PIL/General/TBT-PIL-004

Piling Platform Requirements

Piling & Foundations › General › Piling Platform Requirements

Presenter		Project
Location		Date

A piling platform is the engineered working surface that supports the piling rig and crane during pile installation.
The platform must be designed by a competent engineer to support the combined weight of the piling rig, crane, and materials.
Ground bearing capacity beneath the platform must be assessed — soft or variable ground requires additional treatment or reinforcement.
The platform is a temporary works item and must be recorded on the Temporary Works Register with design check certification.
Platform construction typically involves placing and compacting granular fill on a prepared formation to achieve the required strength.
The platform must extend beyond the piling rig footprint to provide safe access around the machine during operations.
Drainage must prevent water accumulating on the platform surface — standing water softens the fill and reduces bearing capacity.
A piling rig that breaks through an inadequate platform can overturn, drop the auger, or collapse onto workers.
The platform must be inspected before the rig arrives and at regular intervals during piling operations.
Tracked piling rigs exert very high ground pressures — the platform must be designed specifically for the rig to be used.

Rig overturn	A piling rig breaking through a failed platform overturns or sinks, crushing the operator and anyone nearby.
Engineered design	Every piling platform must be designed by an engineer — a pile of aggregate spread by eye is not a safe working surface.
Variable ground	Ground conditions beneath the platform may vary across the site — assessment at each rig position is essential.

Don't

Design the piling platform to support the specific rig and crane to be used.
Assess ground bearing capacity beneath the platform at each rig position.
Construct the platform with compacted granular fill on a prepared formation.
Record the platform on the Temporary Works Register with design check certification.
Extend the platform beyond the rig footprint for safe access around the machine.
Install drainage to prevent standing water softening the platform surface.
Inspect the platform before the rig arrives and regularly during piling operations.
Brief the piling contractor on the platform limitations and access arrangements.
Monitor the platform for settlement, softening, and rutting during operations.
Repair any damage to the platform surface before allowing the rig to continue.

DON'T allow a piling rig onto a platform that has not been engineered for its weight.
DON'T assume the ground can support the rig without a bearing capacity assessment.
DON'T construct platforms by spreading material without following the engineered design.
DON'T omit the platform from the Temporary Works Register — it is a designed structure.
DON'T make the platform too small — the rig needs safe access space on all sides.
DON'T allow water to accumulate on the platform — it destroys the bearing capacity.
DON'T let the rig onto the platform without an inspection confirming it is adequate.
DON'T assume the piling contractor will check the platform — it is the main contractor's duty.
DON'T ignore settlement or soft spots that develop during piling operations.
DON'T continue piling on a damaged platform — repair it before the rig moves again.

See also: Piling Safety Awareness | Temporary Works Register

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