Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) Piling

Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) piling enables the installation of piles in low headroom or within restricted access sites.

Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) piling is a bored, soil replacement, piling technique ideal for working inside with reduced headroom or for sites with restricted access. Van Elle have the capability to construct piles up to 900mm diameter, to significant depths, in varying ground conditions across the UK. These piles can be installed with headroom constraints of just 3.75m.

SFA techniques include adding and removing augers to achieve design depth and can also include the use of temporary casing if ground conditions require.

We have a variety of specialist low headroom small footprint rigs complete with over 30 years’ experience in the field to undertake complicated and logistically challenging projects.

Key rig capabilities:

Rig loadings: 1.5 – 36 tonnes
Pile diameter: 300 – 900mm
Maximum depth: 25m

What are the advantages of Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) Piling?

Specific, purpose-built rigs suited to restricted access working
Allows SFA piles to be installed inside buildings or other low headroom, logistically challenging environments
No need for casing, bentonite or polymers
Fast, quiet and low vibration technique
Cost-effective and versatile, used across most ground conditions

Common Uses

Structural foundations
Sites with logistical constraints
Contiguous and secant piled walls
Suitable for most ground conditions

Using our specially developed fleet of rigs gives flexibility of machine footprints as well as head height options. SFA piles are constructed using sectional hollow stemmed augers bored into the ground, additional sections of auger are added to achieve design depth. Upon reaching design toe level, concrete is pumped through the hollow stem as the augers are simultaneously withdrawn. The auger sections are removed in stages as required. The pile reinforcing cage is then plunged into the fluid concrete and the top of steel level is set to the design requirements.

Sectional Flight Auger (SFA) Piling