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Commercial Push Pier Systems

Foundation Underpinning in Georgia and South Carolina

The FSI Push Pier System utilizes high-strength round steel tubes and a load transfer bracket (retrofit foundation repair bracket) to stabilize and/or lift sinking or settling foundations. The foundation bracket is secured against the existing footing and pier sections are driven hydraulically through the foundation bracket and into the soil below using the combined structural weight and any contributory soil load as resistance. Pier sections are continuously driven until a suitable load-bearing stratum is encountered. At that point, the structure either begins to lift or the target pressure/load is achieved. The weight of the structure is then transferred from the unstable soil, to the foundation brackets, through the piers, and to firm load-bearing soil or bedrock.

The FSI Push Pier System develops a factor of safety against pier settlement by the pier installation methods used and the sequence with which multiple piers are driven and then re-loaded. Piers are first driven individually using the maximum weight of the structure and any contributory soil load. After all of the piers are driven, the piers are re-loaded simultaneously, and the total reaction load is distributed over the multiple pier locations. Since the average load on each pier during the load transfer operation is less than the load during pier installation/driving, a factor of safety against settlement is achieved. Typical factors of safety against pier settlement range from about 1.5 to 3.0, with higher values generally achieved for structures with greater rigidity. These factors of safety conservatively ignore any additional long-term frictional component to the pier's capacity (see below for more information).

Foundation Supportworks™ Model 288 Pier System Specifications

  • Bracket: Weldment manufactured from 0.25", 0.375", and 0.50"-thick steel plate. Yield strength = 36 ksi (min.), tensile strength = 58 ksi (min.).
  • External Sleeve: 3.50" OD x 0.216" wall x 30" or 48" long with sleeve collar welded to one end. Yield strength = 50 ksi (min.), tensile strength = 62 ksi (min.).
  • Pier Starter Tube: 2.875" OD x 0.165" wall x 50" long, triple-coated in-line galvanized. Yield strength = 50 ksi (min.), tensile strength = 55 ksi (min.). 3.375" OD x 0.188" wall x 1" long friction reducing collar welded to one end.
  • Pier Tube: 2.875" OD x 0.165" wall x 36" long, triple-coated in-line galvanized. Yield strength = 50 ksi (min.), tensile strength = 55 ksi (min.). 2.50" OD x 0.180" wall x 6" long internal coupler at one end with 3" extending out of pier tube.
  • Pier Cap: 5.0" wide x 9.0" long x 1" thick plate with confining ring welded to one side. Yield strength = 50 ksi (min.), tensile strength = 65 ksi (min.).
  • All-Thread Rod: 0.75" diameter x 16" long, zinc plated, Grade B7, tensile strength = 125 ksi [min.].
Push Pier Capacity Chart

Design Considerations

Push piers are installed directly adjacent to the existing structure utilizing side-load brackets. This introduces eccentricity into the system. The Model 288 Push Pier System incorporates an external sleeve at the top of the pier to aid in resisting the bending forces generated by this loading condition. This helps preserve the axial compressive capacity of the pier shaft. The external sleeve extends through and below the foundation bracket to essentially create a bracket that is 48 inches tall.

The moment or bending force is localized within a relatively short distance below the bracket. Although the bending force is dissipated quickly by the pier bearing against the confining soil, it is significant and cannot be ignored. The depth or length of sleeve and pier over which the bending force dissipates is a function of the soil stiffness near the surface. The depth is greater in soft clay and loose sand, and less in stiff clay and dense sand. In soft or loose soils, a small portion of the bending force may be transferred to the pier below the sleeve, thereby reducing the pier's allowable axial compressive capacity. A modified, lower capacity system is also available with a shorter, 30-inch long sleeve for low headroom applications.

Friction Reducing Collar

The first pier section advanced into the ground includes a larger-diameter "friction reducing collar" welded to the lead end. This collar, being larger in diameter than the pier tube, effectively creates annular space around the pier as it is advanced through most clayey soils. In soft clay or clean sand and gravel, an annular space may only temporarily be created. However, the larger diameter collar causes soil disturbance or remolding to occur, which also significantly reduces frictional resistance on the outside surface of the pier during driving. The result is a driven pier that generates most of its capacity in endbearing. Over time, the soils surrounding the pier relax back into the annular space and against the pier shaft. This provides an additional frictional component to the pier's capacity. Even though this frictional capacity may be significant, it is conservatively ignored in the determination of the pier's factor of safety against pier settlement.

Lowcountry Basement Systems commercial foundation repair services to Macon, Savannah, Warner Robins, Statesboro, Beaufort, Hinesville, Hilton Head Island, Jesup, Saint Marys, Walterboro and surrounding Georgia and South Carolina areas.

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Coastal Georgia & South Carolina Service Area

Foundation Repair and Basement Wateproofing in Coastal Georgia and Southern So. Carolina.
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Areas we serve:
Cities in Bibb County, GA
Lizella
Macon

Cities in Bryan County, GA
Ellabell
Pembroke
Richmond Hill

Cities in Bulloch County, GA
Brooklet
Portal
Register
Statesboro

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Midville

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Saint Marys
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Cities in Candler County, GA
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Bloomingdale
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Savannah
Tybee Island
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Meldrim
Rincon
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Adrian
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Claxton

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Cities in Long County, GA
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Crescent
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Meridian
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Cities in Montgomery County, GA
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Mount Vernon
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Cities in Screven County, GA
Newington
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Cities in Tattnall County, GA
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Collins
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Manassas
Reidsville

Cities in Toombs County, GA
Lyons
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Cities in Treutlen County, GA
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Cities in Twiggs County, GA
Danville
Dry Branch
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Cities in Wayne County, GA
Jesup
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Cities in Wilkinson County, GA
Irwinton
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Cities in Allendale County, SC
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Fairfax
Martin
Sycamore
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Cities in Bamberg County, SC
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Cities in Beaufort County, SC
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Hilton Head Island
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Saint Helena Island
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Sheldon
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Cat Island
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Gibbes Island
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Port Royal Island
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Edisto Island
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Smoaks
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Cities in Hampton County, SC
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Hampton
Luray
Miley
Scotia
Varnville
Yemassee

Cities in Jasper County, SC
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Cities in Chatham County, SC
Little Tybee Island
Cockspur Island
Wilmington Island
Whitemarsh Island
Oatland Island
Skidaway Island
Isle Of Hope
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Burnside Island
Ossabaw Island
Port Wentworth
Thunderbolt
Vernonburg
Georgetown
Pin Point
White Bluff

Cities in Mcintosh County, SC
Blackbeard Island
Eulonia
Valona

Cities in Liberty County, SC
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Hampton Island
Isle Of Wright
Sunbury
Gumbranch

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