screw pile foundations for an eco-house

The Seed Eco-House

We were approached to complete the survey, load testing and reporting for a 1 ½ storey eco-house in Scotland, followed up with the supply and installation of RADIX Screw Pile foundations and bespoke structural brackets for the ring beam.

Client:
Main Contractor, Alpha Projects

Location:
Dundee, Scotland

Project:
Eco-House Foundations

Services:
Survey and static load-testing
Installation of screw pile foundations
Manufacture bespoke structural brackets

Products:
• 78 no. RADIX EXT 89mm Screw Piles for main structure
• 58 no. RADIX PRO 76mm Ground Screws for decking/walkways (phase 2)

Eco house ground screw pile foundations 2
Overview

A project driven by sustainability

The ethos behind the project is to design and build a comfortable dwelling in its natural location as sustainably as possible.

Screw piles were the preferred solution to minimise environmental impact, containing less than 50% of the embodied carbon (CO2e) than a comparable concrete base.

The programme of works required screw pile foundations to be installed at an early stage and as efficiently as possible for the build to commence as quickly as possible, with a secondary visit scheduled to install ground screw foundations for the areas of decking, walkways and a timber frame bike shed adjacent to the property.

Eco house ground screw pile foundations 11 Eco house ground screw pile foundations plan
Solution

Low-carbon, low-impact foundations for an eco-house

Site Survey & Load Testing

Working with the project engineers we deployed ‘REX’ our hydraulic installation rig along with our bespoke static load test equipment to verify the suitability of ground conditions, ensuring the engineers were able to specify the correct specification of screw pile foundations

Screw Pile Foundations

RADIX EXT 89mm Screw Piles with bespoke helical fittings and structural brackets were specified for the project’s main structure foundations, installed to depths of approximately 5.0m to support the main structural ring beam configuration.

RADIX PRO 76mm Ground Screws are also specified and scheduled to be installed in the New Year for decking, walkways and a timber frame bike shed.

Phase One – Q4 2022: Supply and installation of 78 no. RADIX 89mm Extendable Screw Piles and structural bracketry to meet the performance requirements of the project engineers, with a bespoke structural ring beam installed by the main contractor, Alpha Projects.

Phase Two – Q1 2023: Supply and installation of 58 no. RADIX PRO 76mm Ground Screws and structural bracketry to accommodate various raised walkways, decking and outbuilding.