Specialist

Grafton Square, Clapham, London

The piles at Grafton Square were required to support substantial tensile forces generated due to a basement construction. The piles were 600mm diameter up to 28 metres deep and fully reinforced to support the tension loads. The construction programme dictated the piles being constructed after commencement of the above ground works, leading to a restricted access route and the presence of tower cranes dictated a rig with a restricted height leader be required.

Martello Piling’s MP5000 rig proved suitable to fulfil all of these constraints.

Bookham Tunnel

The project at Bookham Tunnel required the installation of heavily reinforced 600mm diameter piles to a depth of 12 metres. The piles were installed to strengthen the tunnel and required installing at tight tolerances to the side of the tunnel. The Martello rigs were particularly suited to the project as excessive surcharge loadings onto the crown of the tunnel had to be avoided. Rigs weighting between 12 and 20 tonnes were used. The lighter rig was used on the side of the tunnel opposite the access road as it’s light weight enabled it to traverse safely over the weight restricted tunnel. Careful co-ordination of the works with the main contractor enabled the public access through the site to be maintained throughout the course of the works.

Bournemouth

The redevelopment of the old C&A store in Commercial Road, Bournemouth required that an existing retaining wall be supported by cross bracing and raking shores.

The new development required bearing piles to be installed beneath and around the propping and the low headroom, restricted access Martello piling rigs proved ideal. The piles were 600mm diameter, rotary bored piles, founded in sand that was base rammed. A pile load test was carried out to confirm the factor of safety. Vibration monitoring was carried out on the existing retaining wall to check the casing installation and base ramming would have not detrimental effect on adjacent structures.