SRI LANKA AIR FORCE HOSPITAL

SPECIFICATIONS
PILING WORKS

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PILING WORKS

CONTENTS

1.0

SPECIFICATIONS

2.0

INFORMATION

2.1

NAME OF CONTRACT

2.3

SITE INVESTIGATION DOCUMENT

2.4

DRAWINGS TO BE REFERRED

2.5

CONCRETE MIX DETAILS

2.6

REINFORCEMENT DETAILS

2.7

DEFINITION OF HARD ROCK LEVEL

2.8

PILE LOAD TEST DETAILS

3.0

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION

4.0

SPECIFICATION AMENDMENTS

5.0

SPECIFICATION ADDITIONS

5.1

PILING EQUIPMENT

5.2

INTEGRITY TESTING

5.3

CORE DRILLING THROUGH THE PILES

5.4

TEST PILES

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1.0 SPECIFICATIONS
The Specifications for Piling works given in this document comprises with four schedules
(Schedule 1,2,3 &4) and they should be read in conjunction with the following;
1. Specifications for Building Work Sri Lanka (Vol.1) -3 rd Edition (Revised) July 2004,
ICTAD Publication No. SCA/4 (Vol. I).
2. Specifications for bored and cast in-situ reinforced concrete piles ICTAD Publication
No. ICTAD/DEV/16.
Copies of above ICTAD Publications shall be purchased from the Institute for Construction
Training and Development (ICTAD), Sausiripaya, No.123, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7.
2.0 Information

2.1 Name of Contract

Piling Works for the Construction of Proposed Hospital Building for Sri Lanka Air
Force at Colombo 05.
2.3 Site Investigation Document
Refer Geotechnical Investigation Report dated March 2009 prepared by
Geotechnical Engineering Division of National Building Research Organization.
for factual information. The Employer or the Engineer is not responsible for the
accuracy of the information and opinions expressed in the report
2.4 Drawings to be referred
Refer the following drawings:
Drawing No:
C798/DEC/PRE/ST/PL/001

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Title
Pile Lay-Out

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2.5

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Concrete mix details
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

2.6

Concrete grade : 30 N/mm2

Maximum size of aggregate : 20 mm
Minimum cement content : 380 kg/ m3
Maximum temperatures during placement: 34oC (Max.)
When testing concrete works as per Clause 3.11 the average 28 day
strength of 3 cubes made from the same sample shall exceed the
characteristic strength by an amount 7.5 N/mm 2. Minimum strength of any
cube shall not be less than 90% of the characteristic strength specified for
concrete.

Reinforcement details
(a) Grade of Reinforcement : 460N/mm2
(b) Length, diameter and other details of reinforcement :
Standard length - 12m
Diameter 10mm, 16mm and 20mm and 25mm

2.7 Definition of hard rock level

Hard bedrock level will be defined as the rock level at which a core recovery
(C.R.) of more than 50% can be obtained.
2.8 Pile Load Test Details
Pile Load Testing can be categorised into two types depending on the test
method, namely,
1. High-strain Dynamic Load Test
(a) High-Strain dynamic testing shall be performed for the preliminary test piles
and working piles as described below.
(b) Dynamic load test shall be performed for test piles and specified working
piles after completion of the Maintained Load Test (if instructed otherwise).
2. Maintained Load Test
(a) The maximum load which shall be applied on a Preliminary Test Pile is 2.5
times the working load.
(b) The maximum load which shall be applied on a Working Pile is 1.5 times the
working load.
Pile Load Testing can be further categorised into two types, namely,
1. Pile Load Test on Preliminary Test Piles
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2. Pile Load Test on Working Piles.

2.8.1

Pile Load Tests on Preliminary Test Piles

The Contractor shall arrange to perform 02 Nos. of High-Strain Dynamic Tests
and 02 Nos. of Maintained Load Tests on 900 mm and 1000 mm Test Piles as
described below.
Pile
Diameter
(mm)
900
1000

2.8.2

No. of Piles
to be tested
1
1

Working
Load
(kN)
4175
4950

Maximum
Test Load
( kN)
10435
12375

Test Type
Maintained
Dynamic
Load Test
Load Test

Pile Load Tests on Working Piles

The Contractor shall arrange to perform High-Strain Dynamic Test and
Maintained Load Test on Working Piles as described below.
Pile
Diameter
(mm)
600
750
900
1000

No. of Piles
to be tested
2
2
2
2

Working
Load
(kN)
2120
3100
4175
4950

Maximum
Test Load
( kN)
3180
4650
6265
7425

Test Type
Maintained
Dynamic Load
Load Test
Test

3.0 Performance Specification

3.1

For Maintained Pile Load Test

For load cycle up to 1.0 times Working Load,
Maximum allowable gross settlement
Maximum allowable net settlement

= 10 mm
= 4 mm

For load cycle up to 1.5 times Working Load,

Maximum allowable gross settlement
Maximum allowable net settlement

= 15 mm
= 6 mm

4.0 Specification Amendments

4.1

Rock Socketing
Clause 4.03.2 (ICTAD/DEV/16 April 1997) shall be deleted and the following
substituted:

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Piles shall be taken to a minimum of length as specified in the drawings, into hard
bedrock (socketing depth) with CR>50% where the surface of the bedrock is known
from the soil investigation report referred to in Clause S1.3 . In order to justify the
termination depth the Contractor shall submit calculations for the allowable load
carrying capacity of each and every pile (Based on the parameters given in the Soil
Investigation Report) to the Engineer.
However, in the opinion of the Engineer, if the length of the pile is not adequate or
socketing depth is not adequate or the rock condition of the bearing rock stratum is not
satisfactory, he will instruct the Contractor to advance the borehole further down to a
satisfactory bearing rock stratum or adequate depth. The Engineers decision on
minimum rock socketing depths and termination depths of pile boring shall be final.
Further the socketing depth may be increased by the Engineer depending on the
results of the pile load tests on preliminary piles, which are proposed to carry out to
verify the design criteria. In such situations payments shall be made according to the
unit rates quoted in the BOQ.

5.0 Specification Additions

The following Sections are added to the Specifications:
5.1 Piling Equipment
5.1.1

Only the rotary drilling rigs shall be used by the Contractor for pile boring. The rotary
drilling machines shall equip with appropriate type of indicators to read the hydraulic
pressure and the torque applied by the rotary drive.

5.1.2

The Contractor shall have appropriate type of rotary drilling tools to advance the boring
through the designated type of soil and rock and a set of standby tools shall be
maintained in the construction site for the replacement in case the Engineer advises to
do so.

5.1.3

Flushing of the boring shall be done to the satisfaction of the Engineer to make sure
that no loose substances accumulated or deposited at the bottom of the boring and
piles are found on specified bearing strata. If the Engineer suspects the concrete
quality of pile, conditions of rock-pile interface and/or bearing strata of piles, he will
order to core drill the pile and the rock underlying the pile (as per S4.4), the Contractor
shall arrange the drilling within 07 days of such instruction. The cost for such drilling
will be paid at the unit rates given in the Contractors BOQ if the pile concrete is
satisfactory, pile-rock interface does not contain any soft material or honeycomb
concrete and bearing strata of piles satisfy the specified criteria according to the
Engineers opinion which shall be final. In the event above conditions do not satisfy no
payment will be made for the pile construction and the coring of the pile.

5.2 Integrity Testing

5.2.1

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While not an alternative to or and equivalent replacement for Load Testing, the
Contractor shall arrange for carrying out Integrity Testing of all piles as instructed by
the Engineer. This shall be done after the completion of hacking the piles to the
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required cut off level. If any Integrity Test indicates an unaccepted condition of a pile,
the Engineer will instruct the Contractor to carry out additional tests to verify the pile
capacity at the Contractors cost. If such test confirms the unsatisfactory condition of
the pile, the Engineer will instruct the Contractor to rectify the situation by carrying out
additional piles at Contractors cost.

5.2.2

The purpose of Integrity Testing is to obtain a reasonable assessment of the

soundness and uniformity of concrete in the pile shaft and may be done either by
(a)Time based Sonic-Echo technique or (b) Frequency-Response Testing.

5.3 Core Drilling through the Piles

5.3.1

The Contractor shall arrange to carry out core drilling through the piles with NX type
double tube core barrel with diamond bits down to the bottom of the pile shaft and
3000mm into the bedrock as instructed by the Engineer, and collect continuous core
samples.

5.3.2

The purpose of this coring is to obtain an assessment of the soundness of the

concrete in the pile shaft, the rock/concrete interface and the bedrock at the pile toe.

5.3.3

Depending on the observations, the Engineer may instruct the Contractor to carryout
further testing on the concrete and rock samples obtained from the drilling.

5.3.4

If the recovered core samples are found to be containing any soil intrusions within the
pile shaft or at the rock/concrete interface, or weaker rock conditions in the bearing
strata when compare to the specified bedrock conditions, such piles will be
categorized as rejected piles and any rectification work of such piles or replacement of
piles should be carried out solely at the expense of the Contractor at the discretion of
the Engineer.

5.4 Test Piles

5.4.1

Preliminary Test Piles

The main objective of the testing of preliminary test piles is to verify the assumed soil
parameters and design criteria of the piles which have been used in the design. The
Preliminary test piles shall be tested for the failure or at least 2.5 times the working
load whichever is less. Pile failure is defined as that the pile head is settled more than
6% of the diameter of the pile under the maximum test loading. If the Preliminary Test
Piles could not achieve the required load capacities, the Engineer shall adjust the rock
socketing lengths of the working piles to achieve the required loading capacities based
on the test results of the Preliminary Test Piles. Any payment done on these changes
shall be done only according to the unite rates given in the BOQ.
In any stage if the Piling Contractor thinks that he could not achieve the performance
criteria of the piles he shall inform the Engineer immediately with rectification /
improvement methods to achieve the same. The Piling Contractor is responsible for
achieving all performance criteria of his piling works during Contract Period,
Maintenance Period and Operational Period of the building.

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Preliminary Test Piles shall be cast before execution of the working piles and shall be
tested 28 days after casting but not exceeding 35 days. Test piles shall be concreted
up to existing ground level. A steel casing shall be used to case the concrete as
shown in the drawing between pile cut off level (approximately at bottom level of the
pile cap) and existing ground level to minimise the skin friction induced on the piles
during pile testing.
5.5.2

Working Piles to be tested

5.4.2.1

The working piles to be tested shall be selected by the Engineer and inform to the
Contractor before placing of the reinforcement and concrete. In the event the
Contractor receives Engineers instruction, he shall take necessary steps to continue
the pile up to the existing ground level to facilitate the load application during pile
testing. A steel casing shall be used to case the concrete as shown in the drawing
between pile cut off level (approximately at bottom level of the pile cap) and existing
ground level to minimise the skin friction induced on the piles during pile testing.

5.4.2.2

In case a test pile fails to show the anticipated pile capacity from the dynamic load test
or static load test, that pile shall be considered as rejected and shall be replaced by
the number of piles decided by the Engineer without any additional cost to the
Employer.
Further, if any test pile is failed, three more load tests shall be carried out, at the cost
of the Contractor, on piles selected by the Engineer. This procedure shall be continued
until all three test piles satisfy necessary load test criteria. If such test confirms any
unsatisfactory condition of the pile, the Engineer will instruct the Contractor to carry out
additional load test at the Contractors cost.

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