The Benefits of Using Helical Piles
Helical piles are an innovative and cost-effective foundation solution that has been gaining traction in the construction industry because of its many advantages over traditional foundation methods. Their strength, ease of installation, and minimal disruption to the surrounding environment make them a great choice for a variety of applications. In this post, we will explore the advantages of helical piles, the different types of helical piles available, and the best practices for installing them. We will also discuss how they compare to other foundation methods and the potential cost savings associated with their use.
What is the purpose of a helical pile?
They are a type of piling, typically used to support structures such as decks, porches, and buildings as well as for slope stabilization and earth retention.
Helical piles are ideal for locations where conventional piles cannot be accessed due to access and proximity to neighboring structures, since we screwed the helical piles into the earth. Screw piles are also helpful for projects that require quick installation since they can be put in place in a fraction of the time compared to conventional piles. They are also great for projects that require minimal disruption to the surrounding environment, since the installation does not require demolition, excavation, or large machinery.
We can also use helical piles for foundation support, foundation repair, and underpinning, or to provide supplemental support to existing foundations. They are also used for sign and light pole foundations, retaining walls, and bridge abutments. Helical piles are a great option when you are looking for a cost-effective, durable, and reliable foundation solution.
What are the main components of a helical pile?
A helical pile is a type of deep foundation anchoring system that is used to support structures. It is made up of round steel shaft and helical bearing blades which are welded to the shaft. The length, thickness and diameter of the shaft vary depending on the load applied, the soil conditions and the water table. The number, thickness, and diameter of helical piles also vary.
Helical piles are installed deep into the ground to provide a stable foundation for structures. They are most commonly used for foundations for residential and commercial buildings, and for retaining walls. Due to their deep penetration into the soil and their ability to transfer loads from the surface to deeper soil layers, helical piles can provide a more secure foundation than traditional shallow foundations.
Helical piles are relatively easy to install and can be used in almost any soil condition. They are also cost-effective, as they require fewer resources and less time to install. As a result, they are becoming increasingly popular for foundation applications.
Benefits of Helical Piling
Advantages of Helical Piling
Quick Installation
Cost-Effective
Durable and Reliable
Less Site Disturbance
Helical piles are a great choice for projects that require fast, efficient installation and minimal disruption to the work site. Helical piles are easy to install, as they are simply screwed into the ground with a hand-held power drill or a hydraulic torque motor. This makes them an ideal choice for projects that require a fast solution to foundation stabilization.
The advantage of helical piles is that they are very strong and provide stability to foundations even on poor or loose soil. This is especially useful when dealing with existing structures that need to be reinforced. The helical piles can be adjusted to the exact needs of the project, making them a very versatile solution.
In addition, helical piles are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, as they require minimal excavation. This makes them a great choice for projects that are concerned with preserving the environment and minimizing waste.
The biggest benefit to using helical piles is that they can be installed quickly. This expedited installation is ideal for projects that are on a tight timeline and need a fast, reliable solution.
Overall, helical piles provide an efficient, cost-effective solution for projects that require foundation stabilization and expedited installation. This makes them a great choice for projects that need to be completed quickly and with minimal disruption to the work site.
Types of Helical Piling
The four basic types of helical piles are the square shaft, pipe shaft, combo pile, and grouted helical pulldown micropiles. Each type has its own unique design and application.
The square shaft helical pile is an extremely versatile type of a helical pile that can be used in a variety of applications, such as foundation support, soil retention, and earth retention. They make square shaft helical piles of steel and feature a series of helical blades that are attached to a central shaft. The blades, which are typically 8-10 inches in length, are installed along the shaft in order to provide support and stability to the structure.
The pipe shaft helical pile is similar to the square shaft helical pile, but has a pipe that runs through the middle of the shaft. This pipe is typically filled with grout or cement and increases the structural strength of the pile. Pipe shaft helical piles are most commonly used in applications where extra strength is needed, such as bridges, retaining walls, and deep foundations where lateral concerns of unbraced length is a concern.
The combo pile is a combination of the square and pipe shaft helical piles. This type of pile features a square shaft lead with pipe shaft extensions. The combo pile is an excellent choice for larger structures, such as bridges, which require additional support and stability.
The grouted helical pull-down micropiles are designed specifically for deep foundations. These piles are installed with a combination of grout and steel, which provides maximum strength and stability. Grouted micropiles are often used in applications that require support for structures that are located in difficult-to-access areas.
Each type of helix pile has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, and each is suitable for specific applications. When selecting a type of helical pile, it is important to consider the specific requirements of the project, as well as the environmental conditions. Ultimately, the right type of helical pile can provide the support and stability for any given construction project.
Manufacturers of Helical Piles in the United States
https://helicalpileworld.com/helical_pile_manufacturers_united_states.html
Chance
Helical Anchors, Inc
Magnum Piering
Cyntech
ECP Earth Contact Products
Foundation Supportworks
MacLean Civil Products
Patriot Foundation Products, LLC
Pier Tech Systems, LLC
Ram Jack
Roterra Piling, Inc
Techno Metal Post
In 1994, Hubbell Power Systems, Inc. (HPS) acquired A. B. Chance Company and its CHANCE® foundation solutions. Since then, these leading deep foundation systems have been widely used to protect residential and commercial buildings, towers, heavy equipment, and more. CHANCE foundation solutions boast dependable engineering and long-term stability, and feature exclusive anchoring techniques, tools, designs, and sizes that improve their efficiency and durability. As a Corporate Member of the Deep Foundations Institute, HPS continues to manufacture high-quality CHANCE brand helical anchors and foundations.
Helical Anchors, Inc is a leading manufacturer of helical pile, pier and anchors. They are located in Minnesota and their helix products offer a patented Inertia Welding Technology (IWT). Inertia friction welding uses kinetic energy with applied force to join parts together. Which makes a stronger helical piling.
They are located in Cincinnati, Ohio and offer a full range of helical piles and pier systems. All Magnum Piering products are manufactured in the U.S. from raw material to finished product.
They hold a Buy American Certificate.
Magnum is ISO 9001 accredited so you know they adhere to quality standards. They also conduct product testing in accordance with AC358. Magnum’s products meet or exceed the most up-to-date industry standards
Learn More about Magnum Piering: https://www.magnumpiering.com/
The Cyntech Group, specializes in offering their clients around the world inventive, cost-efficient, and dependable helical piles, helical rigid inclusions, and pipeline anchoring solutions for the Infrastructure and Industrial construction industries. Their production centers in Houston, Texas, USA and Calgary, Alberta, Canada are fully traceable and compliant with Buy America and third-party inspections. The US facility is responsible for manufacturing most of the helical piles and helical rigid inclusions. They have been successful with projects that necessitate thousands of large-diameter helical piles and pipeline anchors for infrastructure and industrial applications worldwide.
Earth Contact Products, LLC is a family-owned business based in Olathe, Kansas. Founded on their Steel Piering System, the company has since developed a wide range of foundation repair, anchoring, waterproofing, and underpinning products. ECP is a leading manufacturer of deep foundation solutions, with a full range of steel piers, helical torque anchors, plate anchors, soil nails, and micropile brackets.
Whether it's a residential crawl space or a municipal project, you can trust ECP to provide you with the right product and knowledge. Their 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility is equipped with robotic welding, CNC capabilities, and certified welders, allowing them to customize each product to fit any engineer-specific foundation repair project.
MacLean helical anchors and piles are a reliable solution for any application, as the shaft size and helix configuration are tailored to meet the determined load resistance and soil conditions. Combining round and square shaft helical piles, MacLean helical piles can achieve capacities of up to 150,000 lbs and are manufactured in their state-of-the-art 300,000 sq ft facility in Tennessee.
Patriot Foundation Products, LLC
Founded by Army Vietnam veteran Warren A. Neumann, an experienced builder and general contractor, Patriot Foundation Systems (PFS) was established in San Antonio, Florida to provide helical installers/contractors, structural and geotechnical engineers with a reliable helical pile design option.
Their goal of offering practical and cost-effective products, Patriot Foundation Systems has taken the necessary steps to ensure quick and efficient delivery of products to clients. PFS looks forward to providing deep foundation companies with helical pile solutions.
PierTech™ Systems offers the highest quality and most versatile stabilization solutions for the construction industry. Their helical piers and piles are designed for both residential and commercial applications and can be used to seal even the smallest of cracks, provide a solid foundation for industrial grade towers, support boardwalks in both dry and wet environments, and provide deep foundation piers or underpinning for existing structures.
The helical piers and piles are available in both round and square shafts and come in a variety of diameters. All of our products are backed by our commitment to performance and reliability, thanks to our patented technology.
Visit https://www.piertech.com/
The Gregory legacy began with Bill Gregory in 1968, when he founded the small pest control company Gregory Pest Control in Ada, Oklahoma. His son, Steven D. Gregory, took over the family business in the '70s and renamed it Gregory Enterprises, Inc. To diversify the company, Steve incorporated foundation repair into the business, with the major revenue stream coming from repairing settling foundations.
To address the unreliable methods of foundation repair at the time, the Gregory team developed the innovative Ram Jack System. The first of many patents filed for the Ram Jack System was in 1985, offering a strong and reliable method for supporting residential and commercial foundations, using unique brackets for driving piles and related foundation support products, manufactured from the finest grade American made steel.
Learn more at https://www.ramjack.com/
Roterra Piling is a premier provider of piling solutions in North America, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and Houston, Texas, USA. Their founder established their group of companies in 1992, and have since become a leading manufacturer of helical piles and other foundation types. They offer pile engineering, load testing, metal fabricating, helical piling, driven piling, bored piling and augercast (cfa) piling, all of which are ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Their headquarters in Acheson, Alberta, Canada consists of office space, mechanic bays, a purpose-built manufacturing facility, and a large laydown yard. They also have a facility in Houston, Texas. Every year, they produce millions of feet of raw pipe and pounds of steel plate.
Techno Metal Post Inc., a Canadian company, has dedicated two manufacturing plants and one research center to the development of helical pile technology. Their products include helical piles, specialized installation machinery, and other essential components for permanent and temporary support structures.
They have established a global network of quality dealers that provide our reliable, world-renowned deep foundation system to thousands of clients, construction professionals, and competent authorities. They continuously invest in research and development to ensure we are providing our customers with the best helical pile foundation system.
See what they have to offer. https://www.technometalpost.com/en-US/companies/
Installation Process
Helical piles are installed by a screwing action, which is similar to the way a screw is installed in a block of wood. This is done with a hydraulic torque motor, which rotates the helical pile into the soil. We connected the torque motor to the helical pile via a lead screw, which enables the helical pile to be rotated into the soil.
As the torque motor rotates the helical pile, it cuts through the soil and displaces it, creating a helical void. As the helical pile is driven deeper into the soil, the load-bearing capacity of the pile increases. Once the desired depth is reached, the torque motor is stopped and we lock the helical pile into place.
We can repeat this process multiple times until the desired number of helical piles are installed. Helical piles are an effective and efficient solution for providing deep foundation support. They are a great alternative to traditional foundation systems and provide stability, strength, and durability.
Site Preparation
Preparation is an important step in the installation process. This preparation involves making sure the soil is suitable for the piles, cleaning up the area, and making sure there are no obstructions that could affect the installation. The first step is to analyze the soil composition and determine if the soil has a compaction and strength for helical pile installation. Any underground obstacles or utility lines need to be identified before the drilling can start.
Installation
Screw piles are a foundation technology used to add stability and strength to various structures. They use steel helix plates screwed into the ground for support, making them an effective solution for projects in which traditionally poured concrete foundations would be difficult or impossible to build. Helical piles can be quickly and easily be installed with minimal disturbance onsite using either manual or powered equipment.
To begin, a hole is drilled into the ground using an excavator or power auger depending on the type of soil being worked in. The hole needs to be deep enough for the length of the helix plate required for stabilization. Once the hole has been prepared, it’s time to set up the pile driver. This machine helps guide and screw each pile into place until it is firmly secured at its designated depth. We typically use a hydraulic system when installing larger helixes that require more torque than what can be achieved manually with a hammer or sledgehammer alone.
The final step in installation involves connecting any necessary accessories such as brackets and spacers to ensure these supports are properly in place before they are ready for use. If a threaded rod connector is needed, then this will also need to be inserted during installation so that it's anchored securely within the ground once all other components have been put together correctly. With all components connected, the entire assembly should then undergo load testing before being deemed fully operational by engineers and other professionals involved in the project’s design process – ensuring they met safety standards.
Post-Installation Load Testing
With all components connected, the entire assembly should then undergo load testing before being deemed fully operational by engineers and other professionals involved in the project’s design process – ensuring they met safety standards.
Helical piles are load tested using a specialized machine to apply torque and linear force to the pile. The applied force must be at least twice the ultimate design capacity, but usually more than this value is used. During load testing, we monitored the strain gauge readings on both sides of the helical blades as an indication of how much stress is being put on them and when they reach yield strength. After reaching yield strength, we can increase the force until either ultimate design capacity or failure occurs. Data from these tests will then determine whether or not helical piles can provide optimal support for a proposed structure in terms of static loading conditions. To ensure proper installation, helical piles should always be tested prior to use for construction projects; this will help ensure their long-term performance.
Applications of Helical Piling
Helical piling is a type of deep foundation technique that uses helical-shaped bearing plates to transfer loads from buildings and other structures to more stable soils. This type of pile is most commonly used for building foundations, but can also be used in the construction of retaining walls, docks, sea walls and bridges.
One key application of helical piles is their use as anchors for stabilizing soil or preventing landslides in areas with poor soil conditions. Helical piles are usually installed by drilling into the ground and inserting one or more helixes along with a head plate at the bottom, which provides additional stability. The piles act as anchor points that spread out the load across broader surfaces, reducing chances of slipping or sliding movements while providing secure support to whatever structure they are supporting.
The installation process requires minimal excavation compared to conventional methods such as driven piles and drilled shafts, hence making it an excellent choice when working in tight spaces such as urban environments where excavation can be difficult due to limited space or environmental considerations.
In addition, helical piling systems offer a high degree of flexibility allowing them to be adjusted during installation if necessary which makes them highly suitable for challenging terrains or unstable ground conditions often encountered in civil engineering projects with soft soils Finally, its low noise levels make it ideal for environmentally sensitive areas like nature reserves where vibrations associated with traditional techniques could disturb wildlife habitats
Foundation Support
We used helical piles for foundation applications in a number of areas, including a wide range of soil types and load requirements. Helical piles provide an alternative to traditional deep foundations such as driven piles or drilled shafts and can be installed quickly, with minimal disruption. The helix shape creates a large surface area at the base of the pile for better soil interaction, which allows for greater vertical capacity than a round shaft pile.
The helical piling system is also suitable for underpinning existing structures when there is limited access to carry out excavation works below the building’s foundation if required. They chose this method as an alternate solution over traditional underpinning techniques due to its ability to operate effectively in narrow sites and its low level noise and vibration during installation operations; this minimizes disruption during works while maintaining structural integrity and safety of existing buildings above ground.
They commonly employed helical piling systems in residential construction projects where lightweight steel helices support loads that range from small decks through larger single family homes requiring up to 30 kips (tf) per pile on soils with moderate-high bearing capacity conditions; they prove to be an effective option amongst engineers, builders, contractors and developers alike.
Retaining Walls
Helical piling is a great solution for use in retaining walls and earth retention. This method is used extensively in the construction industry for many years, as it is an extremely viable alternative to other deep foundations. Helical piling provides higher stability, more control over installation, less soil disturbance and greater flexibility when compared to traditional foundations such as driven piles or drilled shafts.
The helix blades help to spread the load along a larger area while providing additional grip into the ground beneath. Helical pilings are also typically simpler and faster to install than other methods, requiring minimal equipment and materials, which reduces labor costs.
Additionally, they can be installed in almost any soil condition, which makes them a very versatile option for site conditions that may otherwise require special considerations or changes in design parameters. Overall, helical piling is an effective solution for earth retention wall applications due to its high performance characteristics combined with cost effectiveness and simplicity of the installation process.
Environmental Sensitive Projects
Helix piles are an important foundation solution for building in environmentally sensitive areas. With their innovative design, helix piles minimize the impact of construction on the environment by decreasing noise, vibrations, and dust production.
These foundation systems reduce and disperse the weight of structures to provide stability in various soil conditions and can be driven into place with minimal disruption to existing vegetation or wilderness areas. They require no excavation or movement of the material, reducing the risk of erosion or sedimentation downstream.
Helix piles are also easy to install and remove when needed. All together, they make an exceptional choice for foundations that need to meet stringent environmental standards while still providing adequate support and stability during construction projects.
Helical Benefits for Environmental Projects
Less disturbance
Less equipment
Underpinning
Helical piles and piers are a great option for underpinning projects, as the piles can support a large load, are relatively easy to install, and are more cost-effective than traditional underpinning. They are also a great choice for new construction, as they are able to support the weight of heavy structures, such as homes and commercial buildings. Helical piles are also used to support decks, docks, and other structures..
Helical piles are designed to be screwed into the ground using a machine that rotates the pile into the ground at a predetermined angle. As the pile is screwed into the ground, it creates a helical pattern, which helps to increase the load-bearing capacity of the pile. This helix pattern also allows the pile to be installed in a variety of soil types, including clay, sand, and gravel.
Helical Benefits for Underpinning
Less labor
Quick installation
Cost effective
Confined areas
Conclusion
In conclusion, helical piling is a versatile and cost-effective foundation solution for many different construction projects. Its advantages over traditional concrete and other piling make it an attractive choice for both residential and commercial applications. With the help of experienced engineers and contractors, helical piles can provide strong foundations even in challenging conditions to ensure that your project has the best foundation possible.
If you have any further questions about helical piling and how Shore Systems Group, LLC can help you with your project, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our team of highly knowledgeable project managers and experienced installation crew will be glad to answer any questions you may have. We strive to be a one-stop shop for all of your helical piling needs, and we look forward to working with you!