It is becoming increasingly popular to use piles as support for modern and major building works, especially with the efficient and safe methods that are now available to use. Previously, digging foundations was the process commonly used to support new buildings. However, this method poses many risks to workers, who had to use heavy machinery whilst at the bottom of these foundations. Since then, a new method has been adopted, involving piles. These piles are commonly made from re-enforced concrete, and are screwed, driven, or bored into the ground.
HSE guidelines require all piles to be cropped to the correct level, to allow for the construction of pile caps. Traditionally, this ‘pile cropping’, or ‘pile breaking’ was done using jackhammers or crunching. However, this approach had a tendency to damage the integral supporting structure of the piles. Because of this, water jets have overtaken these methods, replacing them with a method that does not cause any damage to the integral supporting structure.
HSE Guidelines
Choosing a good pile breaking method can save a lot of money and time. Not only this, but it can reduce potential health and safety risks that can be present during more traditional methods. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) run a health priority programme, which has been campaigning for alternative methods of pile breaking, as opposed to traditional methods. This is to reduce the prevalence of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). HAVS can involve significantly ill health, such as painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves, and joints. Due to the serious and damaging nature of HAVS, there has become a need for an alternative method of pile cropping in the industry
Water Jet Pile Cropping
Here at Hydroblast we approach pile cropping using a safe, precise, and productive method. The circular power head that we use, which is a ring presented in two pieces, has the ability to rotate 360 degrees and wrap around piles of most sizes. This enables our Aqua Cutter HVD to move all the way around a pile, without the operator having to remove the robotic equipment themselves. This eliminates a few health and safety hazards that can be present when operators are required to manually move robotic equipment. Using a remote-control system, the roller travels a set distance from one side of the pile to the other, depending on the roller distance that is set. This results in a precise method of concrete cutting.
Benefits of using Water Jetting for the Pile Cropping Process
With this method comes many benefits. Firstly, in terms of time; water jetting process supersedes any other method in terms of the speed of the pile cropping. Due to the advanced and automated machinery process, more can be done in a set amount of time. This increases productivity as it means that workers can continue with the rest of the building work quicker.
As mentioned before, this method offers greater safety to everyone involved. Equally, it increases the safety of a building. The purpose of pile cropping is to provide a solid foundation to a structure, and other methods involve vibrations that can cause damage and cracking to foundations.
One of the major benefits of opting for the water jet method, is the precision it provides. The high-pressure water comes out of a small point, allowing for a small and focused target. This allows for a precise finish.
We have expert knowledge and experience in the use of water jet technology for pile cropping. If you’re in search of a reliable company to carry out pile cropping, do not hesitate to contact us.