Driven Piles
Pacific Foundation installs driven piles for structural foundations.
Driven piles are prefabricated foundation elements that carry structural loads through resistance along their length, bearing at the tip, or both. Pacific’s scope includes pile installation and the driving records and testing required by the project.
Where It Fits
Deep Support
Driven piles transfer loads through weak layers to supporting ground.
Repetitive Foundations
Prefabricated elements can suit regular foundation layouts.
Accessible Work Areas
The site needs room to deliver, lift and pitch the piles.
How It Works
A hammer drives a prefabricated pile into the ground. The pile develops support through resistance along its length, bearing at its tip, or both.
Driving records track penetration and resistance. The specified acceptance criteria and testing determine when the pile has achieved the required support.
Construction Planning
Pile delivery, lifting and pitching need a suitable working area. The driving setup lifts and holds the pile while the hammer applies energy. Pile length and weight affect handling needs; the hammer and driving criteria must limit damaging stresses in the pile.
Ground conditions, obstructions and nearby structures affect driving and vibration restrictions. Driving records and specified dynamic or static tests are evaluated against the project criteria; driving resistance alone is not a universal capacity test.
Project Experience
Pacific drove soldier piles and installed tiebacks and lagging for a design-build excavation support system at 12th & Main.
Pacific drove steel piles and installed tiebacks and wood lagging for the Vancouver Waterfront Block 20 excavation.
View ProjectPacific drove H-piles alongside an active rail corridor using an RTG piling rig.
Pacific completed preconstruction driven test-pile work for Kaawanui PV + BESS on Kaua‘i. The assignment supported the geotechnical investigation for the proposed solar and battery-storage project.
Pacific performed pile driving with predrilling for the Riverplace Parcel 3 foundation package.
Pacific installed bridge-abutment piles with predrilling for the Irving Street project.
Common Questions
Does pile driving cause vibration?
Yes. Hammer operation transmits vibration into the ground. Nearby structures and vibration limits may restrict the method.
What happens if a pile meets an obstruction?
The crew stops or adjusts work under the project procedures. Predrilling or a design change may be needed.
How is capacity confirmed?
Driving criteria, dynamic testing and static load tests may be used as specified. Driving resistance alone is not a universal capacity test.
Talk to an Estimator
Send the pile plans, geotechnical report and bid date. Include pile type and any vibration restrictions.