Waterproof loading pit structures

As an expert in commercial floors and foundations, Van Berlo realizes many millions of square meters of commercial and industrial floors every year. The company is known for its total concepts and has now also developed a new solution for realizing waterproof loading pit constructions on less load-bearing substrates. This type of loading pit is generally loaded from the underside by groundwater pressure, resulting in the risk of buoyancy. In order to keep the loading pit in place, a reinforced variant of the Mini Vibro Pole has been developed.

Text | Roel van Gils  Image | Van Berlo

Hanging reinforcement in the pile

For commercial floors realized on less load-bearing substrates, Van Berlo developed the Mini Vibro pile several years ago. "Mini Vibro piles are much faster (up to 250 piles per day) to install than other types of foundation piles," says Bart Janssen, Engineer at Van Berlo. "The Mini Vibro pile is basically an unreinforced pile and is formed on the job. In normal situations, this unreinforced pile also suffices perfectly as a foundation construction under a loading pit. However, if there is a high groundwater level on site, this solution does not suffice."

Armed Mini Vibro Pole

A loading pit construction in areas with a high water table is generally "weighted" with a thicker concrete floor as ballast or equipped with tension piles to prevent the loading pit from floating. "Initially we opted for the latter and were dependent on a third party to install precast tension piles, for example. We came up with a more cost-effective alternative during the expired period by developing a reinforced variant of the Mini Vibro pile. On construction, the Mini Vibro piles are provided with a reinforcement rod from the pile tip to the -head. A major advantage over traditional pile systems remains the high speed at which we can also install the reinforced Mini Vibro pile. Cost-wise, this solution is also more interesting."

Finished Mini Vibro Pole with cutting

The reinforced Mini Vibro Pole makes Van Berlo's offering even more complete. "We are now able to also realize a waterproof loading pit construction completely in-house. Because as Van Berlo we can provide both the engineering in-house, as well as the foundation and the floor, we can relieve clients from A to Z with our total concept." The first reinforced Mini Vibro piles have already been installed for the loading pit structures of two logistics buildings.