Sheet Piling Project We Can Help With?
An Introduction to Sheet Piling
To those who’ve worked for any length of time in the construction industry, sheet piling is a familiar and extremely useful tool with which to assist in excavation projects of all sizes. To the uninitiated, it is a just a term that needs a little explanation. We address that now, by taking a detailed look into the concept and usefulness of sheet piling materials.
Already familiar with sheet piling? Skip forward to “About Us” find out more about why working with us is a sound move for any excavation project.
What exactly IS sheet piling?
On a building site, during a project that calls for the excavation of large quantities of earth, there is a very real and obvious need for a way to manage this displaced soil. This is done extremely effectively, using interlocking sections of hardened sheet materials that are driven firmly into the ground, forming a supremely sturdy barrier that can be arranged to create a container of any required size.
What is it made of?
Sheet piling must be exceptionally strong to do its job, which is why it is typically made from steel, but it can also be found constructed from reinforced concrete or timber, which are all equally sturdy and useful in this capacity.
Why would you use a particular material over another?
The choice of any given type of sheet piling will depend largely on the type of job it is going to used for and each has its own unique set of characteristics:
Timber piling is most often employed in temporary structures over short ‘spans’ and is a material that is design to cope with lateral loads at the low end of the spectrum. The timber sheet panels intersect each other with a secure tongue in groove joint and are suitable for the containment of many types of soils, except those with partial stone content.
Reinforced concrete piling is another tongue in groove pile that is created out of strong precast concrete and is used most often in canals and river embankments due to their sturdiness. The bottom of each section of concrete sheet piling is fashioned with an oblique point for easy interlocking, which also makes driving them into the ground an easier process.
Steel piling is by far the most widely used type in construction, with an excellent resistance to the stresses of high driving and water tightness amongst its qualities. The steel panels interlock together and can be fixed in place by using either bolting or welding .
Talk with one of our team on 01257 696041 to find out which type of sheet piling is right for your needs.
The Difference Types of Sheet Piling
Once one of our knowledgeable members of staff has helped you find the ideal material for the job in hand, you’ll need to choose which type of panel is right for your purposes. There are again, three options to choose from:
Normal Sections are comprised of interlocking steel panels, typically Larssen & Frodingham sheet piles (known throughout the civil engineering industry), which offer excellent strength and possess superb driving qualities.
This particular system of interlocking piles is one of the easiest to position and drive in, as well as providing a watertight seal when the joints are treated with an easy to apply sealant. Larssen & Frodingham steel sheet piling is known for its strength and its ease of maneuvering is due to the uniform shape of each and every section.
Straight Web Sections are used in a special type of construction, called a cofferdam. This concept has a number of uses and is often employed to provide a dry working environment below the level of the water line. Straight web sections of sheet piling are welded together to form a cell, which can also be used to contain solid materials such as small rocks and gravel.
Box Sections are the third type of sheet piling that is connected together by welding and is most appropriate when significant ‘bending moments’ are expected due to heavy loads.
Is it only used for Earth Retention?
Actually…no. This amazingly useful method is very flexible and has a range of applications. It can be used to assist in land reclamation, river bank protection, retaining walls and support for structures underground, like basements and car parks.
So, who is responsible for the installation of sheet piling?
That’s part of the complete service we offer and with more than 30 years of experience in heavy civil construction, we have the necessary know-how to install your reinforced concrete, timber or steel sheet piling effectively and safely.
Is the installation a straightforward process?
Despite perhaps looking like a fairly simple task, the installation of sheet piling requires the consideration of a number of vital factors that ensure its integrity remains sound and everybody in the vicinity is kept safe and the required material remains contained.
First is the Preparation Stage…
Before any work is carried out, each and every pile is meticulously checked for cracks and straightness and that the interlocking joints are sound and free of debris. As they say “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” and the same can be said for sheet piling. Getting it right at the beginning saves a lot of wasted time and resources and ensures high levels of safety right from the off.
Next is the Driving Phase…
Placing the piles into the ground requires precision and continuous monitoring in order that they penetrate the ground the correct angle. Each job is different and on occasion, there can be an obstacle present that prevents penetration to the required degree. In this particular instance, it is vital that this barrier is removed using either a water jet of by additional excavation. Whilst it is possible to “underdrive” the odd pile on certain projects, this is not always applicable and will depend largely on the specifics of the job.
Is any specialist equipment required? Yes, there is a range of specialist heavy equipment that is used in the installation process.
There is the versatile Movax gear that is able to perform all forms of driving and pitching, with no necessity for any manual handling. Using a laser guided system, this useful machine can cope with piles up to 14 metres long, making it the ideal option for installations that have limited head room or limited access.
Next, we have our noise and vibration free Pile Presses that can also be used with water jets to mitigate friction and offer a vital option on sites that call for the minimisation of noise and vibration (typically in built up areas). We also use Telescopic Leader Rigs that can install and remove sheet piles up to 16 metres long and is also able to used for ‘pre-augering’ on specific types of ground.
All of this equipment is in addition to the conventional piling equipment that we use on the vast majority of marine and land projects we are involved with, such as vibration hammers and impact hammers.
Placing Sheet Piling correctly calls for experience and good deal of technical industry savvy. You can discuss the particulars of your project with one of our knowledgeable team by calling 01257 696041.
Are there any common issues encountered?
Just when you were thinking that’s all there is to consider, there are other issues we regularly encounter during the course of our work. When sheet piling is driven into the ground, it can, thanks to obstacles present in the ground and the laws of physics, lean sideways, instead of standing vertical at a 90 degree angle. When the bottom of the sheet piling strikes rocks and other barriers, it can be deflected to an undesirable angle.
Guide controls are the solution to mitigating the occurrence of this particular problem, as well as the use of impact and hydraulic systems to firmly place the piles into the soil and overcome obstructions.
So, as you can see, from this brief introduction into the concept, uses and issues faced when employing sheet piling on any construction site, there’s a lot of skill and expertise at work.
Our clients come to us time and again for our industry knowledge and to feel safe in the knowledge that every aspect of this very necessary and complex job in hand is covered by our seasoned professionals.
Is any specialist equipment required?
Yes, there is a range of specialist heavy equipment that is used in the installation process.
There is the versatile Movax gear that is able to perform all forms of driving and pitching, with no necessity for any manual handling. Using a laser guided system, this useful machine can cope with piles up to 14 metres long, making it the ideal option for installations that have limited head room or limited access.
Next, we have our noise and vibration free Pile Presses that can also be used with water jets to mitigate friction and offer a vital option on sites that call for the minimisation of noise and vibration (typically in built up areas).
We also use Telescopic Leader Rigs that can install and remove sheet piles up to 16 metres long and is also able to used for ‘pre-augering’ on specific types of ground.
All of this equipment is in addition to the conventional piling equipment that we use on the vast majority of marine and land projects we are involved with, such as vibration hammers and impact hammers.
Placing Sheet Piling correctly calls for experience and good deal of technical industry savvy. You can discuss the particulars of your project with one of our knowledgeable team by calling 01257 696041.
At Stuart Piling, we are sheet piling and excavation specialists and as part of the Stuart Plant Hire Group, we have more than three decades of industry understanding to pull on. There’s no substitute for real world experience and we have it in spades, having worked with and alongside major construction contractors , like Wimpey, Balfour Beatty and Morgan Sindall, to name but a few.
We are able offer design, installation and extraction service for all types of modern sheet piling in all manner of different industries and sectors. We work very closely with all of our clients to find the most efficient and cost effective solutions to meet all of your sheet piling needs.
If you would like to know more about anything discussed above or you would like some advice on sheet piling or any associated construction work, contact us via phone – that number again is 01257 696041 – or you could browse through our website at your own convenience.
We look forward to taking your call and helping you in any way we can.
Movax Sheet Piling
The Movax is capable of handling, pitching and driving all forms of piles without the need for manual handling. The pile is set to level and installed to a laser line. Sheet Piles up to 14Mtrs in length are easily handled due to the hammers side grip ability. This also makes the movax the perfect installation method for limited access or limited head room piling schemes. Pre-augering can also be done with this machine to loosen the soil and reduce ground vibration.
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If you would like to know more about anything discussed above or you would like some advice on sheet piling or any associated construction work, contact us via the form below.