Helical Pier Load Testing

[WWTEng]

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.

 

[dcarr82775]

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.

 

[hokie66]

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.

 

[dcarr82775]

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.

 

[WWTEng]

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.