Testing Existing Drilled Piers
Testing Existing Drilled Piers
(OP)
My company is designing an addition to an existing building that is founded on a foundation consisting of drilled piers. We are trying to determine if part of the existing foundation can be re-used. Part of this evaluation would be testing the existing piers for integrity and capacity.
Do testing procedures exist that would supply us with this information without exposing the pier?
Do testing procedures exist that would supply us with this information without exposing the pier?





RE: Testing Existing Drilled Piers
Consider exposing one pier and doing a Statnamic or similar test.
RE: Testing Existing Drilled Piers
We would be placing a new pier cap and just reusing the piers. None of the super-structure would be reused.
We are just looking to test the piles for integrity and possibly a load test to determine if they are structurally sound. The catch is we are in design now and the existing building is occupied and will be until we begin construction on the new building. In order to test the piers I am thinking we will have to demo part of the existing building to do this which is not desirable. Ideally, we are looking for a test that could test the piers with out demolition.
RE: Testing Existing Drilled Piers
RE: Testing Existing Drilled Piers
That's what I wanted to hear! I was pretty sure testing the pier was impossible without exposing it, just wanted to make sure there wasn't some test I wasn't aware of. Thanks!