Staying on Track
Kelly-drilled piles stay true and on course through the use of Jean Lutz’s
PRAD sensor, a user-friendly system that takes immediate readings
during the drilling process to ensure accurate verticality control
By Lisa Gordon
As construction moves increasingly into the vertical
sphere, the importance of finding new ways to accu-rately
monitor the quality of a building’s foundation
has become abundantly clear.
Back in 2007, Jean Lutz’s headquarters in Jurancon,
France, began developing a flexible, user-friendly and
cost-effective tool for accurately measuring the angle and
calculating the true deviation of Kelly-drilled piles. The
French company, founded in 1975, is a world leader in qual-ity
assurance monitoring for ground foundations.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
By the time Jean Lutz’s North American office opened in
Canfield, Ohio, in 2011, the company had launched its PRAD
(PRessure And Deviation) sensor, a wireless smart sensor that
is attached to the drilling tool.
As it descends into the ground, PRAD’s microprocessor
stores data and transmits it back to the accompanying hand-held
DIALOG display screen, measuring the angle and then
calculating the deviation of the hole.
“That’s why it’s called verticality control,” said Michel Lariau,
vice president of Jean Lutz North America. “It’s very important
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEAN LUTZ
The first time
Jean Lutz
dropped the
PRAD sensor
into the ground,
it knew the
device would be
a winner.
PILING CANADA 43