One of the only constants in pile driving and drilling deep foundation project’s success is extensive pre-construction planning that will forecast potential breakdowns or obstacles and avoid costly downtime. A thorough analysis of your project’s goals will allow for proper inspection of driven piles during every phase of piling or drilling.
This is an often-overlooked portion of drilling and pile-driving projects. However, it is one of the best ways to ensure structural integrity and proper bearing capacities for projects of every scope, from small commercial developments to critical infrastructure like bridges or overpasses.
While the final inspections are clearly an important aspect of every project, conducting inspections regularly will help ensure a successful project no matter the size, soil conditions, or load-bearing requirements. Piles and other reinforcements offer robust support and can handle the significant loads required by civic and large commercial developments, though these projects do require some specialized techniques and equipment.
Larger projects may require multiple pieces of heavy construction equipment, including drilling rigs and pile driving rigs of different capacities depending on the engineering specifications. This makes renting pile driving and drilling equipment an attractive solution for operators or contractors who are working on projects with different pile materials or a variety of soil conditions across larger job sites.
Engineering Specifications for Driven Piles
Before you can begin a project, you need to evaluate your engineering specifications to make sure your equipment is calibrated to deliver enough strength to drive piles without applying too much force and damaging piles, which can result in schedule breakdowns and higher material costs. Another consideration is the required pile length as well as the site conditions.
Analyzing a professional soil boring can allow the engineering team to develop a comprehensive scope and work with rig operators and contractors to define equipment needs. It’s imperative to understand what specific equipment you need to complete a project before you begin working with a trusted local vendor, as availability will impact your schedule and bottom line.
Also, site-specific restrictions can require rig operators to tailor their equipment due to height restrictions, or local ordinances that can require machinery to mitigate noise levels, reduce pollution, or operate during specified hours. A hydraulic piling rig is one of the most commonly used pieces of equipment. However, some projects can be completed with a side clamp vibratory hammer that can be a more versatile solution to a traditional pile driving rig.
A complete engineering scope can allow inspections to be completed at every milestone to ensure a clean inspection upon completion of the entire project.
Site Visits
Before you break ground on a pile driving project, numerous site visits may be necessary to ensure you have the proper equipment. You should consult with a local vendor to ensure equipment availability as soon as possible to avoid costly downtime.
Different site conditions or marine projects can present unique challenges and require multiple types of equipment for driven piles and foundation drilling, so many operators opt for pile driving equipment rental to save on maintenance and repair costs as well as the costs associated with managing a fleet of pile driving or drilling rigs.
Job Scope for Driven Piles and Foundation Drilling
Because larger commercial and civil projects may require a wide variety of driven piles across a more significant site, you may want to collaborate with a heavy equipment rental company to tailor your equipment needs to your project’s specific requirements.
Once you have determined the scope of your project, from pile size and material to installation times and equipment needs, you can start to define a schedule and budget that will balance your hard and variable costs with your client’s budget.
Also, within your broader scope, you can schedule project inspections to ensure that milestones are being met and that all structural components are being installed according to engineering specifications.
Equipment Rental and Transportation
Once you have defined your scope and developed inspection protocols, you can start to identify equipment and work hand in hand with a knowledgeable local vendor like RPI Equipment to ensure availability and mitigate repair and maintenance costs, as well as begin planning your transportation logistics.
Transportation costs are one aspect that requires careful planning as they contain considerable variable costs due to fuel costs fluctuating. Renting pile driving equipment offers operators and contractors a cost-effective solution that can help ensure profitability for projects with budget constraints.
Inspecting Equipment During Operation
While inspections of the driven piles and foundation structures are an essential aspect of every project, maintaining your construction equipment with regular inspections can help avoid costly downtime or expensive repairs. Prepare a comprehensive checklist that can be completed on a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule to ensure proper operation for the entire project.
Not only does RPI Equipment offer sales and rentals, but our service team can also perform routine inspections, maintenance, and repairs on your job site to keep your equipment at optimal performance and operation to keep your job running smoothly through every phase.
