Pile Driving

Driven piles are made from preformed material, generally timber, steel or concrete. They are classified as displacement piles. Timber poles, universal columns (UC’s) and concrete piles are top driven. Under certain circumstances heavy walled steel pipes can be bottom driven.

Driven piles are installed using impact hammers, vibratory hammers or drop hammers.

Driven piles can be readily tested by static or dynamic pile testing. Pile driving can be very useful in soft or toxic ground conditions where a cast in-situ pile may be subject to necking or corrosion issues.

Pile driving is generally a cost-effective solution for foundation stability.

Due to the noise and vibrations created when driving piles, it can cause concern in some environments, especially on compact sites with neighbouring buildings in close proximity. Vibration monitoring is often required in these types of situations.

Common Applications

• Foundations
• Ground improvement
• Palisade soldier pile retaining walls
• Underpinning
• Temporary construction over waterways, temporary bridges
• Power pole foundations