BORED PILES WORKS

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1 General

1.1 Unless otherwise specified, all piling shall conform in all

respects to BS 8004. All materials and workmanship for
piling shall be in accordance with the appropriate
sections of this Specification.

2 Soil Investigation Reports

2.1 Any information and reports on site investigations for

the Works made available to tenderers are intended for
guidance only. The S.O. shall not be responsible for the
scope, completeness or accuracy of the information, or
for any opinions or conclusions given in the reports.

3 Tolerances

3.1 Setting out

Setting out shall be carried out from the main grid lines
of the proposed structure. Immediately before
installation of the pile, the pile position shall be
marked with suitable identifiable pins, pegs or markers.

3.2 Position

For a pile cut-off at or above ground level the maximum

permitted deviation of the pile center from the centre
points shown in the drawings shall not exceed 75mm in any
direction. For a pile cut off below ground level an
increase in this tolerance is permitted in accordance
with Clauses 3.3 and 3.4 hereinbelow.

3.3 Verticality

The maximum permitted deviation of the finished pile from

the vertical is 1 in 75.

3.4 Rake

The piling rig shall be set and maintained to attain the

required rake. The maximum permitted deviation of the
finished pile from the specified rake or the rake shown
in the Drawings is 1 in 25.

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 3.5 Forcible correction

Forcible corrections for verticality to the reinforced

concrete cast in-situ bored piles shall not be permitted.

3.6 Piles out of Alignment or Position

The Contractor shall, if ordered by the S.O., reinstall

any pile which has deviated out of position or alignment
by more than the specified limit, or alternatively the
substructure shall be modified to the approval of the
S.O. The cost of such reinstallation, or any extra cost
in the design and construction of a modified foundation
shall be borne by the Contractor, if in the opinion of
the S.O. such extra works has been made necessary due to
the in competency and/or negligence of the Contractor.

4 Piling Programme

4.1 The Contractor shall submit to the S.O. his proposed

programme for the execution of the bored piling work at
least seven days before commencement of the work. In
addition, the contractor shall inform the S.O. daily of
the programme of piling for the following working day and
shall give adequate notice of his intention to work
outside working hours, if this has already been approved
by the S.O.

5 Records

5.1 The Contractor shall keep records of particulars as

listed in Table 1 hereof for each pile installed and
shall submit two signed copies of these records to the
S.O. not later than noon of the next working day after
the pile was installed. The signed records shall form
part of the records for the Works.

5.2 Any unexpected boring or concreting conditions shall be

noted in
the records.

6 Nuisance and Damage

6.1 Noise and Disturbance

The Contractors shall take all necessary precaution in

carrying out the work so as to minimise noise and
disturbance.

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 6.2 Damage to Adjacent Structures, Utilities

The Contractor's attention is specially drawn to his

responsibilities under the Clause "Damage to Property" of
the Conditions of Contract. The Contractor is deemed to
have familiarized himself with the risks likely to be
imposed on adjacent structures and all utilities by the
proposed method of piling.

Before commencing any works, the Contractor shall made a

site inspection in order to consider any circumstances
which may indicate the presence of underground mains and
services at or in the vicinity of the Site. If, during
execution of the works damage is, or is likely to be
caused to any utilities or adjacent structures, the
Contractor shall submit to the S.O. his proposals for
repair or avoidance of such damage.

7 Damage to Piles

7.1 The Contractor shall execute the works in such a manner

so as to minimise damage to piles.

7.2 All piles damaged during construction or at any other

times shall be replaced by the Contractor at his own
expense.

8 Safety Precaution

8.1 The Contractor shall take safety precautions throughout

the piling operations in accordance with the requirements
of the relevant laws and bye-laws.

9 Definition

9.1 Preliminary Pile

A preliminary pile is a pile installed before the

commencement of the main piling works for the purpose of
establishing the design criteria for subsequent working
piles and for confirming the adequacy of the design,
dimensions and bearing capacity. This pile shall be
treated as a working pile unless otherwise directed by
the S.O.

9.2 Working Pile

A working pile is a pile which is installed as part of

the permanent foundation works.

9.3 Ultimate Load

Where pile test is carried out the ultimate load is

defined as the constant load at which the pile continue
to settle at a steady rate or the load at which the
maximum settlement of the pile top during one continuous
loading cycle is one tenth of the pile base diameter or
least dimension, whichever is the lesser. Where pile test
is not carried out, the ultimate load is defined as the

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 calculated ultimate load, derived from appropriate static
bearing capacity calculations.

9.4 Design Load

9.4.1 The design load shall be defined in relation to a

pile loaded in isolation, without nearby piles
being loaded except those providing test reaction.

9.4.2 Where the ultimate load is measured by means of

pile tests, the design load is the ultimate load
divided by the specified factor of safety.

9.4.3 Where the ultimate load is not measured by means of

pile tests, the design load is the lesser of the
following :

a) The calculated ultimate load for the pile

divided by the specified factor of safety.

b) The calculated ultimate load of the pile base

together with the calculated shaft adhesion,
as derived from appropriate static bearing
capacity calculations divided by a factor of
safety of 3.0.

9.5 Safety Factor

Unless otherwise specified, the factor of safety shall be

taken as not less than 2.0 for piles in compression and
not less than 3.0 for piles in tension.

9.6 Working Load

The Working Load is the design load modified to allow for

group effect, pile spacing or any other factors changing
the efficiency of the total foundation from that of a
single isolated pile and is at least equal to the dead
plus imposed loads on the pile together with down drag or
uplift loads as appropriate.

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REINFORCED CONCRETE CAST IN-SITU BORED PILES

1 General

1.1 The materials to be used and workmanship for reinforced

concrete cast in-situ bored piles shall be as specified
under Concrete Works. The type of mix to be used shall be
as those shown in the Drawings.

2 Reinforcement

2.1 The main reinforcing bars in piles not exceeding 12m in

length shall be in one continuous length unless otherwise
approved by the S.O.

2.2 In piles exceeding 12m long, joints will be permitted in

main longitudinal bars at 12m nominal intervals.
Joints in adjacent bars shall be staggered at least 1
metre apart along the length of the pile. Joints shall
be butt-welded as specified in Concrete Works. Joints
can also be made by lapping reinforcement bars with
forty-two diameter lap length. Other means of jointing
reinforcement, such as by means of mechanical couplings
shall be to the approval of the S.O.

3 Boring and Installation of Cast In-Situ Piles

3.1 Boring shall be carried down to the strata and depths as

required.

The sides of all boring must be kept intact and no loose

material shall be permitted to fall into the bottom of
the bore holes. The contractor’s boring equipment should
be able to sink a steel casing to support the sides of
all bore holes if it is deemed necessary or as directed
by the S.0.

All bored holes shall be inspected by the S.O or his

representative on site prior to concrete being placed and
any loose material as likely to affect the pile shall be
removed to the satisfaction of the S.O. and at the the
Contractor’s expense. The Contractor shall provide all
facilities and assistance to enable the S.O. or his
representative to carry out inspection of the bore holes
safely.

Bore holes reamed out at the base likewise be cleaned and

firm before placing concrete.

If ground water is found in any hole in sufficient

quantity to affect boring operations or excavation and
removal of soil from the bore holes or it causes the
sides of the bore holes to collapse irrespective of the
presence of water, then steel casing of appropriate size
and length shall be installed to permit boring and
support the sides of bore holes, or approved chemical or

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 bentonite solutions of sufficient strength to maintain
the sides shall be utilized by the Contractor.

The steel casing shall be sunk deep enough to seal the

ingress of soil or water, or the approved chemical or
bentonite solution must be maintained at a level within
the bore hole at least 100mm higher than the surrounding
ground level during the boring operations.

All concrete placed in bore hole shall be lowered by

skips or tremie tube with extreme care so as to avoid
segregation.

All bore holes must be protected from the possibility of

any surface water entering the hole from time to time
until the hole is completed and ready to be concreted. No
concreting shall be allowed to commence until the hole
has been inspected and the said precautions taken.

Withdrawal of temporary linings shall normally take place

immediately upon completion of concreting. If lining
tubes are withdrawn in stages, sufficient head of
concrete shall be maintained to prevent ingress of soil
or water at all times.

Reinforced cages shall be supported centrally and firmly

within the hole so that no movement occurs during
concreting operations.

4 Installation of Working Piles

4.1 In the cast where Ultimate Loading Test is required, the

installation of all working piles shall not be commenced
until the Ultimate Loading Test on an ultimate load test
pile has been satisfactory completed and approval of the
S.O. in writing has been obtained.

5 Sequence of Installation of Working Piles

5.1 The S.O. reserve the absolute right and the Contractor
shall recognize such right to instruct the installations
of working pile in any sequence the S.O. deems necessary
for the satisfactory completion of the works. The
Contractor shall not be allowed to raise any claim for
extra payment for complying with the said S.O.
instruction.

6 Concrete for Piles

6.1 Concrete grade shall be as specified. Concrete additives

shall only be used with the permission of the S.O. and
shall be used strictly in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions. No extra payment shall be
allowed for the use of concrete additives.

Concrete shall be placed in the bore holes as soon as

possible. Concrete which has started its initial set
shall be rejected.

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7 Mixing of Concrete

The cement and aggregate shall be thoroughly mixed together in

a batch type mechanical mixer unless otherwise instructed. The
water shall be admitted into the drum of the mixer after all
cement and aggregates constituting the batch are in the drum.
Mixing shall continue for not less than two minutes.

No partly set or re-tempered concrete shall be allowed to be

used. Partly set or excessively wet concrete shall be
immediately removed from site.

The workability of concrete shall be determined by slump test

as described in BS 1881 or an alternative approved method.

A slump measured at the time of discharge into the pile bore

holes shall be in accordance with the following standards:

Mix Work- Slump Typical

ablity Minimum Maximum Condition of Use

A 75 mm 125 mm Pour into water-free

bore holes and widely
spaced reinforcement
leaving ample room
for free movement
between bars

B 100 mm 175 mm Where reinforcement

is not spaced widely
enough to give free
movements between
bars. Where casting
level of Concrete is
within casing. Where
pile diameter is less
than 600mm.

C - 150 mm Where concrete is to

be placed by tremie
under water or
bentonite solution.

Temporary casing shall only be extracted when the concrete

within the bore holes remains sufficiently workable to ensure
that the concrete is not lifted.

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8 Distribution of Concrete

8.1 The concrete shall be distributed from the mixer to final

position of placing by buckets or tremie pipes with
bottom doors of flaps or other approved means which do
not cause segregation or otherwise impair the quality of
the concrete. The maximum free fall of the concrete shall
not be more than 1.5m or as directed by the S.O.

9 Concrete Level of Pile Heads

9.1 The top of the pile shall be brought up to at least 300

mm or as specified above the cut-off level of the pile to
permit all laitance and unsound concrete to be removed.

9.2 Where concreting of piles is terminated below ground

level, the void shall be backfilled, after inspection by
the S.O. with an approved granular fill.

10 Tolerance in Pile Dimensions

10.1 The cross-sectional dimensions of the pile shall not be

less than those shown in the Drawings and shall not
exceed them by more than 6mm.

11 Length of Piles

11.1 The length of a pile shall be taken to mean the overall

length measured from the tip of the pile to the top of
the concrete head. The length of piles to be cast shall
be to the approval of the S.O. Based on the results of
load tests carried out on piles installed on the site,
the S.O. may from time to time order the lengths of piles
to be modified.

12 Repair and Lengthening of Piles

12.1 Repair of Damaged Pile Heads

Any damaged pile heads shall be cut out of square at

sound concrete, and all loose particles shall be removed
by wire brushing, followed by washing with water. The new
head shall be cast truly in line with the remainder of
the pile, and be properly cured and allowed to harden
sufficiently to develop the strength necessary.

If sound concrete of the pile is below cut-off level, the

pile shall be made good to the cut-off level with
concrete of a grade not inferior to that of the concrete
of the pile.

12.2 Lengthening of Piles

Where piles have to be lengthened, the reinforcement

shall be stripped of all surrounding concrete for a
distance equal to forty-two times the diameter of the
main reinforcement measured from the pile head for

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 spliced joints and all lateral reinforcement shall be
removed. The lengthening bars shall be spliced with bars
of the same diameter as the main pile bars, 60 diameters
in length and lapping the main bars for a distance of
forty-two diameters above and below the joint, and shall
be securely bound with 1.63mm soft annealed iron wire.
New binders of similar size shall be provided and spaced
at half the centres of the binders in the main body of
the pile and shall be securely bound with 1.63mm soft
annealed iron wire and the pile extended by concreting in
properly constructed mounds to the length required. Care
shall be taken to form the joint between the old and new
concrete as specified hereinbefore. The extension shall
be truly in line with the remainder of the pile, and be
properly cured and allowed to harden sufficiently to
develop the strength necessary.

13 Cutting and Stripping of Pile Heads

13.1 When a pile has been installed to the required depth, the
head of the pile shall be cut off to the level specified
or shown in the Drawings. The length of reinforcing bars
projecting above this level shall be 600mm or as shown or
as specified in the Drawings.

13.2 Care shall be taken to avoid cracking or otherwise

damaging the rest of the pile. Any cracked or defective
concrete shall be cut away and made good with new
concrete properly bonded to the old.

14 Rejected Piles

14.1 Any pile or group of piles not truly constructed and

installed in accordance with this Specification or fail
its load test, shall be rejected. Rejected piles shall
not be paid for and shall be replaced by the Contractor
at his own expense even if piles of bigger capacity are
required.

15 Drilling Fluid

15.1 Bentonite shall be in accordance with the Specification

DFCP 4 or the Oil Companies Material Association.

A certificate shall be obtained by the Contractor from

the manufacturer of the bentonite powder, showing the
properties of each consignment delivered to the site.
This certificate shall be made available to the S.O. on
request. The properties to be given by the manufacturer
are the apparent viscosity range ( in centipoises) and
the gel strength range (in newtons per square metre) for
solids in water.

15.2 Bentonite shall be mixed thoroughly with clean fresh

water to make a suspension which will maintain the
stability of the pile excavation for the period necessary
to place concrete and complete construction. The

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 temperature of the water used in mixing the bentonite
suspension and of the suspension when supplied to the
borehole, shall be not lower than 5 degree C.

Where saline or chemically contaminated ground water

occurs, special precautions shall be taken to modify the
bentonite suspension or prehydrate the bentonite in fresh
water so as to render it suitable in all respects for the
construction of the piles.

15.3The frequency of testing drilling fluid and methods and

procedure of sampling shall be proposed by the Contractor
prior to the commencement of the work. The frequency may
subsequently be varied as required, depending on the
consistency of the results obtained.

Control tests shall be carried out on the bentonite

suspension, using suitable apparatus. The density of
freshly mixed bentonite suspension shall be measured
daily as check on the quality of the suspension being
formed. The measuring device shall be calibrated to read
within 0.005 g/ml. Tests to determine density, viscosity,
shear strength and pH value shall be applied to
bentonite supplied to the the bore holes. For average
soil conditions the results shall generally be within the
ranges stated in table A below. The tests shall be
carried out until a consistent working pattern has been
established, account being taken of the mixing process,
any blending of fleshly mixed bentonite suspension and
previously used bentonite suspension and any process
which may be used to remove impurities from previously
used bentonite suspension. When the results shown
consistent behavior, the tests for shear strength and pH
value may be discontinued, the tests to determine density
and viscosity shall be carried out as agreed with the
S.O. In the event of change in the established working
pattern, tests for shear strength and pH value shall be
reintroduced for a period if required.

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 Table A

Property Range of Results Test Method

To be at 20 degree C.
measured

____________________________________________________________________

1) Density Less than Mud density

1.10 g/ml balance

2) Viscosity 30-90s or Marsh cone

less than 20cp method

3) Shear 14-10 N/m2 or Shearometer

strength 4-40 N/m2 Fann Viscometer (10 minute
gel strength)

4) pH 9.5-12 pH indicator
paper strips
or electrical pH meter

16 Stability of Pile Excavation Using Drilling Fliud

16.1 Where the use of drilling fluid is approved for

maintaining the stability of a boring, the level of the
fluid in the excavation shall be maintain so that the
fluid pressure always exceeds the pressures exerted by
the soils and external ground water, and an adequate
temporary casing shall be used in conjunction with the
method to ensure stability of the strata near ground
level until concrete has been placed. The fluid level
shall be maintained at a level not less than 1 m above
the level of the external ground water.

17 Spillage and Disposal

17.1 All reasonable steps shall be taken to prevent the

spillage of bentonite suspension on the site in areas
outside the immediate vicinity of boring. Discharged
bentonite shall be removed from the site without delay.
Any disposal of bentonite shall comply with the
regulations of the local authority.

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18 Placing Concrete Under Water or Drilling Fluid

18.1 Concrete to be placed under water or drilling fluid shall

be placed by tremie unless otherwise approved and shall
not be discharged freely into the water or drilling
fluid.

Before placing concrete, measures shall be taken to

ensure that there is no accumulation of silt or other
material at the base of the bore holes and the Contractor
shall ensure that heavily contaminated bentonite
suspension, which could impede the free flow of concrete
from the pipe of the tremie, has not accumulated in the
bottom of the hole.

A sample of the bentonite suspension shall be taken from

the base of the bore holes using an approved sampling
device. If the specific gravity of the suspension exceeds
1.25 the placing of concrete shall not proceed. In the
event the Contractor shall modify or replace the
bentonite as approved to meet the Specification.

The concrete shall be placed in such a manner that

segregation does not occur.

During and after concreting care shall be taken to avoid

damage to the concrete from pumping and dewatering
operations.

The hopper and pipe of the tremie shall be clean and

watertight through. The pipe shall extend to the base of
the bore holes and a sliding plug or barrier shall be
placed in the pipe to prevent direct contact between the
first charge of concrete in the pipe of the tremie and
water or drilling fluid. The pipe shall at all times
penetrate the concrete until completion of concreting. At
all times a sufficient quantity of concrete shall be
maintained within the pipe to ensure that the pressure
from it exceed that from the water or drilling fluid. The
internal diameter of the pipe of the tremie shall be not
less than 150 mm for concrete made with 20 mm aggregate.
It shall be so designed that external projections are
minimized, allowing the tremie to pass through
reinforcing cages without causing damage. The internal
face of the tremie pipe shall be free from projections.

19 Extraction of Casing

19.1 Temporary casing shall be extracted while the concrete

within them remains sufficiently workable to ensure that
the concrete is not lifted.

19.2 When the casing is being extracted a sufficient quantity

of concrete shall be maintained within it to ensure that
pressure from external water, drilling fluid or soil
exceeded and that the pile is neither reduced in section
nor contaminated.

No concrete shall be placed in the bore holes once the

bottom of the casing has been lifted above the top of the

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concrete, It shall be placed continuously as the casing
is extracted until the desired head of concrete is
obtained.

Adequate precautions shall be taken in all cases where

excess heads of water or drilling fluid could be caused
as the casing is withdrawn because of the displacement of
water or fluid by the concrete as it flows into its final
position against the walls of the shaft. Where two or
more discontinuous lengths of casing (double casing) are
used in the construction the proposed method of working
shall be approved.

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 Table 1 - (Ref. cl. 5.1)

(a) Contract particulars.

(b) Pile type.
(c) Pile reference number (location).
(d) Nominal cross-sectional dimensions or diameter.
(e) Length of bore hole and concrete.
(f) Date and time of starting and finishing of
boring.
(g) Date and time of starting and finishing of
concreting.
(h) Ground level at commencement of installation of
pile.
(i) pile head level and pile toe level.
(j) Type boring equipment.
(k) Date and time of starting and finishing of rock
chiseling.
(l) Bore log of strata of ground bored.
(m) Water table.
(n) Detail of under-ream.
(p) Length of casing.
(q) Length of steel case and size of main bars and
links
(r) Degree of Rake
(s) All information regarding obstructions, delays
and
other interruptions to the sequence
of work.
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