PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
H.B. FLEMING
Contracting - Engineering
H.B. Fleming specializes in pile driving, excavation support,
cofferdam installation and subaqueous pipelines throughout
northern New England.
89 Pleasant Avenue South Portland, Maine 04106
(207) 799-8514 (207) 799-8538 (fax) www.hbfleming.com
were filled with concrete. It is unknown exactly how they were
installed, most likely with handheld “bell” hammers. It should be
noted that none of the existing piles seemed to have settled. Castiron
caps were used on top of the piles, which had ears and base
plates for accepting x-bracing rods and the wooden superstructure.
The new replacement dock, designed by Edward C. Porcher,
P.E. of Stantec (PDCA of SC), called for 12-inch pre-stressed piles,
furnished by Palmetto Pile Driving (PDCA of SC) and driven
by Cape Romain Contractors, Inc. Piles were driven with a D8
Delmag hammer, furnished by American Piledriving Equipment
(PDCA of SC). Heavy wooden CCA timbers were designed as
new caps and stringers, with IPE decking as the finished surface.
For cost considerations, the old piles were left in place, and the
new piles were strategically placed beside and around them. Today,
original piles are intermixed with new piles under the new structure,
serving as a constant reminder of how drastically technology
has improved. Not only with the products we use today, but with
installation methods.
Yet the ingenuity of the old system, and the durability of the
old system, should not be overlooked. Not only standing the test of
time, the old piles serviced heavy loads in a very difficult environment,
and have proven pretty savvy when it comes to making the
most of what is available to you. Installation of such a pile system
at the turn of the century is quite remarkable.
Another interesting aspect of the project for Cape Romain
was that the old Quartermasters House needed a new foundation
as well. The answer was of course the same pre-stressed piles.
The challenge was what to do with the house in the meantime.
Permitting and historical restrictions called for the dock and
house to go back in exactly the same position they were originally.
Engineered plans called for the house to be floated off of its current
foundation, set aside on those same floats; and drive new piles, and
then that scope of work reversed. Cape Romain saw tremendous
risks associated with this plan, and as a zero-cost change to the
plans and contract, developed a more certain plan – driven piles.
Twenty-four inch steel pipe piles were driven immediately
adjacent to the old house, and within the footprint of the old dock,
just west of the house footprint. Steel box beams were then set
atop those piles, as a set of “skids”, giving the house a temporary
home while new piles were driven. Fourteen-inch H-piles were
then pulled underneath the old house, serving as supports beams,
which sat on top of the box beams, with low-friction HDPE pads
in between the two. A block and tackle system was setup, the
house jacked up, off of its old foundation, and onto the HP support
beams and pipe piles. The house was then pulled over on the skid
system, temporarily, while the new pre-stressed piles were driven.
Once the new piles were driven and caps installed, the block and
tackle system was reversed and the house pulled back into its original
position and lowered onto its new foundation. A driven pile is a
tested pile – whether it be temporary or permanent, whether it be
steel or concrete or wood. A high-risk situation was turned into a
very comfortable and familiar scope of work, all with the security
and knowledge of driven pile.
What was once a government facility has now turned private.
That seems an odd development in recent years, wherein the
government seemingly wants to take over just about everything.
However, as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they
stay the same. What is constant and what remains the same in this
situation is this – driven piles are a good idea. Low risk, proven, and
efficient. A good idea then; a good idea today. t
Photos courtesy of Cape Romain Contractors
CS Marine
Constructors Inc.
Barges for Charter
• 3000 Ton Hopper Barge
• Jackup Barge, Portable
• Spud Barges
• Deck Barges
Services
• Dockside Mobilization
• Floating Crane Service
425 15th Street Vallejo, CA 94592
www.csmarine.com (707) 562-4100
Rental/Services: mark@csmarine.com
Sales: terry@csmarine.com
Equipment for Rent
• Anchors
• Buoys
• Fairleads
• Ramps, Fenders
• Concrete Buckets
• Bardex Jacking System
CONGRATS
PDCA
90 | QUARTER 4 2015
/www.hbfleming.com
/www.csmarine.com
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