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plunge columns

Top-down construction requires columns to be plunged into piles to tight structural tolerances. Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering (BBGE) are experienced in achieving these high standards.

concept
Plunge columns can be installed into rotary bored piles to allow for a top-down construction sequence, 'launching' structures before the basement is excavated. By adopting this method of construction the client can gain advantage of a reduced construction programme. Plunge columns have been used in the past but it is only recently that they have been brought back to the forefront of construction and BBGE are helping to drive this resurgence.

construction process
Generally the construction process is as follows; a rotary bored pile is excavated to the required depth, a reinforcement cage is then installed and then the void is filled with concrete stopping the required distance below ground level. Whilst the concrete is still wet a hydraulic plunging frame is installed within the temporary casing and then the plunge column is installed to structural tolerances. The concrete is then left to set in the pile and once this is complete the empty bore

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Top-down construction reduces the overall construction programme resulting in earlier project completion dates.
above is backfilled. When all the plunge columns are installed the construction of the structural frame above ground level can begin.

previous experience
BBGE have designed and installed plunge columns on many different projects, most recently plunge columns have been installed at The Shard of Glass (London), Heathrow Terminal 2B and at Oxford University. The table below highlights the how successful the installation of plunge columns were at The Shard.

Finished Column Attributes Plan Position at Head Angular Rotation at Head Level at Column Head Verticality

Required by the specification 10mm any direction < 2 degrees +/-10mm 1:400

Achieved on Site at The Shard Average 7mm < 0.25 degrees + 3mm/-5.5mm Average 1:880 Plunge Column and Frame

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:


HEAD OFFICE
Pavilion C2, Ashwood Park, Ashwood Way, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 8BG T +44 (0)1256 365200 F +44 (0)1256 365201 E info@bbge.com

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