Heavy-duty pile foundations can cope with industrial projects
A rapid rise in industrial construction project starts could have demand at a recent high for heavy-duty pile foundations capable of bearing substantial loads.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show a significant growth in private industrial new work in the first quarter of 2012.
With the overall construction sector up by 4.6% over the previous three-month reporting period, private industrial contracts grew by more than ten times that amount.
The 57.9% increase in industrial work is likely to have seen heavy-duty pile foundations under renewed demand, while private commercial new work also rose by 27.8% over the same period.
In respect of the long term, new orders remain relatively subdued, but the ONS admits that the recent data form a “volatile series” with sizeable short-term changes.
When such volatility leads to rapid increases in orders in a specific segment of the sector, pile driving contractors are quick to respond in order to ensure that piling rigs are available where they are needed.
By providing piling rigs for industrial-scale projects, pile driving contractors not only help to keep these projects on track, but also ensure the industry as a whole can sustain any long-term growth.
CFA piles can prepare public land for domestic builds
CFA piles could prove to be useful in helping the government achieve its ambition of building 100,000 homes on previously publicly owned land.
By 2015, the government wants to have enough land available on previously public sites to support more than 100,000 houses and flats.
Already it has managed to outline locations for 102,000 properties, on former army barracks, NHS hospital sites and coal yards.
However, building on brownfield sites that have not been used before for housing can be an unpredictable process, until the ground-bearing capacity of the land is known.
CFA piles help to overcome such uncertainty, as they can be put in place with very small amounts of noise and vibration, yet are able to support very high loads.
The Continuous Flight Auger approach is effective in confined areas where large excavations are not an option, which can be ideal if a brownfield site already has foundations in place from previous constructions.
Piling rigs simply bore a small hole into the ground, which is then filled with concrete and a reinforcing cage – a fairly easy procedure that means foundations can be put where you need them, without the whole site needing to be cleared of any previous developments.
How Pile Driving Contractors Could Help You
If you are dealing with a construction project, you might well be able to make use of the services of professional pile driving contractors. Pile driving can often be a very specialised area of work so it is definitely worth making sure the job is carried out by people who know exactly what they are doing.
For instance, pile driving contractors will be able to look at the job in question and tell you what type of piling would work best in the situation. This can include things such as the material the pile should be made out of for best results, where the piles need to go, how many of them there should be and the specific type that needs to be used.
This is information that it might not be possible to get without pile driving contractors, but it could make all the difference in turning your building project into a success. Whether you are working on a small building project such as a house extension, or something much larger, the services of pile driving contractors will definitely be able to help you and make sure you get exactly the right piling solution for your needs.
What is the Purpose of Foundation Piling?
Everyone knows that before you can construct a building on a site, the foundations have to be laid first. This, however, requires the ground in question to be in a certain condition and ready to take the load of the building on top of it. Sometimes this isn’t the case and so foundation piling provides a solution that readies the ground for building.
Foundation piling is used to provide a firmer base by walling in layers of soil. Commonly this is done by driving down piles into the ground where the building is due to be constructed. The number and type of foundation piling used for each job will differ, so it is definitely worth talking to experienced piling professionals if you ever find yourself in need of piling.
Some foundation piling is made out of wood, but more commonly it tends to be made out of either steel or concrete. There are also different types of foundation piling available for projects where there isn’t much space or the area is hard to access, such as mini piling, which is commonly used for house extensions and smaller property developments.
Size is everything with Mini Piling
Mini piles are a lightweight type of pile that is relatively new compared to more traditional piles. Mini piles can be driven piles or screw piles and have become an increasingly popular choice because of their numerous advantages.
There are certain conditions which mean that mini piles are the only feasible option. Mini piling is often the most cost-effective method for contractors as they save a lot of time and money on difficult underpinning projects.
Mini piling is ideal when there is limited space available, unsuitable ground conditions or when conventional piles would be too heavy to use. Mini piling is also the best option when there is a need for sound restrictions as it generates less vibration and noise.
If you need a reliable, convenient and versatile piling option then mini piling is the solution for you.
Put up a Barrier with Sheet Piling
Sheet piling is a method which is used to create a barrier. A sheet piling barrier is created from interlocking sheets of steel and is a different type of driven piling. The interlocking steel sheet piles then form retaining walls.
Sheet piles are driven directly into the ground using piling equipment such as vibratory hammers. The barrier that is formed by the sheet piles is impermeable which means that it prevents water from seeping through. Sheet piles are drilled into the ground until the sheet piles stand at approximately two thirds below the ground, with the remaining third above ground level. Depending what your requirements are, sheet piles can are available in a wide range of sizes. Taller sheet piles require a back anchor that is inserted into the soil at a specific distance behind the wall – this provided additional support.
Sheet piling is a method used to ensure that retaining walls maintain a sturdy presence and continue to provide unfailing support to a structure.
Foundation Piling: An Overview
Foundation piling is a type of support for a building or other structure and can be made from a variety of different materials such as steel, wood, concrete or even a combination of different materials. Foundation piling provides stability so it needs to be incredibly sturdy so it can cope with extreme weight and pressure.
As well as different materials, there are also different types of piling available. The first method of piling is referred to as driven piles. Driven piles can be made from wood, steel or concrete and are inserted into the ground using a pile driver. The pile driver causes the surrounding earth the move which results in resistance against the driven pile – and therefore more stability.
Drilled piles have a very wide diameter which means that the insertion site needs to be sizeable enough to accommodate the piles. Drilled piles are commonly used in areas which have very dense, compact or hard layers of earth.
Continuous Flight Auger piles – or CFA piles – do not have any casing which means that the hollow drilling technique fills the hollow auger with concrete. A concrete pillar is then formed once the auger is removed.
Micro piles tend to be made from steel and are ideal for use on smaller construction sites. Micro piles are extremely versatile, convenient and great for use when space is very restricted.
Sheet piling is constructed from interlocking steel barriers which hold back earth and water which allows construction projects, which would otherwise be cancelled, to go ahead
Additional Support with a Retaining Wall
Constructing a retaining wall serves three main purposes – to support sloping earth, to drain any water and to reduce hydrostatic pressure. The most common type of retaining wall is the cantilever wall. A cantilever retaining wall is constructed with a free-standing barrier which does not have any lateral support at the top. The retaining walls tend to cantilevered from a footing which reaches up past the grade on one side. On the other side, it holds back a higher level grade.
It is important to hire a piling contractor who has specialist knowledge of retaining walls. Planning is key to an effective, stable retaining wall as they need to be constructed so as to resist the pressure of both soil and water.
Another common retaining wall design is the anchored retaining wall. Anchors are placed deep into the ground to support the retaining wall from behind. The method of soil nailing is then often used to reinforce the retaining wall. Soil nailing involved drilling into the ground and installing steel tendons. These are then grouted to create a composite mass which is similar to a gravity wall.
Concrete Piles: The Right Choice
So, the architect who has assessed your building project has said that you require foundation piling. What is the next step? You will need to conduct some research to find a piling specialist who can carry out the required foundation piling work. There are several different types of concrete piles available so it will be up to the piling specialist to decide which concrete piles are most suitable for your construction project.
Concrete piles are drilled into the foundation of the structure to provide extra support and stability. Ask the piling specialist what type of equipment they use. Ideally, they will use a hydraulic top pile driver as this will ensure that the concrete piles are installed correctly.
Doing a simple Google search will produce countless piling specialists. Don’t just go with the first one you see or the one who offers to complete the work at the lowest price. It is essential that foundation piling work is carried out properly to ensure optimum safety.
How Piling Contractors Can Help You
First things first; do you require foundation piling for your particular construction project? There is no point spending time searching for a piling specialist if you don’t actually need one. You can find out from the project’s architect whether or not foundation piling is required.
If you do need foundation piling to be carried out, then make sure you find a piling specialist who is fully qualified to carry out the work. Shop around and find a decent quote, but remember; safety always comes before price.
Foundation piling should always be tested after completion. This is done using heavy weights that are placed on the foundations to test durability. The job of the piling specialist is not yet done. Depending on the nature of the ground which is being built upon, it could begin to change one excavation starts. The piling specialist needs to constantly analyse the soil conditions to observe if the conditions begin to change.
Working closely with a piling specialist will ensure that your construction project will go to plan and any hiccups can be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Get online and find a professional, qualified piling specialist. Job done!