Soldier piles (beams) and lagging is an excavation support technique where vertical piles (most commonly steel piles either driven or lowered into a drilled excavation and grouted) are at regular intervals along the proposed wall location. Wood lagging (sometimes steel or concrete panels) is placed between the soldier piles as excavation proceeds (typically in 3-ft to 5-ft increments). For excavations of small height, the walls are typically cantilevered. The walls can be tied-back or braced where additional lateral support is required.