vacuum pipe. Unlike the traditional methods, where the work required days to get completed, using dirt vacuum truck gets the work done faster. Plus, the reduced project time also decreases the cost. Thus, you can ensure cost-effectiveness of the project.

So, here were all the benefits of dirt vacuum truck. If you’re seeking for hydrovac or excavation services, then get in touch with us at Sierra Hydrovac.

Industrial Vacuum Truck
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Excavation Equipment 0 Comments

The Many Uses Of An Industrial Vacuum Truck

Industrial production and construction often result in toxic liquids and waste. Sewers and drainage ditches, if not cleaned, can pollute the environment. An industrial vacuum truck performs the job of clearing toxic waste and prevents health and environmental hazards. These trucks consist of a large storage container to store liquid and semi-solid waste, a suction pump, and a series of hoses to access tightly confined areas. It is used to pump away dry and liquid waste from septic tanks, catch basins, oil spills, and industrial sewers, which otherwise could be hazardous. There are various uses of an industrial vacuum truck. Here are some of them:

Suctioning of Hazardous Materials

Industrial vacuum trucks are specifically designed to remove wet and dry industrial waste. The truck contains a suction pump with which all the waste is pumped out and stored in the storage container. Whether solid, liquid, frothy, or slurry, an industrial vacuum truck can be used to remove all types of waste. Construction, industrial production, and municipal settings use these trucks to clear away the unwanted and dangerous materials.

Transporting and Disposing Materials

Industrial vacuum trucks have odor control and spill prevention abilities. Thus, they are a preferred choice for transporting and disposing of waste. Such features of a vacuum truck make them perfect for transporting bio-solids. Furthermore, industrial settings also generate toxic materials that possess serious health risks. Vacuum trucks are used to dispose of such materials and prevent its effects on worker’s health and the environment in general.

Hydro Excavation

Activities like construction, installing service lines, and uncovering underground utilities require excavation. Hydro excavation is a technique where pressurized water is used to remove soil and debris, and vacuum is used to suck the unwanted material into the tank. One of the applications of industrial vacuum trucks is hydro excavation. Industrial vacuum trucks are used to pull in the debris into the tanks while implementing this efficient excavation technique.

Other Uncommon Uses

Apart from keeping the streets and industrial settings clean, vacuum trucks are also used to perform some life-saving functions. They come in handy during emergencies like cave-in rescue and recovery missions. Furthermore, when hazardous materials are spilled, vacuum trucks are quick in drawing them out. Since such materials are removed quickly, their negative effect on the environment is reduced. This is especially beneficial for oil and mining industries.

There are several uses of an industrial vacuum truck. You only have to choose the right truck and service provider for your project. You can also reach out to us at Sierra Hydrovac if you need standardized excavation or hydrovac services.

Types of Excavation in Construction
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8 Types Of Excavation Used In Construction

Whether you want to construct a commercial or a residential building, roadways, bridges, or install pipes and underground utility lines, the land needs to be inspected and prepared to ensure it provides a strong foundation. Excavation is an important part of any construction project. The process uses different tools and techniques to move soil, rock, and other material to form a cavity and prepare the area for construction. Building companies use several different types of excavation in construction. The type of excavation used depends on the material used and the purpose.

Here are some types of excavation in construction classified on the basis of material and purpose:

Excavation by Material

Topsoil Excavation

As the name suggests, this type of excavation involves the removal of the exposed or the topmost area of the earth’s surface. The excavation method removes vegetation, soil, and any other decaying material that could make the land unsuitable to bear structural loads.

Rock Excavation

This type of excavation is used to clear surfaces; like the rocky surfaces that impede the building process. Rock excavation is highly challenging as compared to the other types. This is because it cannot be done without the use of special equipment and techniques like drilling or blasting to remove the rock or clear a tough surface.

Muck Excavation

Muck, the combination of soil and water, is often undesirable during construction and needs to be removed. Muck excavation is named after the material being removed. The muck is either moved to another area or spread out to dry.

Earth Excavation

To create a foundation for buildings and bridges or construct drainage ditches various layers of earth need to be removed. Earth excavation includes the removal of soil; the layer below the topsoil, for the purpose of construction.

Excavation by Purpose

Cut and Fill Excavation

Also known as stripping excavation, this type of excavation in construction is used to clear large areas. The process involves the removal of wide and shallow layers of topsoil, rocks, sand, and other unwanted materials. The procedure may also include grading the land.

Trench Excavation

In this type of excavation the length of the excavated area exceeds the depth. Trench excavation is typically used to bury service lines, to install pipelines and sewer systems, or lay foundations. Shallow trenches of less than 6m or deep trenches of more than 6m are done using this type of excavation. The techniques used for this type is dependent on factors like the purpose, ground conditions, number of obstructions, and so on.

Basement Excavation

Basement is typically the area below the ground level. This type of excavation is used when the construction is to be done at least partially below the ground level. Depending on the size of the property, this type of excavation can be complicated.

Dredging

Sediment deposits can build up over time under water making construction, as well as the passage, difficult. The process of dredging involves excavating and removing sediments and debris from underwater to allow boats and ships to pass easily and for other construction purposes.

While these were some, there are many other types of excavation used in construction. If you’re in search of an excavation service provider connect with us at Sierra Hydrovac.

Water Excavation Equipment
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4 Advantages Of Water Excavation

Water excavation or hydro excavation is a sophisticated type of excavation with several advantages over mechanical excavation, which involves the usage of metal claws to dig into the ground. Water excavation involves the injection of a pressurized jet of water into the ground or the soil in order to loosen it. The injection of water results in the formation of sludge, which is easily collected into the attached storage tank with the help of water excavation equipment such as a vacuum hose. The sophistication of water excavation equipment makes it an increasingly popular method of excavation since debris collection is simplified. Read on to learn more about these advantages.

Suitability for Canadian Terrain

The terrain and the firmness of the ground are determined by the prevailing weather and climatic conditions. Canada, because of its extremely cold weather conditions, has a firm ground that is particularly difficult to excavate. Water excavation involves the loosening of the ground before the excavation begins, and this makes the process particularly well suited for the Canadian terrain. In any case, water excavation is capable of excavating most soil textures, and this makes water excavation equipment an all-weather ally.

Water Excavation is Non-Destructive

Mining and trenching industries particularly prefer water excavation because of the fact that it is non-destructive. Water excavation causes no damage or disturbance to the nearby surroundings. It is suitable for mining operations because of the negligible vibratory impact. Water excavation is considered the safest method of excavation because of high safety standards.

Water Excavation is Cost-Efficient

While we admit water excavation equipment is generally costlier than the other types of excavation equipment, a water excavation project is still comparatively cost-efficient. Mechanical excavation and hand shoveling excavation methods are time-consuming and are about 5 to 7 times slower than water excavation. This increases the cost of the project because of the delay and the additional costs associated with increased use of manual labor.

Excavation Equipment

Water Excavation is Great for Locating Utility

Trenching operations involve locating underground facilities such as pipelines and gas lines; and water excavation is ideal for that purpose. Safely being able to locate these underground facilities decreases the chances of damaging these facilities. Damaging these facilities could result in the project getting delayed further, additional costs associated with repair work, and inconvenience caused to the public in case of operations in urban regions.

The quality of water excavation services vary, it firmly depends on the quality of the water excavation equipment. For superior water excavation, Sierra Hydrovac, with its reliable excavation equipment is better suited for your extensive excavation projects. Our excavation services and hydrovac services can help you with many of your civil projects.

Excavation Equipment
By Sierrahydrovac_Admin Excavation Equipment 0 Comments

What Are The Equipment Used For Vacuum Excavation?

We have come far away from traditional tools like axes, mattocks and hoes to highly advanced excavation trucks. Depending on the type and purpose of excavation, different types of equipment are used. For example, professionals opt for trenching when they have to install underground data lines, telephone lines, or sewer lines. Trenching is typically done with a chain excavator whereas suction excavators are used for vacuum excavation. With this background, let’s take a look at four most commonly used excavation equipment in the industry.

Suction Excavator

Vacuum excavation is the process of compressing an excavating test hole with a great deal of air to loosen the dirt. The debris is then collected with the help of a tank. Typically a suction excavator or a vacuum excavator is used to carry out this process. A suction excavator comprises of a wide pipe having a diameter of 1 foot. It has a very powerful suction with a speed of 100 metres per second. When this excavation equipment uses a water jet instead of a air vacuum, it is called a hydro-excavator and the process is termed as hydro excavation.

Chain Excavator

As mentioned above, a chain excavator is used for trenching. It is alternately also used for mining and dredging. A chain trench has a digging chain and an arm called a boom. The chain is very hard and consists of teeth. When the machine is used, the chain rotates around the boom with rapid force to break the ground. The angle of the boom can be adjusted to determine the depth of excavation.

Directional Drilling Equipment

Directional drilling is a trenchless method of installing underground pipes. The equipment used in horizontal-directional drilling depends on the outer diameter of the pipe, length of the run, ground conditions and the surroundings above ground. Directional drilling equipment is not considered an excavation equipment but it is used when there is an underground obstruction while doing an excavation.

Skid Steer Attachment

A skid steer attachment, also known as a skid loader, is a highly advanced tool that is used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments. Some of the attachment options for skid loaders are backhoe, hydraulic breaker, pallet forks, angle broom, sweeper, auger and wood chipper machine.

These were a few types of excavation equipment we use for various projects. If you require excavation services for your mining project, then get in touch with Sierra Hydrovac, one of the leading hydrovac services contractors in Edmonton.

Small Excavation Equipment
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Why Is Hydrovac Excavation The Right Choice For Small Trenching Projects?

Hydrovac excavation is a sophisticated excavation process which is used across several industries because of its efficiency and accuracy. Hydrovac excavation involves the injection of a pressurized jet of water into the ground that is meant to be trenched. The reason water is used for these projects is that Canadian ground is generally too hard for trenching during the winter. The use of water converts the hard ground into sludge (which is a mix of ground and water) adequately. The sludge is then collected through a hose with the use of vacuum suction. It is then neatly collected into the storage tank which is connected to the truck.

Hydrovac excavation is ideal for small trenching projects because of the sophistication it provides in the following ways:

Hydro Excavation is Non-Destructive

Small trenching projects are generally carried out within the confines of the city. The project is carried out within a small area with special care due to the sensitive surroundings. Hydro excavation is the preferred method of excavation for such projects because it is non-destructive in nature. Due to the higher levels of directional control and accuracy afforded by this method, there is hardly any damage to the nearby surroundings. Since it also comes with small excavation equipment, the execution of the process is easier.

Hydro Excavation is Efficient

Small trenching projects are generally taken up for laying or altering cables or pipelines below the surface of the ground. When these activities are taken up within the confines of a city, it causes immense inconvenience to general citizens. For this reason, a quick and time-efficient excavation is preferred. Hydrovac excavation, with its superior small excavation equipment, is faster than its counterpart- mechanical excavation (which uses the traditional metal claws) and causes less inconvenience to the nearby residents.

Vacuum Truck Rental

Hydro Excavation is Accurate

There is a reason why experts prefer hydro excavation for small trenching projects. Hydrovac excavation allows greater directional control. This means an activity such as trenching which needs precise execution would benefit from the superior level of control small excavation equipment can provide.

In comparison to this, the metal claws used for mechanical excavation lack this superior directional control. Another bonus of using hydro excavation is that the debris is dealt with in a more convenient way. Mechanical excavation generally leads to a greater mess because you would still need to get rid of the debris. Whereas with Hydrovac one could neatly deposit the debris where one intends to. That being said, the quality of small excavation equipment which is used by a hydro excavation contractor also significantly impacts the efficiency and safety standards.

It is for this reason that Sierra Hydrovac is a respected hydrovac services provider. You also have the convenient option of contacting them directly to avail a free quote for your small trenching project.

Basement Excavation Equipment
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Getting A Basement Excavation: What You Need To Know

Are you running out of space for storage at your home or office? Many people who face similar issues eventually opt to have their basements extended. If you are wondering as to the same, then you have certainly come to the right conclusion. Property owners have had a 30% increase in value when they have extended their property and opted for a basement excavation.

However, there are safety and efficiency factors to consider before you start renovating your basement. Additionally, it would also help to put adequate research into an action like this, because excavation is always a tricky business and nobody wants foundational damage. Also, there is widespread uncertainty among property owners about the basement excavation equipment in general. Here is what you should know before you commence the excavation:

Advantages of Basement Excavation

The primary and the greatest advantage of basement excavation would always remain that you gain additional space and monetary value for your property. Securing permissions for the same is not very challenging. Underpinning and waterproofing, the two complementary steps involved in basement excavation, are actually good for safety and stability purposes. Lastly, the presence of additional space helps reduce the load of storage on your existing property.

Need for Permissions

Excavating beneath your existing residence involves making obvious structural changes to your property. One needs to ask the local authorities if they would approve of such an action. They have several guidelines and regulations in place for any new modifications that you make to your property. You would also need the consent of your neighbor if you share a wall with them to initiate the excavation.

Cavity Drain Membrane System

Modern day construction of basement includes adequate waterproofing after excavation. In the previous decades, basements were simply dug and covered with cement, and this led to leakages. Today, the entirety of the area is appropriately tanked on the inside with a heavy waterproofing membrane. This system ensures all the rainwater is directed down the studs and into the gully.

Commonly Associated Risks

The dangers associated with digging a basement increase with the depth of the basement. A higher groundwater table is also a great danger to a successful basement renovation. The other dangers include chances of flooding alongside poor drainage during heavy rainfall.

Basement Excavation Process

This is where most people go wrong. They are neither certain about the trenching method that should be used nor about the basement excavation equipment. Based on our experience, the safest and the most efficient way to successfully excavate your basement is employing the backfill basement procedure. It is crucial to understand the specifications of this procedure and the condition of the soil underneath the property. The basement excavation equipment employed matters as well because special care must be taken, considering the precise nature of the operation.

Sierra Hydrovac is one of the most reliable excavation contractors in the industry. Their excavation services are reliable and respected in the industry, and they come equipped with some of the most effective basement excavation equipment. You could contact them to get a better understanding of your basement excavation plans.