METHOD STATEMENT FOR

CAST IN-SITU PILING

IN SOFT STRATA
CONTENTS

1. PURPOSE
2. SCOPE
3. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
4. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
5. SEQUENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
01) Purpose
The purpose is to define the procedure for piling construction works at a project in
accordance with the requirements specified in the relevant specifications, procedures and
drawings, considering safety and quality of the work activities.

This statement does not address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its work.
Safety and health practices will be described separately.

02) Scope
The scope of work may include piling construction works at the existing ground level,
dewatering and excavation for the pile cut off level. Before starting the piling work at the site
ensure the availability of below list of equipment and tools.
Drilling Rig.
Crain, Vibro Hammer.
JCB, Dump Trucks used for disposal of muck.
Soil Auger, Cutting Bucket, Cleaning Bucket.
Tremmie Pipes, Hopper.
Concrete Pump.
Bentonite/Polymer mixing tank, pump, pipes
Bentonite/Polymer receiving tank.
Mud pumps & hose pipes.
Water tank.

03) REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

Concrete Mix Specification
Technical Specification/ Additional Tech Specifications as per Tender Document.
IS2911 Code of Practice for Design & Construction of Pile foundations
Approved drawings, QAP, Bar bending schedule
Cement conforming IS-1489
Aggregate conforming IS-383
Water conforming IS-456
Admixture conforming IS-9103
Reinforcement steel conforming IS-1786
Structural steel conforming IS-2062
04) Roles & Responsibilities 13. To guide specific attention to all safety
measures in co-ordination with the
safety officer/engineer.
Project Manager
1. He shall be responsible to control all 14. Selection of equipment’s according to
the activities for the construction all work condition in coordination with
works. plant and machinery team.
2. Ensures that the project works in his
zone are carried out in accordance
with company policies and in Construction Manager
accordance with the requirements of 1. Report to the Project Manager
the project quality plan. 2. Ensure area is ready and safe to start the
3. Ensuring the full compliance of works.
subcontractor operations with 3. Concrete Mix design shall be submitted
corporate quality policies and with the to Employer’s representative and take
approval before use
requirements of quality plan.
4. Ensure reinforcement / structural steel is
4. Make sure that all the suitable ready before start of work.
equipment requirement to execute the 5. Set up necessary equipment and plant
works according to the construction through discussion with the Project
program are available, in good Manager and Project Engineer/Works
condition, and provide any additional Supervisor.
equipment. 6. Ensure the works are carried out
5. Coordinate with the Construction according to the specification, quality and
Manager, Project Engineer, Safety approved shop drawings.
Engineer, for a safe and proper 7. Liaise and coordinate with the project
execution of the works. manager for the agreed sequence of
works with respect to the construction
6. To guide specific attention to all safety
methodology and program.
measures in co-ordination with the 8. Allocation of required manpower through
safety officer/engineer. co-ordination with the PM.
7. Selection of equipment’s according to 9. Ensure the availability of the risk
work condition in coordination with assessments for the works activities in
plant and machinery team. hand.
8. He shall be responsible to control all 10. Provide sufficient and safe access for
the activities for the construction all operatives, Crain, trucks and pumps.
works. 11. Take precautionary measures with
9. Ensures that the project works in his regards to protecting works from hot
zone are carried out in accordance weather, cold, sun and rain etc.
with company policies and in
accordance with the requirements of HSE Engineer/Officer
the project quality plan. 1. Report to the Project Manager
10. Ensuring the full compliance of 2. To ensure implementation of all safety
measures related to the nature of works
subcontractor operations with
being carried out, and in accordance with
corporate quality policies and with the the Project Safety Plan.
requirements of quality plan. 3. Ensure that all the persons involved in
11. Make sure that all the suitable the works are aware of their
equipment requirement to execute the responsibilities, and that they have
works according to the construction enough understanding of the safety
program are available, in good procedures.
condition, and provide any additional 4. The safety officer in co-ordination with
equipment. the Project Manager will ensure that all
12. Coordinate with the Construction the implemented safety measures are
Manager, Project Engineer, Safety effective enough to maintain safe working
conditions on the site.
Engineer, for a safe and proper
5. To maintain continuous inspections of
execution of the works. the site activities, advise and train
 persons on a daily basis to prevent 7. Controlling minimum spares inventory at
accidents and personnel injury. site to ensure smooth operation of P&M
6. Give special concern to housekeeping, and to tackle breakdowns.
and ensure that the site is well 8. Controlling storage, allocation of diesel,
maintained clean and tidy. monitoring consumptions to avoid
7. To ensure all the relevant safety sign misuse.
boards for different works are in place. 9. Monitoring performance, availability,
utilization of P&M.

QA/QC In-charge
1. Report to the Project Manager Project Engineer
2. Ensuring that Consultant/Client 1. Report to the Construction Manager
inspection requests are implemented. 2. The engineer will carry out his duties in a
3. Compilation of all necessary quality manner that will be coordinated by the
control checklists. Construction manager on a daily basis,
4. Assisting consultants during the and will ensure proper distribution of the
Inspections. workforce and equipment at different site
5. Coordinating with the third party lab locations.
regarding tests and results. 3. To be aware of test frequencies related to
6. The control of work performance by the work.
means of checking the work before 4. Control disposal of waste excavation
consultants inspection and issuing RFIs, material according to the instructions
punch lists as necessary. from the project manager/customer.
7. Completion of documentation to verify the 5. Coordinate with the Safety Officer to
work performed. maintain safe working and proper
8. Controlling all inspection activities on site housekeeping of the site. To comply with
in line with ITP’s. the safety measures and ensure that all
9. Ensuring that all test equipment the HSE team is aware of the same to
including surveying equipment is prevent accident and loss.
calibrated and is suitable for use on the 6. Ensure reinforcement ready to working as
project site. per requirement.
7. To monitor and check all activities and
Plant In-charge ensure that works will be carried out
1. Report to the Project Manager. according to specifications, quality and
2. Analyze suitability of Plants & Machinery approved drawings.
required to execute work, check technical 8. To inform the QC Inspector of the areas
specifications. ready for inspection.
3. Ensure good working condition of all
P&M. QC Engineer
4. Regular inspection of P&M along with
1. Report Site QA/QC In-Charge.
safety officer to maintain good
2. Shall be responsible for overall control
mechanical condition of P&M.
and inspection of QC activities as
5. Ensure all Third Party Inspections of
per checklist and QAP at site during
P&M as per statutory requirements.
concrete work.
6. Ensuring suitable and skilled technicians
3. Shall be responsible for performing all
to keep P&M in good working condition
checks and taking slump / temperature
and training to workmen using P&M.
tests and accepting / rejecting concrete
05) Sequential Construction Activities
Piling Works from the existing Ground Level
Layout of Structure.
Aligning the Piling Rig.
Boring of Pile in soft Strata.
Installation of Permanent / Temporary casing.
Cutting and bending of reinforcement cage as per approved drawings.
Transporting Rebar to site.
Rebar cage fabrication.
Termination of Bore.
Cleaning of Bore.
Placing & Lowering of Rebar Cage.
Lowering of Tremmie Pipe.
Producing and transporting the concrete to site as per the approved mix design.
Concreting of Bore hole.

5.1) Layout of Structure

The Surveyor shall carry out the setting out of the pile center positions as per
approved shop drawings. The setting out of pile locations should be approved by the
Consultant. The setting out pegs will consist of steel reinforcing bar that will be driven
slightly below the surface of the platform so they will not be disturbed by the piling
activities. The pegs will be marked with a color ribbon so that they can be easily located.

The Surveyor checks and verifies the Ground level, cut-off level and marking
concrete and steel cage levels.

Pile Numbering: All piles will be numbered for each location for easy reference and the as
built drawings to be submitted.

5.2) Aligning the Piling Rig

Drilling shall be carried out with the use of piling rig keeping the positioned by keeping
Kelly bar true to vertical at the piling location.

5.3) Boring of Pile in Soft Strata Bentonite / polymer

The bentonite required for piling will be

mixed 24 hrs in advance / polymer can
mix 30 minutes in advance can and
stored in the bentonite tanks adjacent
to the piling location Bentonite/Polymer
tank should be 1.5times the pile
quantity. As the boring progresses the
bore will be topped with bentonite so as
to maintain a head of at least 1m above
the water table. The specific gravity of
bentonite slurry will not to be more
than 1.05 and it will be ensured that
the specific gravity of bentonite is less
than 1.20 at the bottom of the bore
before commencing concreting
operation. The bentonite sample at the
bottom of the bore will be collected with
the help of a sampler from the bottom of the bore and checked for specific gravity with the
help of Mud balance or Hydrometer before commencing pouring of concrete. The excess
bentonite will be disposed of at suitable dumping yards as approved by local authorities.
Some below mention parameters should be also tested at site before starting the
concreting.
1- Ph. Value of Bentonite/Polymer (9.5to12 for bentonite and 8to12 for polymer)
2- Marsh cone Viscosity (30-40 sec for bentonite/ 35to120 sec for polymer)
3- Particle with size more then 75 micron (< 1% for bentonite/ up to 3 % for polymer)
4- Liquid limit of bentonite (min- 400%)

After aligning the piling rig in position, the drilling rig auger shall be set over the pile point
location and soil will be drilled up to the non-collapsible depth. During boring the
verticality of the drilled hole shall be constantly checked. And also the position of the bore
shall be cross checked with the reference points.

Observe the stability of the bore hole and any Ground water table is available. Collect the
soil samples to verify the strata.

If the bore hole is unstable insert a Permanent / Temporary Casing in to the bore hole.
During this process stability of bore shaft shall be maintained by using bentonite or
polymud slurry.

During drilling process as soon as the auger touches the rock level the pressure gauge in
the cabin operator will show the starting of the hard layer.

5.4) Installation of Permanent / Temporary Casing

The Casing will be placed in the bore
hole and pushed down using the Kelly of
the Rotary rig and pushed till the top of
Casing is about 300mm above the
surrounding ground level. Boring with Soil
Mech bucket will be resorted to if difficulty
is faced in pushing of the Casing. The top
level of Casing will be checked and
recorded jointly. The temporary casing will
be provided for the full length of the pile
wherever possible or it will extend at least
2m into non-collapsible stratum. The
Casing will be driven up to the depth of 2m
more than where SPT value (N = 10) is
available as per the geo-technical
investigation report. After 4m driven if
casing will required vibro hammer. The
inner surface of the casing will be smooth
and free of all internal projections. A
Casing length of 5m to 6m will be used as
at most places the SPT value N=10 is
achieved at a depth of about 2.5 m. After
driving of Casing the pile will be checked
for verticality and boring will be continued.
During the boring Kelly bar can be checked for the verticality with the Plumb bob. The
verticality of the pile should be within the limits of 1.5 % of the length and the pile should
not deviate more than 75 mm in plan location.
5.5) Boring wet strata
After installation of permanent / temporary casing, continue drilling for designed
depth is achieved. We will make sure to have the same toe level for all piles in one group
of pile. After reaching the bore hole the designed depth the same shall be offered to
customer for inspection and review.

5.6) Cleaning of Bore Hole

After attending the comments and suggestions given by ER/PMC after the
inspection cleaning of the base of the bore hole shall be carried out with a cleaning
bucket.

5.7) Placing of reinforcement cage

The reinforcement cage shall be
fabricated in different lengths as required
and transported to site. Cover blocks shall be
fixed to the rebar cage as per the
requirement.

Sufficient preventive care shall be

taken for the handling disturbances.

After achieving the required founding

level the pre-fabricated reinforcement cage
shall be lowered and binding will be done
stage wise.

The rebar cage shall be lowered into

the bore by rig or by crane as suited at site.
The first length of cage shall be lowered and
held with top of the bars adequately
strengthened above the bore on which upper
cage is placed in position, lapped and joined
in place and then cage is lowered. These laps
should be welded (at location/in-situ) or
joined with couplers before lowering.
Verify lower the reinforcement cage into the
bore hole to the base of bore hole or to the
cut-off-level.

Ensure that the cage is maintained at the cut off level during concreting works.

5.8) Lowering of Tremmie pipe

After placing the reinforcement cage Tremmie of appropriate dia i.e. 200/250mm
tremmie pipe with hopper shall be lowered in to the bore hole. Before lowering the pipe it
will be ensured that the joints are air tight and intact. The gap between the base of pile
and bottom of the tremmie shall be kept 150mm. A plug is also placed on the hopper for
the first charge.

5.9) FLUSHING
Flushing of the bore will be done with bentonite pump / water pump attached with
tremmie pipe and tremmie head. Flushing will be done with fresh bentonite and continued
till the specific gravity of bentonite slurry is near equal to specific gravity of bentonite
being pumped and will always be less than 1.20 at the bottom of the bore checked by
sampler. Flushing will be carried out for a period of 30min with a pump capable of
pumping at the rate above 1,00,000 ltrs per hour. If required flushing will be done with
the help of compressed air till commencement of the concreting.

5.10) Concreting in Wet Hole Conditions

The designed grade concrete shall
be prepared at batching plant &
transported to site in transit mixers.
Pile concreting shall be done using
tremmie pipes & funnel.

Only fresh batched concrete shall

be used and the concreting has to be
done continuously without
interruption.
After receiving the docket the concrete
shall be sampled for the slump,
temperature and cube casting by
certifies QC Engineer. The slump of
concrete shall be minimum 150-200
mm at the time of pouring. The
temperature of concrete at placing
point should not be more than 38°C.

Tremmie pipe concreting shall be done joining a series of pipes. The hopper at the
top shall have a volume greater that the tremmie pipe volume. A suitable steel stopper at
the neck of the hopper which can be withdrawn with least resistance or a sliding plug can
be used. The hopper and pipe shall be clean of encrusted concrete, dust, debris etc., and
shall be watertight.

Concrete placing into the hopper shall be facilitated using suitable ramps for direct
pour from the transit mixers. In case of inaccessible locations, concrete can alternatively
be placed into the hopper by concrete pump.

The hopper shall be filled with concrete completely and then the stopper plate is
removed to allow the concrete to flow into the pipe. Subsequent charges of concrete shall
be maintained continuous as required till the pile bore is cast to the specified height. The
bottom of tremmie pipe shall always be inside concrete forming watertight system. The tip
shall be minimum 3.0 metres inside concrete depending upon rate of pouring concrete.

The tremmie pipe shall be withdrawn in stages as and when concrete builds up in
the bore. Particular care shall be taken when vertical movement is imparted on tremmie
pipe to force concrete down into the pipe and also when tremmie pipe is raised so that the
rebar cage is not disturbed from its position.

All the piles shall be concreted to a level at least that of the cut-off level. The top of
concrete in a pile shall be brought above cut-off level up to a minimum height of 300mm
to permit removal of all laitance and weak concrete, so that the concrete at the cut-off
level shall be dense and sound. After completion of the concreting the empty bore will be
protected and carefully back filled.
5.11) CASING REMOVAL
The casing will be removed as soon as the concreting is completed with the help of
crane ensuring a sufficient quantity of concrete is maintained within the bore. The
concrete will not be placed in the bore once the bottom of the casing has been lifted above
the top of the concrete . Concrete for pile will cater for initial set of minimum 4 hrs. The
tremmie will be extracted before the concrete reaches initial set, concrete is not disturbed
after initial setting.

5.12) Installation Records

Detailed pile installation records in duplicate for each pile installed shall be
maintained. The details of the record shall include among others, pile number,
coordinates, pile size, pile elevation, pile cut-off, ground level, pile bore data (such as
length of liner, boring duration, bored length, pile length etc.), concreting record (grade of
concrete, as mixed slump, volume of concrete, timing, pile cage details, etc.)

5.13) Clean-up
Upon completion of piling, casings, equipment, construction tools, debris, scrap,
muck etc. shall be removed from the place of work. Exposed and finished concrete and
dowel surface shall be left in a clean condition.
 4
3

1. From storage tank to pile

2. From pile to sedimentation tank
3. From sedimentation tank to return tank
4. From return tank to Bentonite tank