Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council

The Contractor Arrives on Site

The Contractor has arrived on site. There are a few preliminary items you need to check initially, those being:

Do they have an approved Pile Installation Plan?
You should already have this and the Contractor should also.

Has the Contractor met the requirements for Protection of Existing Structures?
On some projects, existing structures are located within close proximity to the pile driving operation. When this condition exists, the Contractor is to have addressed this in their Pile Installation Plan. Have they followed this plan?

Is a cofferdam required?
If a cofferdam is required, the Contractor must meet special provisions related to its construction and inspection of the seal.

Equipment Set-Up

The start of pile driving operations is getting close and the equipment has arrived on site. Just as when the Contractor arrived on site, the Inspector has a full plate of items he needs to verify and inspect for conformance.

Does the equipment match the approved Pile Installation Plan?
Remember, the Contractor used a specific driving system during the Test Pile Program. The Pile Installation Plan was approved based upon this system. No changes are allowed without the Engineer's approval.

Does the hammer match the approved Pile Installation Plan? Has the Contractor supplied certain items, by hammer type, called for?
Depending upon the type of hammer, the Contractor is to provide certain things, like a Saximeter for open-end diesel hammers.

Does the template provided and constructed match the approved Pile Installation Plan?