Floor slab solutions

The requirement for integral enlarged pile heads has increased greatly as engineers and main contractors look for the most efficient and economical foundation solutions for large floor slabs and where pre-cast concrete structures are used.

Cementation Skanska has adopted a range of specially made head formers for use with driven cast-in-situ, precast driven or bored Piling techniques. These head formers either press or cut a conical or cylindrical head for the pile, which is then topped up with concrete and floated off to a level.

Enlarged head piles are generally installed on a square or triangular grid pattern for Raft Foundations, floor slabs and hardstanding areas. They have also been used under road embankments with or without load transfer platforms or reinforced granular blankets.

The enlarged pile heads reduce the effect of punching shear and a thinner or more lightly reinforced slab construction can be used. As enlarged heads become an integral part of the pile construction and are finished at ground level, expensive pile trimming is eliminated. Under slab Waterproofing Membranes can be laid directly over pile heads so expensive cutting and sealing around pile shafts is not necessary.

Enlarged pile heads can be used to enable modular construction, where a building is large enough or its sub-structure is repetitious enough to justify pre-cast Ground Beams. Enlarged pile heads, finished to an accurate level, permit pre-cast ground beams to be laid directly onto them, eliminating cutting down and shuttered wet concrete work for ground beams.