Piling contractor completes two Swazi-based foundation jobs

13th November 2015

By: Kimberley Smuts

Creamer Media Reporter

  

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Specialist geotechnical contractor Franki Africa completed two piled foundation contracts – for a new international conference centre (ICC) and a new five-star Fish Hotel – in Ezulwini, in the royal valley in Swaziland, in the second quarter of this year, for the Swaziland Ministry of Economic Planning.

Franki’s tender submissions were based on predrilled driven cast-in-situ piles (Franki piles), while other companies that submitted tenders opted for continuous flight augur-type piles.

The main feature of a Franki pile is the enlarged base and its advantages include that it is often a very economical system, it has an extensive range of pile sizes and excellent load/deflection performance and tension load capacity.

“These high-profile contracts required low-risk technical solutions,” says Franki Africa project manager Devendra Lalbasanth, adding that the Franki piles provided the guarantees that were sought by the professional team.

Franki’s Swaziland-based subsidiary, Frankipile Swaziland, teamed up with civil engineering firm Roots Civils on both contracts. These contracts were undertaken under the new Swaziland Construction Regulations, which stipulate that a joint venture with a local construction company is required.

Meanwhile, Lalbasanth explains that, as Franki is part of Keller Group, the world’s largest independent geotechnical contractor, it has access to a range of innovative technologies, finance for future growth and a wealth of geotechnical intellectual property and experience.

Nevertheless, the Swaziland government questioned whether Frankipile Swaziland could adhere to the contractual programmes should it be awarded both contracts. “We managed to allay these fears by stressing the backup power of the greater Keller and Franki Africa group, should additional resources be required,” Lalbasanth points out.

Work on the ICC got under way in October 2014 and was completed in May 2015. The piling contract for the ICC required the installation of 1 562 Franki piles. One of the challenges encountered on this project was the presence of boulders and, while, this was highlighted during the bid clarification, the actual quantity and extent of the boulder formation were unexpected. Franki resolved this complication by removing near-surface boulders, coring through the boulders with a Casagrande B180 piling rig, founding the pile on large boulders or spanning the boulders in consultation with the structural engineer.

A working-pile load test, which was undertaken in the area where the soil was deemed the poorest across the entire site, produced highly favourable results. Further, pile echo testing (PET) was undertaken on every pile as the main contractor excavated and correctly trimmed each pile.

Piling for the Fish Hotel contract, which comprised the installation of 1 016 Franki piles, got under way in November 2014 and was completed in April this year. On-site conditions were more favourable than those at the ICC site, with a working pile load test also producing favourable results. The structural engineer appointed an on-site representative to monitor quality and progress daily. Franki continuously received positive feedback from the structural engineer on its performance, including its adherence to the stringent safety protocol.

Meanwhile, the company completed another two Swaziland contracts in the last 12 months, the first of which was the Hlane bridge construction contract, awarded by construction group Inyatsi Construction in February. The project began in March 2015 and was completed within two weeks.

The second was Swaziland’s motor vehicle administration head office in Mbabane, for which Franki was appointed piling subcontractor for Stefanutti Stocks. The scope of work entailed the installation of 252 Franki piles, of which 80% were tested using the PET method. A working pile test was also carried out and the results were well within the acceptable criteria. This contract was successfully completed in early December 2014.

Lalbasanth attributes the successful completion of the work in Swaziland over the past six months primarily to a committed and motivated workforce and the company’s use of one of its “most highly favoured products, the world-renowned Franki pile”.

These projects also provided Frankipile Swaziland with the opportunity to employ local labour, which, in turn, facilitated skills transfer and economic upliftment.

Edited by Samantha Herbst
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

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