Piling Temporary Works
Temporary Works refer to any temporary structures, equipment or supports which are needed to facilitate safe construction, and enable building the permanent structure.
They are usually designed by an independent temporary works engineer or by the Piling Subcontractor so it’s worth looking at any relevant drawings.
For piling the following need to be considered:
1. Piling Platform: also known as a piling mat or working platform, is a prepared area on a construction site where piling equipment and machinery are set up and operated on.
It is usually made up off imported crushed and graded material that consists of crushed concrete, brick, and other inert construction waste.
Crushed material which could be used for a Piling platform
2. Temporary Access Roads: may be required to enable the movement of piling rigs, cranes, and other heavy equipment to and from the piling site.
Can be constructed from the same material as the Piling platform, concrete or tarmac.
Tarmac laying in progress
3. Temporary Earth Retaining Structures: for certain piling operations, temporary earth retaining structures like sheet piles may be required to create a safe and stable working area.
These structures prevent the collapse of surrounding soil or water during excavation or pile installation. Depends on what level the adjacent ground is and how close piling operations will be.
Sheet Piles
4. Temporary Support for Adjacent Structures: During piling near existing structures, temporary supports such as props or struts may be required to ensure the stability and safety of neighbouring buildings or structures during construction.
Neighbouring building would require support here before piling started as the pile is within the 45 degree zone of influence.
As a general rule of thumb: if you are disturbing the ground more than Xm deep, Xm away from a building you will need to consult a temporary works engineer to check stability of neighbouring building.
5. Temporary Bracing and Stability Systems: Very heavy duty piling rigs can generate so much force during piling that they can overturn.
This isn’t common, but temporary bracing or stability systems such as ground anchors may be used to prevent this.
6. Temporary Safety Barriers and Fencing: To protect workers, the public, and adjacent areas from construction hazards, temporary safety barriers, and fencing may be installed around the piling site.
Safety barrier examples
7. Lifting Reinforcement Cages: Steel reinforcement cages may be required. These are either tied together off site (pre-fabricated) or on site (in-situ).
When lifting the cages it is important to know if they can support their own weight.
Pile reinforcement cages
Definitions
Permanent structure – what is actually being built
Inert material – a solid, motionless substance that is neither chemically nor biologically reactive and will not decompose
Sheet piles – (long, interlocking steel or concrete sections that are driven vertically into the ground to create temporary or permanent earth retaining structures)
Zone of influence – an area of ground likely to be affected by loading from a structure
Posts to Follow
We plan to go into more details about piling and add sections on:
- Build Sequence
- Health, Safety & Environment
- Quality
- Programme
- Commercial
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