Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the hole after a short time and then expands to shatter surrounding concrete. These
methods may appear to be more costly than other simpler procedures, but when the
damage that can be caused to pile/structure connections from using unrefined methods
is fully appreciated, they may in the end provide a good and economic solution to this
problem. The specific detail of any proposal along these lines needs to be considered
and proof of success provided.
The cost of pile caps and beams is closely related to the early design decisions in
a contract. A large-diameter pile may be used instead of numbers of smaller piles,
and it is then necessary to consider the combined cost of the piles and any capping
arrangements in assessing the cost effectiveness of one solution as opposed to the other.
Large-diameter piles rarely need substantial caps nor ground restraint arrangements
at the pile head. Some useful notes on the design of pile caps are provided by Whittle
and Beattie (1972).
Outside the normal limits of site costs, there are certain risk factors that must be
evaluated and against which insurances will normally afford some protection. These
include the problems of damage to services and to adjacent structures. Although a
contractor may be insured against such unfortunate occurrences, it should not be
forgotten that when the unforeseen event occurs, it absorbs a great deal of time and
effort, which is costly to the contractor and the other parties to the contract, and it is
unlikely that these costs can ever fully be recovered.
Unforeseen ground conditions represent perhaps the most common source of claim
from specialist contractors on piling contracts and these are sometimes inevitable and
invariably unwelcome. It is very difficult to choose a piling method in the first place that
would minimize such claims, but when something does go wrong, the most important
factor operating in the case is often delay. Promptness in isolating the cause of a
problem and providing a remedy should be a primary objective.
10.6 Legal disputes
However one may seek to avoid legal disputes, they do from time to time occur, often
originating from delays and disputed ground conditions. Many disputes are however
centred in the conditions of contract and misunderstandings of what is really speci-
fied or required. Those administering contracts are often without detailed technical
knowledge and if and when they seek advice may not recognize if the advice is good
or bad. Legal disputes are time consuming, costly and frequently are resolved before
they come to court, with financial loss on both sides. Costs often exceed anything that
is likely to be obtained in damages and a sudden understanding of the situation at a
stage when the law case is well developed, does not promote happiness.
A first rule when difficulties arise is to seek expert help from perhaps more than one
source so that there can be some confidence in the real causes of the event. At this stage
if it is clear that there is wrong information supplied, bad specification, unsuitable pile
design choice or some problem within the operation of the contract, such as having
supervision in the hands of the wrong people, then steps should be taken to rectify the
error without delay. If a contractor has made a mistake, then the sooner it is recognized
and corrected the better.
There is an unfortunate, but natural, tendency to imagine that once a job is under
way, the problems are commonly of the making of the other side. The thought of
