Author Archives for Screwfast

A Guide to Helical Pile Installation

January 4, 2018 12:03 pm Published by Comments Off on A Guide to Helical Pile Installation

Helical piles are a type of structural foundation. In other words, they are designed to bear the weight of a building so that it does not sink into the soil. All properties are built upon a foundation, because it helps spread the heavy load evenly across the ground. There are many advantages to using helical piles, including the ease of installation and consequent removal, if necessary. Of course, helical piles must be installed by a trained professional and should not be seen as a DIY project. Helical piles are fitted into the ground in a similar way that a screw is inserted into wood, although on a much larger scale. Using machine-mounted hydraulic or electrically powered drilling equipment, they are...


Barking Substation

April 3, 2014 3:41 pm Published by Comments Off on Barking Substation

ScrewFast have successfully completed the design, supply and installation of helical piles and steel grillages at Barking 400kV Substation, supporting numerous structures throughout the site.  The works were completed in 2 phases spanning 2012-2014. Comparisons where taken between the use of steel and concrete, considering the whole life and direct project benefits.  Helical piles demonstrated significant gains in Value for Money, Installation and Performance. During the works, tests were performed to investigate the effects of stray current and the steel pile and grillage acting as sacrificial member. Following some collaborative design innovation with our client (SEESA) the tests conclusively removed any doubt of the possibility of stray current. The SEESA Team at Barking Substation recently collected the SEESA Project of...