PILING SERVICES

Restricted Access And Limited Headroom Piling-Micropile

Branlow Limited are also known as Branlow Piling Solutions. For good reason. We are a specialist company established over 25 years providing piling services to the construction industry. Branlow specialise in mini and micro piling works offering a wide range of cost effective and innovative solutions.

Any project is keen to avoid piling if possible. Piling becomes required where problem ground exists and conventional foundations such as pad, raft or strip foundations are not suitable. For example on a typical urban Brownfield site significant depths of variable made ground are often present. A conventional foundation may as a consequence be deemed to be unsuitable due to excessive differential settlements.

Before an informed decision can be made regarding a choice of foundations it is essential, particularly if a piled solution is anticipated, that an adequate geotechnical appraisal is undertaken. A client will normally appoint an Architect or Consulting Engineer to represent their interests. The first stage in the ground engineering process should be the appointment of a geotechnical specialist to review the available information on a project. From a simple desk study and walk over survey it often becomes clear from an early stage that a piling solution is going to be required.

The Ground Investigation should then be planned with the anticipated need for piling in mind. Wherever piling a foundation is envisaged a site specific borehole (or better boreholes) should be sunk to a depth beyond the anticipated pile depth. Ideally the Site Investigation works should be at least two stage. Once initial findings are reviewed the need for additional works and testing can be determined so that a comprehensive factual report is generated. An Interpretative report by a Geotechnical Engineer is often a very useful and not particularly costly addition. Here a proper appraisal can be offered of possible alternative pile and other foundation options and the risks assessed.

Where piling a foundation is envisaged a Client will pay for a site investigation whether he undertakes one or not. A large proportion of Project Risk is Ground Risk. Please do not hesitate to consult Branlow at any stage of your project for informal advice on feasibility, options and costs where ever a pile solution is anticipated.