Pile Design
Pile & Grillage Design
Screw piles, micropiles, driven piles and grillages are designed by FLI’s in-house engineers taking account of the superstructure loadings, geotechnical and topographical information. In the case of foundations adjacent to highways, solutions are designed to withstand vehicle impact loads.
FLI can provide designs to overcome site constraints be it spanning over obstructions and services or fitting within tight site boundaries.
FLI offers standard Ø114mm & Ø193mm screw pile sections from stock for rapid off-the-shelf dispatch. Other sizes are available including, Ø76mm, Ø88mm, Ø139mm, Ø168mm, Ø244mm, Ø273mm, Ø323mm and Ø406mm. This enables FLI’s clients design work and ordering to be both fast and economic. Bespoke sections are available when needed.
FLI is the only UK company that can offer steel superstructure and screw piled foundation solutions on a turnkey basis and design them as a combined system.
Capacities:
Single screw piles can support overturning moments in the region of 100kNm.
Groups of Screw Piles are more flexible and can be configured to support just about any load, even 9000kNm is no barrier.
Manufacture
FLI’s in-house fabrication workshop is over 3000m² and is kitted out with various automated machines including an Angle-line, Plate-line, a welding Robot, a Turret Punch, a Press, a Beamline and other fabrication equipment. FLI’s welding personnel are all fully qualified to ISO 9606 and work according to weld procedures ISO 15614, with welder management certified and audited by Lloyds to BS EN 3834. In-house fabrication enables FLI to control and maintain high quality standards and enables a rapid response to urgent requirements.
Installation
Screw piled foundations are installed using a crew of four. The torque motor is mounted to standard wheeled or tracked excavators or Road-Rail Vehicles. There is no excavation, cart away, steel fixing, concrete pouring or waiting for cube test results. The environmental impact of the installation is low, with minimal ground disturbance, noise and vibration and no chemicals. The superstructure can be fitted immediately after the pile are installed. Each screw pile is typically installed in less than half an hour (depth dependent), so often the piles and a superstructure can be installed in a single shift.
Grillages are designed to accept the standard piling tolerance of ±75mm, so there is seldom a need to survey positions and modify the superstructure to suit the as-built locations.
Piles can be installed between protected tree roots, rather than removing them. They offer an ideal foundation solution for installations close to historic structures, green spaces or forests. The solution can bridge existing services or infrastructure to avoid relocation or diversion costs and disruption.
Screw piles give torque readings during the installation process, validating the design torques whilst they are being installed. Simple testing is also possible for added assurance.
Installation - Problem Solving
Screw piles are easy to adapt when unexpected site conditions arise. Extra extensions are generally available if torque isn’t achieved, and extra depth is required. If piles refuse early, they are easy to cut down. Help is just a phone call away.
Torque Motor Hire
FLI has a wide range of torque motors, used by in-house installers and available to hire.
Pile Testing
Tension, compression and lateral pile load testing is available. Sacrificial piles can be installed and tested to failure if required.
Training Courses
FLI provide Screw Pile training courses to upskill your workforce, enabling you to install yourselves. Training courses are typically held at FLI’s facility in Gloucester. Training at your location is also possible. The syllabus includes theory and practical sessions, ending with a test of understanding. After achieving the pass mark, FLI will issue a certificate which is valid for 2 years and can be extended with onsite audits or refreshers of your site teams during an actual installation.
