The Advantages of CFA Piling
Continuous flight auger piles (CFA piles) have become a popular choice over the last few years. CFA piles are a cheaper option than other piling alternatives but with careful planning and design, quality equipment and experienced contractors, they can be highly efficient.
CFA piles are a non-displacement pile, which means that the risk of damage to surrounding foundations and underground utilities from ground displacement or densification of sands is largely reduced. Damage is much more common when using displacement piles.
Installation of CFA piles can be carried out with limited noise and vibration. If any problems are encountered during implementation of the CFA piles, then it is a relatively straight forward process to re-drill the foundations and reinstall the pile. The pile group or caps, therefore, do not need to be redesigned.
Different elements of the CFA pile installation process can be monitored using a flow meter. Data that can be recorded includes penetration / uplift per revolution, auger depth, concrete supply per increment of auger uplift during placing, and injection pressure at the auger head.