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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
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General: Grand Design Ply Box House Construction

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      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2012
     
    Posted By: fostertomStill unanswered:
    Posted By: PaulJI don't think any of the providers give cover for helical screw piles
    I never knew that. What's wrong wiv em? If calc'd by Engineer?
    Posted By: PaulJScrew piles for housing are no good for building regs or NHBC.
    Why?
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2012
     
    • CommentAuthorPaulJ
    • CommentTimeJun 28th 2013
     
    Sorry for the very late reply. :shamed:

    I don't know why these can't be used, but NHBC / LABC don't allow them. The only time you see them is for stuff like underpinning, remedial works, conservatories, etc., as per Ed's examples.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeJun 28th 2013
     
    Fencing contractors can sink a 225sq oak gate post 4ft deep in an hour or less, with tractor mounted auger. Same for telegraph poles. Why not for buildings?
  5.  
    Tom , talking of wooden posts for structural footings, have you much experience of the Walter Segal post and beam method ?
    I'm surprised it's not discussed or mentioned much on this forum .
    Simple , DIYable , low environmental impact , wood structure , easily deconstructed back to base parts for re use , ticks a lot of boxes . Is it perhaps it's not techy enough for the modern 'green' builder or is there some under lying problem with it ?
  6.  
    James,

    I mention it as often as I can! I teach courses based on the WS method, and am building an extension based on WS method this very week. No, there are no underlying probs with it!

    Nick
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeJun 28th 2013 edited
     
    Excellent , yes , seen your past posts. I try to mention it when the opertunity arises too :smile:
    Are we the only fans here ?
    How about a thread giving a little details of your project as it develops . We could call it
    'The WS marketing project'

    Not done one myself , an extension sounds great. One of my frustrations is most my clients have had their designs done before they contact and I'm generally underwhelmed by their designers 'tip of the cap' to environmentally positive design. Small works and refurbs. where it's really at if you want to improve energy efficiency of domestic housing stock, that's where the challenge lies.
  8.  
    James,

    I'll try to post some pics, although as usual I have failed to take my camera so far! I'm only involved in the frame design, assembly and erection - my much-better-joiner-than-me colleague built the frames in his workshop - and the client is finishing. Unfortunately it will not look like a Segal building - Planning dept stipulates stone outer because it's at te front of the house. However we may be asked back to do the replacement of a rear conservatory with a well-detailed and insulated Garden Room next year. We can make that seem more Segal-ish!


    Cheers.

    Nick
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeJun 28th 2013
     
    I used to know WS system - totally forgotten, must revise.
    • CommentAuthorEd Davies
    • CommentTimeJun 28th 2013
     
    Posted By: jamesingramAre we the only fans here ?
    Nope, much taken with the idea myself. My build will be Segalish in a way: post and beam with floor off the ground and timber box build round the outside.
  11.  
    Have started a new thread ('Wonderful Walter Segal!') here: http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/forum114/comments.php?DiscussionID=10836&page=1#Item_2

    Nick
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJun 29th 2013
     
    Posted By: PaulJI don't know why these can't be used, but NHBC / LABC don't allow them. The only time you see them is for stuff like underpinning, remedial works, conservatories, etc., as per Ed's examples.

    I don't believe this. I got a quote for screw pile foundations for my house without any problem and none of the professionals raised any issues. In the end we went with a passive slab raft for other reasons. A quick google also found this assessment for one system that was done with NHBC's involvement and which also addresses building regs compliance:

    http://www.abchance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/RT1324-SCI-Assessment-Helical.pdf

    So I think that information about building regs not allowing them is plain wrong and that about NHBC may be out of date. I'd be interested to see any specific documents either way from the NHBC itself.

    LABC is a whole different kettle of fish. Their warranty form has an explicit box for straw bales on it, but you have to specify the manufacturer and lots of other details that simply don't exist for straw bales. In other words their form is just greenwash. So I've no idea what they say about screw piles but it wouldn't surprise me if it were unrealistic.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2013
     
    I first discovered screw piles while killing time in the Science Museum in London. Victorians used them for their piers and the Goodwin Sands lighthouse. So they should be OK for the average house.

    A few years ago, I had quotes from two companies for screw plies for my house in Surrey, built on clay. The prices seems more than reasonable but it was the warranty companies that stopped me. The cost to the screw pile companies to get NHBC (or whomever) approval for their product is so high that they are not interested in the domestic market.

    So we appear to have gone backward since the Victorian days!

    Rex
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2013
     
    Bring back throwing bundles of brushwood into the bog - great for the wooden bridges the legionaires built everywhere! Cos once submerged below oxygenation level, they don't rot
    • CommentAuthorSaint
    • CommentTimeJun 30th 2013
     
    These guys don't seem to have any problems with certification:
    http://www.quickbaseuk.com/quickbase_applications.asp?appID=16
    • CommentAuthorPaulJ
    • CommentTimeJul 1st 2013
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: Saint</cite>These guys don't seem to have any problems with certification:
    <a href="http://www.quickbaseuk.com/quickbase_applications.asp?appID=16" rel="nofollow">http://www.quickbaseuk.com/quickbase_applications.asp?appID=16</a></blockquote>

    About 3 months ago I asked NHBC about screw piles and was told they were not acceptable. Looking at the various websites, none of them cite examples for new build housing - mostly connies etc.

    A friend of mine in Australia installs helical piles for housing projects - it is widespead and accepted there..

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