What are Piling Rigs used for?
If you have ever worked on a construction site where foundation piling has been used, you are probably familiar with the site of piling rigs. These have an important part to play in the process of foundation piling, but what exactly is the purpose of piling rigs?
Essentially, the main role of a piling rig is to drill into the earth where the piling in question needs to be applied. Depending on the specific job, the earth could be clay, sandy soil or silt. They are commonly used for jobs involving foundations but can also have uses for diaphragm walls.
There are different types of drill available for use with piling rigs to take account of the fact that different ground conditions will have different requirements. Also, as some building sites are more restricted and harder to access than others, it is possible to get piling rigs of varying sizes so that difficult and hard to reach foundation piling jobs can be taken care of.
If you think you might need a piling rig for a job you are working on, you should always speak to an experienced professional to make sure you get the right equipment for the job in question.
What is Pile Testing?
If you are working on a site where foundation piling has been used, you might well be able to benefit from pile testing. This is something that can also be useful if you are assessing the condition of already existing piles for a particular building.
The aim of pile testing is to work out the condition of the piles in question and it is sometimes also known as a low strain dynamic test. The test involves applying a light impact to a pile, which produces a low strain on the pile – hence the name. This produces a wave that travels down the pile and the wave is monitored for any irregularities: it should travel at constant wave speed, but voids in the concrete or areas where parts of the piling might have worn away will produce what are known as wave reflections.
The pile testing, therefore, highlights whether there are any issues with the foundation piling that need to be sorted out. The process is normally carried out with a hand-held hammer and is most commonly used on piling that has not yet had a structure built on top of it, although pile testing can also determine the length of existing piles.
Why are CFA Piles Useful?
There are many different types of foundation piling available that can be used in a variety of situations. One of these types is CFA piling, but what is it and why is it useful?
CFA piles are a type of piling that is especially good for use on building sites where there is a need to keep noise to a minimum. CFA stands for continuous flight auger and the CFA piles work on a relatively simple premise.
A hollow auger is inserted into the ground once the necessary depth has been worked out, and then concrete is pumped down the hollow stem. At the same time, the hollow auger is withdrawn and, in order to reinforce the piling, a reinforced cage is used.
One of the benefits of CFA piles is that there is no casing involved and so there is minimal disruption associated with using them. They also help to keep vibrations to a minimum and can be used on large projects, making them a good piling solution for a range of situations.
Different projects will have different piling needs, so it’s important you speak to a piling professional to make sure you get the right solution for you.