CASE STUDYWEST PALM BEACH HELICAL INSTALLATION

ANALYSIS

Coastal Foundation Solutions was recently contracted by the Auto Builders General Contracting Services Inc. to install helical piles for a Mercedes Benz Dealership located in West Palm Beach Florida. Prior to the construction of several buildings and a parking garage, the installed helicals will aid in providing proper foundation support.

SOLUTION

Helicals were advised to structure proper foundational support of a a 31,122-square-foot, one-story above grade service station/car wash facility and a 26,612-square-foot, one story above grade parking garage at the dealership. Prior to the commencement of the project, helicals were tested on site to ensure specifications would be met.

Although there was a soil report completed by Ardaman & Associates, Inc. in April of 2020, the contractor wanted to verify the pile depth prior to the ordering of material. Coastal Foundation Solutions installed two test pilings on site. The test piles achieved their required torque at the depth anticipated prior to construction.

RESULT

Coastal Foundation Solutions purchased the piles from Earth Contact Products. The piles were initially delivered to the dealership at the end of November. In order to limit the time and the dealership lost parking spots, Coastal Foundation Solutions got right to work. The crews commenced work on the project on December 6, 2021. It took 14 working days with a 3 man crew to install all of the required pilings. The project was initially proposed for 190 piles, but due to a few piles not acquiring adequate torque, an additional seven piles were installed on-site.

The Coastal Foundation Solutions crew endured numerous rainy days on site in unfavorable conditions. The pile monitor, Universal Engineering, had to seek shelter during one point of the project due to the downpour of rain. If the monitor stayed in the rain, it may have damaged the pile log. The monitor would seek shelter in a car watching the pile installation. During his time ‘under shelter’ the monitor had access to the applications connected to our digital torque indicators. He was able to know in real time the torque of the pilings. The piles were SS200 10” x 12” x 14” 10’L, connected to the SS200 10” extensions. Piles were terminated with a 12” x 12” x 1” plate after being installed to a depth of 50-foot. The capacity of the piles was 130 kps ultimate.