What is a Screw Pile?
The famous declaration "The Simple Things in Life are Often the Best" is never more correct as when it is associated with screwpiling. What could be more simple than a circular hollow section of steel (shaft) with one or more tapered steel plates (helix's) strategically welded to the shaft which is in turn wound into the ground using rotary hydraulics for the purpose of compression piles and tension anchors.

   Screwpile Technology

 The technology of screwpiling is not so much in the manufacturing of the product but rather in the specific engineering design. Since the origination of screwpiling in Australia (1992) Screwpile Australia has engaged in continuous research, testing and developmental programs which has moved the product into many fields of piling specialisation . Screwpiles work in both sand or clay conditions. Soil types and profiles play an important role in the design and performance of a Screwpile. Screwpiles are screwed into the ground much like giant self tapping screws through the use of rotary hydraulics attached to earthmoving equipment such as mini excavators, bobcats, proline crane borers or large excavators depending on the capacity and size of Screwpile required.

During and at completion of the Screwpile installation the installer monitors the installing torques to ensure that sufficient load capacities are achieved. Our research and development has established a direct relationship between installation torque and Screwpile capacity. Constant torque monitoring provides and accurate indication of ground profiles and founding soil capacities. 

"Screwpiles" are available from 1.5 to 30 metres in length at 0.5 metre intervals for capacities of up to 1200Kn SWL compression & 700Kn SWL tension

   Connection To Footings
Screwpile connection to a typical pilecaps and footings is via either Y-bars placed through the top of the pile or e-flanges. Both are left exposed into the cap / footing.
   Screwpile Design and Specification
Screwpile Australia offer a complete free of charge design service to builders and engineers who choose to specify and use our product. In the case of typical single and two story residential development, and transportable/remote housing buildings a standard range of Screwpiles is specified and available "off the shelf".

   Benefits to Industry

Few industries are as demanding on time and cost saving initiatives as is the building industry. Whilst in most cases construction conditions above ground are totally predictable, enabling construction schedules to be met, the same cannot be said for below ground. "Screwpiles" provide engineers and builders with a system of piling that is both performance predictable and offers fast simple solutions should variable or unexpected poor soil conditions be encountered during installation.

Now common problems such as:

  • Water tables in piling zones
  • Caverning
  • Collapsing
  • Liners
  • Additional Reo requirements
  • Poor soils or peats at specified depth of piling zones

All of which meant construction time delays and additional expense are no longer a concern when our "Screwpile" system is used.

The installing method of screwpiling enables the accredited installer to monitor the load capacity of each pile during installation. Should insufficient torque readings be encountered at the specified piling depth, which typically would be caused by peat zones etc., extensions can be added to the piles enabling the installation to continue past the effected zone and into good founding soils.

   Additional Advantages

Screwpiling offers the additional advantages of:

  • Vibration free installation (no interference to adjacent buildings/structures)
  • Very fast installation (actual pile installation average of approx. 5 minutes
    •
  • Minimal noise disturbance to adjacent environments
  • No de-watering
  • No concrete
  • No Reinforcement
    •
  • No spoils
  • No liners
  • Versatile
  • Re-Usable
  • Problem Sites Solved
  • The Environmental Choice
   Copyright © 2004 Screwpile Australia