Cabrillo Beach gets a new elevated walkway

FOR ALL APPLICATIONS WHERE CONFINEMENT OR GROUND CONDITIONS LIMIT TRADITIONAL PILES

MICROPILES (aka Minipiles, PaliRadici, pipe piles, micro piles, etc) are 300 mm (12 inches) or less in diameter, employ a single rod or pipe and are grouted in place with Neat cement (water and Portland cement).  A few " test" micropiles are generally installed and tested at the site to verify the capacity and installation technique prior to production micro piles.  The production micro piles are generally not tested, but can be economically tested in tension (at half the compression load, or as per engineers recommendation).  Compression testing requires three micropiles, two being used as reaction piles. 

Micropiles installed at Norton AFB office  facilities for a foundation supporting shear walls

UCLA Parking Structure #32 with MICROPILES

F&M Bank selects

 Micro piles for foundation

MICROPILES can replace conventional piles under most circumstances, and are especially economical where there is difficult ground conditions (caving, ravelling or rocky ground conditions) or where there is limited or difficult access or work space, like inside buildings for earthquake  upgrades.  Micropiles are installed much like tiebacks or soil nails, using rotary or percussion drilling rigs.  Because of their smaller size, a wide variety of drilling techniques can be employed more economically, which makes their use so attractive: flight auger, tri-cone, percussion rod, down-the-hole-hammer, casing with auger, hollow grouting drill (Titan), percussion  rod etc.  Micropiles are finding ever greater acceptance with engineers and designers who are replacing traditional piles with micropiles - to the benefit of the owners.

Micropiles earthquake proof Robinson May Department store in Northridge at Laurel Plaza.

August installing Micropiles at the Clubhouse Restaurant and entrance to the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa