Project: Structural Propping to support residential works
Location: Sydney, NSW
Sector: Residential Construction
Services Provided: Engineering, Equipment Hire & Installation
Application: Temporary Structural Support During Column Removal
Equipment Used: Legend 50T Modular Propping System
Capacity: Up to 50 Tonnes
Project Overview
A residential structure required temporary support while the customer removed structural columns and built a new retaining wall beneath it. With load-bearing elements being taken out of service, the residential building needed a stable, engineered load path to carry the structure throughout the remediation works.
Legend Hire’s engineering team designed a temporary propping system to transfer the structural loads safely and keep the works progressing without risk to the building.
The Challenge
- Poor access site conditions restricted how equipment and personnel could be moved into position beneath the structure, complicating installation.
- Difficult ground conditions the excavated, uneven undercroft required careful base preparation and load distribution to establish a reliable bearing surface for the props.
- Active structural risk removing load-bearing columns transferred the building’s loads onto the temporary works, leaving no margin for an under-engineered solution.
The Solution
Legend Hire’s engineering team designed a propping arrangement built around the Legend 50T Modular Propping System, configured to carry the structure’s loads while the original columns were removed.
Engineered Load Transfer
The propping was positioned to establish a continuous temporary load path, transferring the structural loads from the building down to prepared bearing points on adjustable screw-jack bases, accommodating the uneven ground conditions on site.
Configured for Restricted Access
The modular nature of the Legend 50T system allowed the props to be moved into the confined undercroft and assembled in place, overcoming the access constraints that ruled out larger, pre-fabricated alternatives.
Installed to Engineering Specification
Each prop was positioned and loaded in accordance with the engineered design, ensuring the structure remained fully supported throughout column removal and retaining wall construction.
The Outcome
The structure was safely supported throughout the works, allowing the customer to remove the load-bearing columns and complete the new retaining wall with the building stabilised at all times. The engineered temporary works maintained a controlled load path, the project progressed without structural incident, and the customer finished the remediation without compromising the integrity of the residence.
Equipment Used
Legend 50T Modular Prop: Heavy-duty modular propping system rated to 50 tonnes, used to establish a temporary load path supporting the residential structure during column removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary propping creates an engineered load path that carries a structure’s loads while permanent load-bearing elements, such as columns or walls are removed. The props hold the structure stable throughout the works, then the load is transferred back onto the new permanent structure once it’s complete.
Yes. A modular propping system such as the Legend 50T can be configured to support a residential structure while a new retaining wall is built beneath or beside it. Because the system is modular, it can be moved into confined undercroft spaces and assembled in place where larger pre-fabricated alternatives won’t fit.
Modular props on adjustable screw-jack bases are well suited to uneven or excavated ground, because the bases can be set to establish a reliable bearing surface and distribute load across prepared bearing points. The modular format also allows components to be carried into restricted-access sites and built up by hand.
An engineer calculates the structural loads being transferred off the columns being removed, then specifies prop type, capacity, spacing and base preparation so the temporary works carry the design loads without overstress. On this project, the Legend 50T system was selected and installed strictly to the engineered design.