Mini Piles

Mini Piling Systems enable home developers to create extensions to homes in tight spaces that would have otherwise been out of bounds. You can now secure projects and extend your residential developments over lands that would have otherwise been problematic. To give you a flavour of how this can be achieved, visit our case study – a challenging project on behalf of the Esh Group for a new residential area in the heart of Newcastle. The project required strategic placements of piles due to the restricted access site. As an alternative to using one of our large-sized piling rigs, we utilised a Mini Piling technique to drive SFA mini piles, otherwise known as Sectional Flight Auger piles. Alongside 154no CFA piles, Aarsleff safely installed 16no. SFA mini piles as specified. We deployed our Klemm 709 rig which was able to safely install the mini piles, with some of the piles also being used to create a bridge over an existing water main under the site.

Feel comforted that our expert Mini Piling team will design an optimal and value-engineered solution for you by using one of the many applications we can execute to solve your project challenges.

Limited space or restricted access to the site can pose issues, especially when a construction vehicle’s physical size, weight and height means we cannot gain access, including the delivery of large equipment and materials. Using a Mini Piling rig allows you to work within such challenging restrictions.

In 2018, Aarsleff navigated an extremely technical project on behalf of main client Leeds City Council, where the foundation works formed part of a wide-scale scheme to create the Leeds PIPES district heating network. The challenge was to operate in a 4.5m restricted height area to install 16No. bored piles. Read more about the project here. Mini Piling is also an ideal solution when working with difficult underpinning projects.

Mini piles can also be used to strengthen existing structures such as bridges, retaining walls and floor slabs.

This is an application that has been used before by Aarsleff in a contract that specified installation of micro piles to reinforce the existing railway bridge foundations in Aberystwyth. Access was extremely difficult and high tides meant that flooding to the working platforms became a real danger.

Aarsleff worked between the tides supplying extra plant and labour to enable 24 hours working, helping to complete the contract in a timely and safe manner. Using a D1000 Drop Hammer, we successfully installed 323mm diameter bottom driven steel cased micro piles.

As Mini Piles use less concrete and steel than other piling systems, the carbon footprint is naturally reduced -not to mention the reduction of noise, vibrations and disturbance to adjacent structures during the installation.

J Tomlinson contracted Aarsleff to service a student residential development – Dagfa House in Beeston. Their buildings were split between two adjacent sites, within close proximity of each other.

Due to existing Tree Preservation Orders in place on several mature trees, the mini piling rig was selected to assure minimal disruption occurred. Apart from some localised pruning to the trees, the rig could work from the existing tarmac and on a reduced spec piling platform. Therefore, providing minimal preparation work in an environmental impact location. The vibration-free technique selected also provided minimal disturbance during the pile installation.

The requirement for sustainable solutions is becoming an increasingly important factor in construction projects around the world, as reported by Google Insights.  Here at Aarsleff, we want to take care of the environment. We are aware that our contribution to the global environmental impacts and we are committed to planning and executing all work processes with the least possible impact on the environment.

Could your project benefit from our Mini Piling services?