COVER FEATURE
WHAT CAN VTL DO FOR YOU?
150’
CFA
1 Stroke
600 Ferguson Avenue North
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8L 4Z9
Tel: 1.905.528.7924 Fax: 1.905.528.6187
Toll Free: 1.800.668.9432 (in Canada and USA)
www.berminghammer.com
Email: bfssales@berminghammer.com
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2017 - Piling - Half Page VerticalFINAL.pdf 1 11/28/2016 12:03:57 PM
“Foundations constructed in central Manitoba and foundations
constructed above the Arctic Circle in Canada’s
territories vary greatly in ground type and methodology of
construction,” said Toma.
Formula Contractors owns its own fleet of equipment that
is based largely on the typical projects it constructs.
“Pieces are specifically sourced and purchased for the type
of work we do,” he said. “We try to make sure they are either
adaptable to different ground or terrain conditions or they
can have aftermarket attachments that are adaptable. We also
have several purpose built/in-house designed pieces of equipment
that give us an edge over conditions and competition.”
Joe Roper is a project manager at Cyntech, a Calgary-based
firm that provides innovative, cost-effective and reliable solutions
for the energy and petrochemical industry. Cyntech’s
primary products are screw piles and screw anchors for
pipeline buoyancy control, with services including design,
manufacturing and installation for the energy sector, as well
as for commercial and residential applications.
“While expanding with a second fabrication facility in
Plantersville, Texas, our experienced design teams gradually
shifted focus to high-capacity helical piling,” said Roper. “Our
engineers expanded beyond the constraints previously associated
with helical piles, such as minimal bending moment
or lateral resistances and limiting applications to small or
medium axial capacities. By 2008, our teams had successfully
completed axial compressive load tests exceeding 350 tons.”
When it comes to site condition challenges, he said, “Our
engineering team has designed helical piles in every corner
of North America and most places in-between, dealing with
very deep and loose sands in Newfoundland and Labrador, or
shallow bedrock in British Columbia, permafrost in Alaska,
swelling clays in Texas and heavily contaminated soils in New
Jersey.”
Roper adds that Cyntech’s technical field advisors work
with its project management and engineering teams to
provide onsite solutions, should unexpected installation conditions
arise onsite.
Andrew Sneddon is the construction manager at Graham
Piling in Edmonton, Alta. As part of the Graham Construction
Group, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, Graham
Piling’s main disciplines are rotary and driven piles.
While site conditions vary greatly across the country,
Sneddon says if his team is provided with good geotech reports
that detail key piling elements (water levels, water inflow rates
and sloughing zones), they can then come prepared. However,
without good information, the risk of failure increases dramatically.
He adds that specifications should be adjusted to
accommodate these site conditions.
“For instance, if materials are being sourced two hours
away, then concrete delays need to be adjusted and accepted.
Providing a ‘city’ specification on a very rural project may not
be the best solution.”
Soil conditions
Closely entwined with site condition challenges are those
related to soil conditions. Cote explains the situation succinctly
when he describes the wide variety of soil types in
Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
PILING CANADA 21
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