COVER FEATURE
previously installed helical piles for 10- and 14-storey structures
and is currently installing them for a building that is
20-storeys high.
For the One Richmond Row project, EBS crews of four
and sometimes five took 42 days to install 543 2¼-inch solidsteel
square-shaft helical piles, the largest square shaft that
Chance currently manufactures, to depths ranging from 30
to 45 feet, on a 680-square-metre footprint.
“A minimum spacing is required between each individual
pile, and with the number of piles required in that very
small space, there was a very small margin for error,” said
Huber. “The surveyors had to be very accurate with their
layout and we had to be very accurate with our install.”
200-year-old engineering technology
finally gaining traction
“Many engineers have the idea that helical piles should
only be used for residences or anything where the loads are
light,” Huber said. “Some engineers won’t even give them a
second look due to the stigma that they’re small – like putting
a toothpick in the ground and expecting it to hold up
a bridge.”
In fact, from the time they were developed in the U.S. in
the early 1800s, helical piles, also known as helical foundations,
screw piles or screw anchors, were recognized as a
revolutionary engineering technology. Even then, helical
piles made the construction of bridges, lighthouses and
piers in difficult locations possible.
Chance has been an international leader in earth anchoring
since 1912. Hubber said, “With their years of experience,
pushing the limits on these piles, creating new products,
going for higher capacity per pile, I think they’re a step ahead
of most other manufacturers. In the last five years helical
piles have gained traction, and a lot of pile suppliers have
popped up, but they have a lot of ground to catch up on.”
EBS is proud to have earned its reputation as a North
American leader in high-capacity helical pile foundations
and has been pleased to contribute labour and equipment
to the load-testing research Chance is conducting on helical
piles in conjunction with civil and environmental engineering
researchers at London’s Western University.
The One Richmond Row project is ongoing, with the
building slated to open for occupancy in the fall of 2020, but
it is already “a major showcase, not only for EBS but for helical
piles in general,” said Huber. “I’m not saying that in every
scenario they’re going to be the preferred method, and it
doesn’t mean helical piles are always the most economical,
but they should be considered for many more situations
than they are now.
“And in the tight-access areas where you cannot get conventional
deep-foundation equipment in and where there
are parameters that need to be accommodated – whether
proximity to adjacent buildings, overhang concerns or
vibration – they really excel.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EBS GEOSTRUCTURAL
Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.
As Canada’s largest Marine Construction, Land Foundations and Dredging contractor, FRPD is a
recognized leader that employs state of the art methods and equipment. FRPD’s versatile fleet is ready
to complete all scope and size Marine Construction, Environmental Remediation, Dredging and Land
Foundation projects. Established in 1911 as Fraser River Pile Driving Company and incorporated in
2008 as Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc., FRPD’s team of highly skilled professionals brings more
than 100 years of experience and commitment to exceeding expectations.
1830 River Drive, New Westminster, B.C. V3M 2A8
Phone: 604-522-7971 (24/7)
www.frpd.com info@frpd.com
14 Q1 2020 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.frpd.com
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