Tolerances?

[SteelPE]

Standard tolerance for a pile location is 3”. What percentage of piles can one assume fall outside this tolerance on any given job?

 

[ishvaaag]

I find this document (it seems from UTAH's DOT) where economical penalties are established for piles not conforming the specs. All piles exceeding the maximum permitted (6 inches an 2% out of plumb) are rejected and alternative remedial proposals are started. All else are allowed at the penalty cost etc.

See section 3.3.C and Table 1

http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=492224113361426657

 

[paddingtongreen]

The number is a function of soil, pile type, who is driving them, etc.

We used to have"Liquidated Damage" clauses where a fixed amount would be deducted from the contract amount for various items of non-compliance. This was to pay for delays and the cost of the fix.

Michael.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

For piling driven with fixed leads, at grade (such as for a typical building) almost all should be within a 3" tolerance at the pile butt.

For piling driven (by necessity) with swinging leads and possibly thru water (such as for many bridges) there is much more chance for exceeding a 3" tolerance at the pile butt. I'd say maybe 1/3 to 1/2 out of that spec. Fortunately this variation can often be compensated for by an intentional slight batter (within specs) to bring the butt back near the correct location.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[SteelPE]

In this particular instance.... I am dealing with a 70%+ failure rate. I have heard many different reasons as to why the failure rate is so high. Pile placement is something that is out of my control, unfortunately, it becomes my problem when the contractor is screaming for his fixes when the number is so high! Very irritating.