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Helical Pier Load Testing

Helical Pier Load Testing

Helical Pier Load Testing

(OP)
What is the importance of testing for helical piers before installation? If the helical pier contractor assumes the responsibility to provide piers with a certain capacity with a required factor of safety, why is it important to do load testing? Are they required to do this testing by code or is it the owner/engineer’s call to ask for load tests.

I have a situation where the specs are somewhat not clear on the required testing and now the pier contractor is asking for $3000 a pop for a test. He has done satisfactory work about a mile away from the project, so its not like he is novice and unfamiliar with the area.

Thanks.

RE: Helical Pier Load Testing

IBC Chapter 18 has some requirements. You can read it either way on whether or not the tests are required. I have seen a couple of horror stories with helicals and tend not to use them on anything other than fixing single family homes of modest size with low design loads.

$3k is a whole heck of a lot cheaper than fixing it later. Do the test, if something goes wrong your butt is in the same sling for approving it.

RE: Helical Pier Load Testing

Do the testing, but if the contractor is doing it himself, make sure to monitor what he does. And if a test fails, the contractor should pay.

RE: Helical Pier Load Testing

Something to remember on the testing. The ASTM spec (and maybe IBC not sure) requires that the results be reviewed by a P.E.. So if there is testing it needs to be clear who approves/rejects the test results.

RE: Helical Pier Load Testing

(OP)
Thanks all.

Is there a minimum number of tests required? Most of the piles are on one stretch of wall and I think one test should be enough.

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