Piling
Driven Piles
Precast concrete piles and concrete sheet piles driven into the ground for fast, reliable foundations.
Overview
Driven piles are precast concrete units that are made off site, then driven into the ground with a piling hammer until they reach the required depth or resistance. Because the pile is made before it is installed, its quality can be checked before it goes into the ground.
Driving displaces and compacts the surrounding soil, and the resistance measured during driving gives a direct check on each pile as it is installed. With no boring, no spoil and no concrete to cure in the hole, driven piling is fast on open sites.
We also install precast concrete sheet piles: interlocking concrete units driven side by side to form a continuous wall for river and canal banks, drainage channels and other retaining structures.
Typical applications
- Foundations for buildings and warehouses on open sites
- Road, rail and bridge approach works
- River banks, canals and drainage channels (concrete sheet piles)
- Jetties, waterfront and coastal structures
- Sites with soft ground over a firm bearing layer
Our process
Review the design
We confirm pile sizes, lengths, set criteria and the driving sequence with the design engineer.
Supply and inspect the piles
Precast piles are delivered to site and inspected before they are used.
Set out and pitch
Pile positions are set out, and each pile is lifted and pitched in the leaders of the rig.
Drive to depth or set
The pile is driven to the design depth or until the set criterion is reached, with driving records kept for every pile.
Cut off and hand over
Piles are cut to the required level, and the records are handed over ready for the pile caps.
Photo gallery
Frequently asked questions
What are the advantages of driven piles?
Driven piles are made and checked before installation, produce no spoil and can be installed quickly. The driving resistance also gives a check on every pile as it goes in.
Are driven piles suitable next to existing buildings?
Driving causes more noise and vibration than drilling, so driven piles are best suited to open sites. Close to existing or sensitive structures, bored or micro piles are usually the better choice.
What are concrete sheet piles used for?
Precast concrete sheet piles interlock to form a continuous wall. They are commonly used for river and canal banks, drainage channels and other permanent retaining walls.