49 CHAPTER III SHORING AND UNDERPINNING SHORING is the term given to a method of temporarily supporting buildings by. a framing of timber acting against the walls of the structure. If the frame con- sists of more than one shore, it is called a system ; if of two or more systems, it becomes a series, The forces that tend to render a building unstable are due primarily to gravity, but owing to the various resistances set up by the tying together of the building, the force does not always exert itself vertically down- wards, This instability may arise from various causes, the most common being the unequal settlement of materials in new buildings, the pulling down of adjoining build- ings, structural alterations and defects, and alterations or disturbances of the adjacent ground which affect the foundations. The pulling down of an adjoining building would, by removing the corresponding resistance, allow the weight of the internal structure of the building to set up forces which at first would act in a horizontal direction outwards. Structural defects, such as an in- sufficiently tied roof truss, would have the same effect, Structural alterations, such as the removal of. the lower portion of a wall in order to insert a shop front would allow a force due to gravity to act vertically down- wards. E50 SCAFFOLDING ‘To resist these forces, three different methods of shoring are in general use, and they are known as flying or horizontal shores, raking shores, and under- pinning. Flying Shores—Where the thrusts acting upon the wall are in a horizontal direction, flying or raking shores are used to give temporary support. The most direct resistance is gained by the first-named, the flying or horizontal shore. There are, however, limits to its application, as, owing to the difficulty of obtaining sound timber of more than 50 to 60 feet in length, a solid body is necessary within that distance, from which the required purchase can be obtained. It is a method of shoring generally used where one house in a row is to be taken down, the timbers being erected as demolition proceeds, and taken down again as the new work takes its place. Fig. 47 shows a half-elevation of two general sys- tems of construction. The framing, as at A, may be used alone where the wall to be supported is of moderate height and the opening narrow, but larger frames should be combined, as at B. The framework Cc is for wide openings and walls of considerable height. The wall plates, 9 in. by 2 in. or g in. by 3 in, are first fixed vertically on the walls by wall hooks. Then, in a line with the floors, rectangular holes 4 in. by 3 in. are cut in the centre of wall plates. Into these holes, and at least 4} inches into the brickwork, needles (also known as tossles and joggles) of the same size are fitted, leaving a projection out from the wall plate of 5 in. or 6 in, sufficient to carry the shore of about 7 in. by 7 in.SHORING AND UNDERPINNING 51 The shore, prior to being fixed, has nailed on its top and under sides straining pieces 2 inches thick, and of the same width as the shore. To tighten, oak folding wedges are driven at one end between the shore and wall plate. To stiffen the shore, and to further equalise the given resistance over the defective wall, raking struts are fixed Rating strat Straining “nae SS SS FIG. 47 between the straining pieces, and cleats are nailed above and below the shore. These raking struts are tightened by driving wedges between their ends and the straining pieces. The cleats previous to, and in addition to being nailed, should be slightly mortised into the wall plate. This lessens the likelihood of the nails drawing under the pressure. Re