What Does
Launch Pit Mean?
A launch pit is an excavated area at the beginning point of a horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operation. It is used to stage drilling operations, including the placement of equipment and the insertion of the drilling head. Both launch pits and exit pits are used in trenchless construction.
Another term for launch pit is entrance pit.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Launch Pit
Before the use of trenchless technology became common, construction projects often meant digging up long open trenches and disrupting entire neighborhoods. In many trenchless projects, the only open excavation required is the digging of a launch pit to initiate the drilling and an exit pit at the other end.
A trench box may be required for launch pit safety. There must be a way to reinforce the pit to protect workers and equipment. The dimensions of the pit depend on the size of the equipment and the space required to conduct operations.