Reap the Benefits of Mini Piling
There are many different types of piling options available to contractors today. One of these is mini piling which has been derived from the screw pile. Mini piling has become increasingly popular for the more difficult projects as they have many advantages over more traditional piling methods. One of the main benefits of mini piles is that they can be implemented in much smaller spaces, overcoming many difficulties.
Mini piles are ideal for use where there are poor ground conditions as there is no need for excavation or removal of soil. For certain projects, traditional piles are simply too heavy to be used. Mini piles are a much lighter option that can be utilised in such instances. Mini piling should be used when vibration should be avoided and when only specialised equipment should be used i.e. when access is restricted. Mini piles are also appropriate for use when there are environmental concerns over a construction project.
Mini piling is versatile, durable, reliable and cost-effective which makes it a fantastic alternative to more traditional piling option.
Concrete Pile Foundations create Stable Structures
Concrete piles are used to make sure that a foundation is deep enough, by being driven into the ground. The concrete piles connect to the footers of the foundation, so for some construction projects, many concrete piles are used. The concrete piles also maintain the stability of the building or structure by distributing the weight of it, once construction has been completed.
Deep concrete piling foundations are needed for a variety of different uses. If the building being constructed is on a large scale, then a deep foundation is crucial to ensure optimum stability. Deep piling is also required if the condition of the soil is poor, as it will be unable to support the weight of a building or structure so it is anchored to a bedrock as an alternative.
Concrete pile foundations can be installed using two different methods. The first option is to drill and cast the concrete pile on site. The other choice is by driving a pre-formed pile into the ground, using reinforced, pre-stressed or precast concrete.
Concrete piles are not only used for deep foundations; they can also be used to reinforce walls, temporarily or permanently. Concrete piles can also provide support for levees and other structures which could collapse.
A Brief History of Pile Driving Equipment
The process of creating solid foundations on which to build stable structures has been around for many years. However, over time, as technology has become more and more advanced and pile driving equipment has evolved to become what it is today. Construction engineers are always using their high level of expertise to make improvements to equipment and processes.
Pile driving was originally done by workers using their own strength to force piles into the ground. This would take some effort! During the 19th century, steam pile drivers helped to take some of the strain of pile driving through the use of energy transfer. The build up of pressurised steam would force the pile into the ground. This led to the use of diesel hammers which used energy from burning fuel.
It was not until buildings began to need rebuilding, did the realisation become apparent that it was extremely difficult to remove piles which had been embedded into the ground. (At least we know it had been done properly!) Enter the vibratory pile driver/extractor. The vibrations loosen the pile and reduce the friction between the pile and surrounding soil.
A building without foundation piling is soon demolished
That Chinese proverb may have been slightly altered for the sake of this blog, but it rings true. Foundation piling is what gives a vertical structure its stability and without it, the construction industry would be entirely different. The construction of buildings requires extensive planning, materials and expertise. Great architecture is generally appreciated by people; however, the unseen structural components remain unseen and therefore unacknowledged. Compared to residential projects, commercial buildings require more foundation piling work as the structures tend to be on a much larger scale. In fact, they are more often than not, a structure in themselves.
This requires construction workers with extensive knowledge and experience relating to foundation piling. These buildings need to be constructed to last indefinitely so must be designed to bear an enormous weight. Before foundation piling work begins, a Geotechnical engineer will analyse the area where the structure will be built. If ground conditions are poor, then the foundations will need to be laid deep into the ground.
Even with all planning avenues explored, there can often be unforeseen issues after foundation piling work has begun. This is when construction workers will need to use their extensive piling knowledge in order to find solutions to these problems.
Amendments to the Piling Rig Certification intend to avoid construction accidents
Accidents at work are never exactly a cause for celebration but accidents which occur on construction sites can be particularly serious, with fatalities not being unheard of. Not only do such incidents cause emotional stress and anxiety for those who work for the company, but they also have a detrimental effect on the company’s bank balance. Construction businesses who experience serious accidents will incur heavy fines.
In order to avoid accidents, such as the collapse of a piling rig, there have been revisions made to the platform certificate, which is an integral part of ensuring the stability of a piling rig. Although getting a certificate is not mandatory, it is now considered industry best practice. It is not the end of the responsibility of the contractor however, as the construction site needs to be constantly monitored to ensure ongoing safety of the workers. The ground does not always stay in the same condition during a project so if there is evidence of any changes to the stability of a piling rig, work should be stopped immediately and the situation assessed before work continues.
What is Piling?
Piling is the initial support that is implemented to form the foundations for a construction project, such as a building or another type of structure. It is vital that you have the correct piling equipment before beginning construction work. The most common materials which are used for piling are wood, steel or concrete. All of these materials are solid and substantial which is crucial to ensuring that a structure has safe foundations that will support it and not move or collapse.
The process of piling consists of driving large pieces of your chosen material – wood, steel or concrete – into the ground to a suitable depth. This creates a sturdy platform on which the structure will rest. The piling needs to be carried out correctly, to ensure that the foundations of the structure are secure.
There is also a lot of initial planning and measuring to be done before construction can even begin. For instance, the condition of the ground needs to be taken into consideration. There is no point in driving piles into wet, loose soil as they will not stay in place. Piling is an extremely skilled job and should only be undertaken by a qualified piling contractor.
Piling Methods
The purpose of pile foundations is to transfer the weight of a structure to the bearing ground which is located beneath the surface. The key components of pile foundations are the piles themselves and the pile caps which are connected when the piles are driven into the ground.
There are several factors which need to be considered when choosing the method of pile installation in order to avoid causing any damage to the piles. The size and weight of the pile, the resistance that occurs when driving the pile, the amount of space and headroom on the site, access to cranes and any possible noise restrictions all need to be taken into account.
Pile driving methods can be split into two categories; displacement piles and non-displacement piles. Displacement piles can be driven using dropping weight, explosion, vibration, jacking (micro piling only) or jetting. Non displacement pile methods are continuous flight auger (CFA), underreaming and C.H.D.P.
Piling Contractors
Piling contractors are employed to implement extra support at the foundations of a new building. This support comes in the form of large, robust columns that are driven into the ground. Piling is usually only required when the site on which a building is being constructed is uneven. Seek advice from the architect or whoever is in charge of the build to confirm whether or not piling is needed to be done.
Construction piling and any other type of construction work should only be undertaken by qualified piling contractors. It is crucial that piling is completed to a safe standard. There are many piling options available which you can discuss with your piling contractor. Make sure that you are clear about what exactly you are looking for and agree exactly what costs are involved in the piling project and how long it will take to complete. Do this before the work is underway so that both sides know where they stand.
Piling Rig Accident
Two construction companies have been fined for an accident that occurred in December 2007 on Tower Street in Hull. On the busy street in rush hour, a piling rig being used for the construction of a hotel fell over and rolled into the middle of the road.
Amazingly, no one was killed or even injured in the event, but both companies, who pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety Work Act, have been fined. The main contractor, Multibuild, who provided the stone platform on which the piling rig worked, have been fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £18,687 in costs. Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering Ltd, who were sub-contractor, responsible for carrying out the work, have been fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £17,676 in costs.
Dave Redman, the HSE Inspector, has said that, “It is every company’s responsibility to ensure that employees and members of the public are not exposed to danger from heavy construction machinery. There is extensive guidance governing safe working in this sector, and we hope today’s prosecution serves to remind people of their duties so that we don’t witness an incident of this kind again.”
Piling Rig Working Platform Guide
It is important that working platforms for piling rig contractors are robust to ensure compliance with health and safety guidelines. Accidents are very dangerous on piling rig platforms and can often prove fatal. The platform needs to be stable to prevent it from settling into the ground under the weight and pressure of the piling equipment.
Piling rig working platforms are made from granular material that is crushed and compacted. For extra support geotextiles are also used. The thickness of the platform is decided by several factors. The rig type including the model, manufacturer and also how the machine is set up for use. The soil type and soil strength; whether it is cohesive (clay) or cohesionless (sand, gravel, most chalks)
Piling rig working platforms should be at least 2m longer than the construction area any ramp platforms should be should be at a safe and suitable angle. If it was necessary to remove any obstructions and holes were left then they must be backfilled properly so that there are no soft ground areas.
Ensure a safe piling rig working platform by following these guidelines and serious accidents will be avoided.