Steel Pipe Piles Question
Steel Pipe Piles Question
(OP)
I am a structural engineer working on a project with steel pipe driven piles. An issue has come up with the capacities of the steel pipe piles that were recommended by the geotechnical report. The geotechnical report made a recommendation of a pipe diameter and thickness (along with grade) that can't reach the required capacity. The pile supplier used the geotech report as the basis of the piles they supplied and claim this is industry standard. The geotechincal engineer admits their recommendation is incorrect but counters that the pile supplier should have hired their own engineer to do the pile design. As the structural engineer I am not involved with the disagreement but would like to know who is correct.
The question I have is it "industry standard" for pile suppliers to go off the recommendations of the geotechnical report or is it more standard for them to hire and engineer to design the piles? Also, is it required by code for the steel piles to be designed and certified by an engineer?
Thank you for responses!
The question I have is it "industry standard" for pile suppliers to go off the recommendations of the geotechnical report or is it more standard for them to hire and engineer to design the piles? Also, is it required by code for the steel piles to be designed and certified by an engineer?
Thank you for responses!
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
www.PeirceEngineering.com
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
The blame for this depends on what the contract specifies are the responsibilities of each party. Usually a designer (consultant) would not accept unlimited liabilities for their design, so I would expect there is some limitation of liability (LoL) clause in the contract. As such, I would expect the contractor would be responsible for rectifying this issue.
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
My question is who is the EOR here who should have prepared the piling plan?
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
www.PeirceEngineering.com
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
Clarification. The EOR still designs the pile, but there are ALWAYS other recommendations in the report besides the Recommended pile size and type.
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
One or more Pipe sizes with the diameter and type WITH ALLOWABLE LOADS is normal, and expected for design purposes in a Geotech report.
The structural EOR still sets the spacing and any other structural requirements consistent with the recommendations of the Geotech.
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
In France we, contractors, generally do the design from SI report and loads given to us. Sometimes we are also given a design that we always check because as "knowledgeable" people we have a duty to warn our client that he is specifying something wrong if it goes to court !
RE: Steel Pipe Piles Question
My experience is that for D-B, the geotech works together with the pile contractor to give specific information for pile size and capacity to the structural based on the structural's requirements.
For D-B-B, the geotech gives several options for pile sizes to the structural so the structural can complete the design with the geotech's input.
It may vary depending on the country, but I have seen this trend for US founded projects in Japan.