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Published April 15, 2026

Emergency Shoring and Structural Stabilization Procedures in MD

By The Prime Renovations Team · Reviewed by Rodney Hakimi, MHIC #143153
Learn how rapid emergency shoring construction stabilizes failing retaining walls, historic facades, and crumbling foundations in Maryland.

What is Emergency Shoring Construction?

When a load-bearing wall bows, a foundation cracks dangerously, or a historic facade begins to separate from the main structure, emergency shoring is required. Shoring involves instantly erecting heavy-duty temporary structural supports (using steel beams, heavy timbers, or hydraulic jacks) to stop a building from collapsing.

This is emergency stabilization engineering, and Prime Renovations handles these severe engineering challenges that most other contractors actively reject.

Types of Stabilization in Maryland

Raking Shores

Used extensively when exterior walls bulge or lean. Heavy timbers are angled directly from the ground against the problematic wall, actively transferring the structural weight into the earth while permanent structural repairs are undertaken inside.

Flying Shores

When two buildings share an alley and one is being demolished or failing, flying shores stretch horizontally between the two structures. This acts as a massive tension brace to ensure the intact structure does not cave inward toward the void.

Dead Shoring

When a client requests a major structural expansion—such as removing an entire first-floor load-bearing wall to create an open-concept luxury layout—dead shoring holds the entire second and third floors in the air while the steel I-beams are maneuvered into place.

Structural integrity is non-negotiable. “Every joint deliberate. Every finish permanent.” Learn more about our underpinning and emergency stabilization capabilities on our Services Page.

Common questions

What is emergency shoring?

Temporary structural support — steel beams, heavy timbers or hydraulic jacks — installed quickly to stop a wall, floor or facade from collapsing while a permanent repair is engineered and built.

What are raking, flying and dead shores?

Raking shores angle from the ground against a bulging or leaning wall; flying shores brace horizontally between two buildings across a gap; dead shores carry the floors above while a load-bearing wall is removed and a steel beam is set.

Does emergency stabilization need a permit?

The temporary shoring itself is installed immediately for safety, but the permanent structural repair that follows is permitted work under the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code and needs engineered drawings and inspection.

Sources

  1. OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P — excavations (shoring, sloping, protective systems)
  2. International Code Council — 2021 International Existing Building Code
  3. Maryland Department of Labor — Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code (IEBC)
  4. Maryland Department of Labor — current adopted building codes (IBC/IEBC/IRC/IECC 2021, NFPA 1 & 101 2024, MAC 2019)
  5. Baltimore City DHCD — building permits

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Baltimore, MD