Commercial Services

Foundation Settlement » Resistance Piers

Resistance piers are hydraulically driven, high-strength steel, tubular, end-bearing piles. The pile sizes vary in diameter from 2 2/8" to 4 1/2", as well as, in steel thickness and transfer brackets to accommodate a wide range of load and support conditions.

The steel piles (piers) are driven in connected sections, using the weight and structural integrity of the building to advance the piles to a stable load bearing stratum. There is a direct correlation between drive force and pile capacity. Drive force is continuously measured during installation to a pre-determined ultimate capacity with a factor of safety from 1.5-2X. The drive force measures the end bearing capacity of the soil, rock, and pile. The stiffer the soil the more drive force that is required. The predetermined capacity is derived from analyzing and estimating the building's weight (live loads, dead loads, and soil loads) and structural strength of the building support components. Pier spacing is determined by a number of influences: weight of structure, capacity of selected pile, soil type, and structural strength of the foundation to determine span limits. By measuring drive force the capacity of the soil is measured and the pier is continuously tested.