5 Common Applications for Drill Rigs June 5, 2010

Drill rigs offer construction crews a wide variety of benefits that prove to be ideal solutions when challenges result in the inability to incorporate crane driven piling driving machinery. In a typical arrangement, crane driven piling equipment is the choice of project managers. Crane driven vibratory extractor/driver machines offer significant benefits due to their massive size and energy created. Project managers are often faced with unique situations that restrict the use of these massive behemoths, and must turn to alternative solutions when these situations arise.

#5 Limited Adjacent Space: Construction site managers often are challenged to construct projects in a busy and densely populated area; such as metropolitan areas. Given a choice, most project managers would choose a development site in a rural or urban setting where vast amounts of land are at a maximum. Building construction requires ample space for a variety of needs. In obvious need for space is the machinery that is required to prepare the site foundation. Cranes that allow crews the advantages of moving large amounts of heavy material with minimal effort are highly desired, but in the erection of a structure that is bordered by existing buildings this may not be possible. The ability of drill rigs to nimbly maneuver onto and around a job site make them an ideal alternative.

#4 Noise Threshold Limits: Building owners typically wish for new structures to be erected in the most efficient and effective manners so that tenants can quickly begin paying rents/leases that results in a revenue stream for the building owner. Construction work is difficult and challenging, and is made exponentially more challenging when situations arise that reduce the progress on a job site. Some job sites do not allow for the use of excessively loud machinery during construction. Construction on or near hospitals or schools do not permit the use of pile driving diesel hammers which generate a significant amount of power and noise when “hammering” the pile into the ground. Vibratory extractor/drivers can be substituted; however, limited adjacent space (reason #5) often prohibits the use of these machines.

#3 Underground Cavities: Standard diesel hammer pile driving machinery creates significant downward force on the immediate area of a job site. As the pile is driven deep into the earth the vibrations that are created can be detrimental to naturally existing cavities such as underground rivers, caves, and sinkholes. These areas may exist without concern, but are compromised with the presence of massive blows occurring to the earth in close proximity.

#2 Adjacent or Existing Structures: When piles are required on new job sites they are often built adjacent to existing structures. Diesel hammer pile drivers disrupt the earth as the pile is firmly driven into the ground. These powerful machines displace the earth and “push” soil and rock in lateral directions. This lateral movement could compromise the foundational structure of adjacent buildings, thereby making them unstable. The use of drill rigs to create a corridor for the insertion of piles makes them a workable solution.

#1 Renovation of Existing Structures: Obviously massive cranes and diesel hammer pile drivers would not be able to access the basement of an existing structure without becoming cost prohibitive. Smaller drill rigs afford the ability to nimbly maneuver into confined spaces. These drill rigs are often equipped with rubber tracks and detached power sources to reduce damage to existing slabs and air pollution inside the building.
International Construction Equipment (ICE) is located in Matthews, NC and has been manufacturing and supplying premiere construction equipment for over 25 years, including a variety of top of the line pile driving equipment; including drill rigs.

 

 

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