The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) webinar, moderated by Yvonne Ainsworth, Director, Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions, took place on 29 July 2020, addressing the topical subject ‘Will major infrastructure projects drive growth in piling’, and featured FPS Chair Steve Hadley.
Steve supported the event with a presentation titled ‘How piling can seize its chance for transformation’ – specifically, how a more equitable, health and viable piling industry can be created. Areas discussed included how the sector can become more economically sustainable, and how successful outcomes would see more positive cashflow, zero retention and fair certification as well as balanced scorecard approaches for value and whole life cost, management of risk through improved SI and digital information and continuous investment in national infrastructure.
Steve also looked at how the piling sector can become more socially sustainable, with for example, improved gender balance following recruitment activity, fairer opportunities for BAME people, better welfare conditions, training and safer systems of work, more flexible working practices and reduced hours of work and travel and common standards of health surveillance.
How the sector can move towards being environmentally through legislation and infrastructure to support low carbon plant and materials, was presented and that success will come also by establishing a route to net zero established in the industry, increased use of recycled materials and ground engineering to develop brownfield sites and urban spaces.
The webinar also included an overview of CIRIA, presented by its Associate Director Kieran Tully, before moving on to a review of piling and major projects.
Dr. Keith Nichols, Project Engineer (Geotechnical) Network Rail, gave a client’s perspective of the topic as he spoke about ‘Network Rail and HS2 – piling the foundations of our physical interfaces’.
Dr Apollonia Gasparre, Associate Director, Geotechnical Consulting Group, gave a consultant prospective and spoke about ‘Piling, digitalisation and standards.’
BAM Ritchies’ Ian Hunter, Estimating Manager and Ian Bannerman, Senior Geotechnical Engineer then took attendees through the Contractor’s view, speaking about ‘Large diameter bored cast in-situ piling projects.’
The webinar closed with an interactive discussion and Q&A session before being drawn to a close by Yvonne.
It was a great event, conceived as a scene setter for the launch of CIRIA’s new piling guide, which will provide:
• A review of bearing pile types. This will be complementary to ICE Specification for Piling and Embedded Retaining Walls.
• A review of problems associated with the construction of cast-in-place concrete piles.
• Outcomes of a survey to examine problems associated with the installation of displacement piles. This will include bored displacement piles and screw piles.
For more information about CIRIA visit – https://www.ciria.org/