41
CONSTRUCTION EUROPE
SEPTEMBER 2013
FOUNDATIONS
don’t have to stop as often as a result of the
adjacent sheet piles, according to PTC.
Meanwhile, other new equipment for the
sector includes a hydraulic piling hammer
from BSP International Foundations – the BH
120.
With an operating weight of 750kg, the
BH120 has been designed for mounting on
backhoe loaders. It is 1.5m long and a 0.35m
wide, and is capable of driving small sheet
piles, small bearing piles and general post
driving.
BSP has also developed a rapid impact
compactor (RIC) range featuring drop weights
of 7 tonnes, 9 tonnes, 12 tonnes or 16 tonnes.
The manufacturer claims treatment is effective
in top layers typically down to 6m, though
improvements as deep as 10m have been
achieved in some conditions.
This highlights another key factor for
foundations contractors to consider – ground
improvement ahead of the main foundations
laying operations, and manufacturers have
been working hard to improve efficiency in
this area as well.
BSP claimed advantages of RIC technology
included the fact that the RIC foot remains
in contact with the ground at all times,
diminishing the risk of flying debris. And,
unlike conventional dynamic compaction,
other activities can take place in close
proximity.
BSP also provides a control panel and energy
monitor with the RIC which displays and
records performance details. Most recently,
the RIC technology has been enhanced with
GPS in association with monitoring specialist
Prolec. The performance results are integrated
with positional information, and these results
presented to suit individual requirements.
SOIL STABILISATION
Another company focusing on ground
improvement is Geofirma, a soil stabilisation
specialist that was awarded works on a new
wind farm in Yorkshire, UK, for EnergieKontor.
It was contracted to stabilise 14,000m
2
of
agricultural land at Burton Pidsea, near Hull,
for an access road and crane hard standings.
The site is to become a wind farm featuring
three, 130m high turbines capable of
generating 10MW that will be erected in
November 2013. Commissioning and testing
of the wind farm is scheduled to be completed
before January 2014.
Soil samples taken from the site were
analysed at Geofirma’s laboratory, and the
company developed a bespoke lime and
cement stabilisation mix. This was then
applied to the soil via the company’s Firmafil
and Firmabase techniques – methods which
Geofirma claimed brought the soil up to
strength and stability while eliminating the
need to import good fill, and dramatically
reducing the need for stone.
Geofirma also said the stabilisation solution’s
rapid proving ensured that stringent bearing
capacity requirements were met almost
immediately. It highlighted the fact that this
was achieved without the need to employ any
The new BH 120 hydraulic piling hammer
from BSP International Foundations has an
operating weight of 750kg and has been
designed for mounting on backhoe loaders
Hope Construction Materials has launched
a new range of ready-mixed concretes for
foundations using a combination of concrete
additive technology and a formulated blend
of aggregate
>
One for all.
Discover more at:
THE
MULTI -TOOL.
