Copyright © 2011-24 Helical Pile World, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Home | Engineers | Manufacturers | Installation Contractors | News | Technical Advisors | Contact Us
by Bill Bonekemper
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
August, 2016
This article takes a close look at the helical pile products manufactured by ten companies - eight of which are based in the United States and two being Canadian based. The ten companies include:
- Earth Contact Products (ECP) – Olathe, KS
- Foundation Supportworks (FSI) – Omaha, NE
- GoliathTech Screw Piles (GoliathTech) - Magog, Quebec, Canada
- Helical Anchors, Inc. (HAI) - Minneapolis, MN
- Hubbell-Chance (CHANCE) – Centralia, MO
- IDEAL Foundation Systems (IDEAL) – Rochester, NY
- MacLean Power Systems, (MPS Civil) – Fort Mill, NC
- Patriot Foundation Systems (Patriot) - San Antonio, FL
- Ram Jack Systems Distribution (Ram Jack) – Ada, Oklahoma
- Techno Metal Post (TMP) - Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada
Introduction
All ten companies covered in this article, eight based in the U.S. And two based in Canada, offer helical products designed for the new construction market as well as for remedial applications like underpinning and earth retention. Additionally, all ten companies offer product solutions for the marine and utility markets including alternative power applications like solar and wind. It is noteworthy that all ten companies offer a wide variety of pile caps, brackets and other connection-to-structure products, but this article does not cover these products.
HPW published a similar article to this one in March, 2015, and since that time the industry has continued to expand both in the number of manufacturers and the number of products offered. The most notable change is the increased number of large diameter round shaft helical piles. Seven of the ten manufacturers now offer standard products with an 8.625 in. (219 mm) outside diameter, while four manufacturers offer 10.75 in. (273.1 mm) and 12.75 in. (323.9 mm) diameter products. IDEAL Group continues to lead with the biggest selection of larger diameter plies up to 36 in. (914.4 mm). It is also noteworthy that some manufacturers that do not list the larger diameter sizes in their literature as standard products are willing to provide quotations for these products as special orders.
Specialty Helical Pile Products
The majority of the ten manufacturers offer specialty products such as pile caps, terminators and specialized connection products for a wide variety of markets and applications including:
- Interstate highway signs and lights
- Railroad signs and lights
- Residential street lights
- Oil and gas drilling and pipelines
- Electric transmission
- Solar arrays
- Wind turbines
While these products are not listed on each company’s product table in this article, people interested in these products should visit manufacturers’ websites and/or contact the companies for additional information.
Engineering Support for Dealers and Installers
In addition to offering a wide variety of helical pile products, nine of the ten companies offer in-depth engineering support for their respective network of dealers and installers. This support is essential in today’s helical pile marketplace – especially for installers who do not have engineers on staff. Often times deep foundation projects can be redesigned and/or value engineered, and helical piles can be used as an alternative to other piling systems that may have been specified in the original plans.
Round Corner Square Shaft Products
Hubbell-Chance is the only manufacturer that offers a 1.25 in (31.8 mm) round corner square square shaft product.
ECP, FSI, Hubbell-Chance, IDEAL, MPS Civil and Patriot all offer 1.50 in. (38.1 mm) round corner square shaft products.
ECP, FSI, Hubbell-Chance, IDEAL, and MPS Civil offer 1.75 in. (44.5 mm) round corner square shaft products.
ECP, Hubbell-Chance, IDEAL, and MPS Civil offer 2.00 in (50.8 mm) round corner square shaft products.
ECP and Hubbell-Chance offer 2.25 in (57.2 mm) round corner square shaft products.
Ram Jack offers round corner square shaft products upon special request only.
Round Shaft Products
There are some differences in the round shaft helical pile sizes offered by the ten manufacturers. It is important to note that some manufacturers do offer special or custom order options for customers that require sizes not listed as standard in company literature.
Ram Jack is the only manufacturer that offers a 1.63 in (41.3 mm) diameter pile.
GoliathTech is the only manufacturer that offers a 1.875 in (47.6 mm) diameter pile.
TMP is the only manufacturer that offers a 1.90 in (48.3 mm) diameter pile.
FSI, GoliathTech, HAI, IDEAL, Ram Jack and TMP offer a 2.375 in (60.3 mm) diameter pile.
Nine of the ten manufacturers offer a 2.875 in (73 mm) pile.
All ten manufacturers offer 3.50 in (88.9 mm) piles.
TMP is the only manufacturer that offers a 4.00 in (101.6 mm) pile.
ECP, FSI, GoliathTech, HAI, Hubbell-Chance, IDEAL, MPS Civil and Ram Jack offer a 4.50 in (114.3 mm) pile.
HAI is the only manufacturer to offer a 5.00 in (127 mm) pile.
HAI and IDEAL are the only manufacturers to offer a 5.50 in (139.7 mm) pile.
GoliathTech, HAI, IDEAL and TMP offer a 5.563 in (141.3 mm) pile.
ECP, FSI, GoliathTech, HAI, Hubbell-Chance, and TMP offer a 6.625 in (168.3 mm) pile.
HAI and IDEAL are the only two companies that offer a 7.00 in (177.8 mm) pile.
ECP, GoliathTech, HAI, Hubbell-Chance, IDEAL, MPS Civil and TMP offer an 8.625 in (219 mm) pile.
GoliathTech, HAI, IDEAL and TMP all offer 10.75 in (273.1 mm) and 12.75 in (323.9 mm) piles.
IDEAL is the only manufacturer that offers 16.00 in (406.4 mm), 18.00 in (457.2 mm), 20.00 in (508 mm), 24.00 in (609.6 mm), 30.00 in (762 mm) and 36.00 in (914.4 mm) piles.
Click here to see a summary of all manufacturers’ product offerings
Helix Bearing Plate Options
All ten companies offer a variety of helix bearing plates with the most common sizes ranging from 8 in (203 mm) to 16 in (406 mm) in diameter and steel thicknesses ranging from 0.375 in (9.5 mm) to 0.675 in (17.2 mm).
As you can see in the product tables for each company, there are also options available for both the thickness and the grade of steel to be used when manufacturing the bearing plates – greater thickness and/or higher steel grades to achieve greater bearing capacity.
Section Coupling Methods
Ram Jack is the only manufacturer that offers a threaded coupling method whereby the sections are screwed together. They offer bolted connections as well.
Eight of the remaining nine companies offer single and multi-bolted connection options depending upon the size and torsional capacity of the helical pile.
TMP is the only company that specifies welding to be used to couple pile sections for all of its products. The company does offer bolted connection options upon special request.
Hubbell-Chance specifies grade 2 studs for use with their 6.625 in (168.3 mm) and 8.625 in (219.1 mm) diameter products.
While MPS Civil coupling method utilizes bolts as well, the bolts are used in conjunction with a male-female square engagement coupling method. According to company literature, this patented method is designed to virtually eliminate bolt-hole elongation as the bolts are not put in shear during pile installation.
Corrosion Protection Options
All ten manufacturers offer the black or bare steel option – no coating. All the manufacturers also offer hot dip galvanizing to ASTM specifications as an option for corrosion protection.
Ram Jack is the only manufacturer that offers polymer coating as standard per the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria AC 228 .
Building Code Certifications
Certifications by code officials are issued for each helical pile product separately as submitted by manufacturers. Manufacturers can receive certifications for multiple products, but each product they choose to submit must pass the corresponding acceptance criteria. The following (7) manufacturers have received certifications from one or more building code or regulatory organizations.
- Foundation Supportworks
- GoliathTech
- Hubbell-Chance
- IDEAL Group
- MacLean Power Civil Products Group
- Ram Jack Systems Distribution
- Techno Metal Post
Officials from the remaining (3) companies confirmed with HPW that each company has pending certifications.
Code certifications for specific helical pile products are noted on each manufacturer’s product table (see below).
Earth Contact Products (ECP)
ECP offers both RCS and round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (4) RCS products ranging in size from – 1.50 in (38.1 mm) to 2.25 in (57.2 mm). The company offers (7) round shaft products ranging in diameters from 2.875 in (73 mm) to 8.625 in (219.1 mm).
Click Here To Access ECP Helical Pile Product Table
Earth Contact Products
15612 South Keeler Terrace
Olathe, KS 66062
866-327-0007
Foundation Supportworks (FSI)
FSI offers both RCS and round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (2) RCS products – 1.50 in (38.1 mm) and 1.75 in (44.5 mm). The company offers (7) round shaft products ranging in diameters from 2.375 in (60.3 mm) to 7.00 in (177.8 mm).
Click Here To Access FSI Helical Pile Product Table
Foundation Supportworks
12330 Cary Circle
La Vista, NE 68128
800-281-8545
www.foundationsupportworks.com
GoliathTech Screw Piles (GoliathTech)
GoliathTech offers round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (19) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters from 1.875 in (47.6 mm) to 12.75 in (323.9 mm).
Click Here to Access GoliathTech Helical Pile Product Table
GoliathTech Screw Piles
1350, Boulevard Idustriel
Magog, Quebec (Canada) J1X 4V9
855-743-4777
Helical Anchors, Inc. (HAI)
HAI offers round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (19) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters from 2.375 in (60.3 mm) to 12.75 in (323.9 mm).
Click Here to Access HAI Helical Pile Product Table
Helical Anchors, Inc.
5101 Boone Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55428
763-201-6552
Hubbell-Chance
Hubbell-Chance offers both RCS and round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (6) standard RCS products ranging in sizes from 1.25 in (31.8 mm) to 2.25 in (57.2 mm). The company offers (6) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters from 2.88 in (73 mm) to 8.63 in (219.1 mm).
Click Here to Access Hubbell-Chance Helical Pile Product Table
Hubbell Power Systems
210 N. Allen Street
Centralia, MO 65240
855-477-2121
IDEAL Foundation Systems (IDEAL)
IDEAL offers both RCS and round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (2) standard RCS products including 1.75 in (44.5 mm) and 2.00 in (50.8 mm). The company offers (16) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters from 2.375 in (60.3 mm) to 36.00 in (914.4 mm).
Click Here to Access IDEAL Helical Pile Product Table
IDEAL Foundation Systems
999 Picture Parkway
Webster, NY 14580
800-799-4810
www.idealfoundationsystems.com
MacLean Power Systems - Civil Products Group (MPS Civil)
MPS offers both RCS and round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company’s standard RCS product line includes (4) products ranging in size from – 1.50 in (38.1 mm) to 2.00 in (50.8 mm). The company offers (7) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters from 2.875 in (73 mm) to 8.625 in (219.1 mm).
Click Here To Access MPS Civil Helical Pile Product Table
MacLean Power Systems - Civil Products Group
481 Munn Road, Ste 300
Fort Mill, SC
803.628.4300
Patriot Foundation Systems (Patriot)
Patriot offers both RCS and round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (1) standard RCS product with a 1.50 in (38.1 mm) shaft thickness. The company offers (4) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters from 2.88 in (73 mm) to 8.63 in (219.1 mm).
Click Here to Access Patriot Helical Pile Product Table
Patriot Foundation Systems
30427 Commerce Drive
San Antonio, FL 33576
866-737-7453
Ram Jack Systems Distribution (Ram Jack)
As mentioned earlier, Ram Jack will manufacture RCS products by special request. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company’s standard helical product line includes (5) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters ranging from 1.625 in (41.3 mm) to 4.50 in (114.3 mm).
Click Here To Access Ram Jack Helical Pile Product Table
Ram Jack Systems Distribution
13655 CR 1570
Ada, OK 74820
(888) 332-9909
Techno Metal Post (TMP)
Techno Metal Post offers round shaft helical piles as stocking items. As detailed in the company’s product table (link below), the company offers (11) round shaft helical piles ranging in diameters from 1.90 in (48.3 mm) to 12.75 in (323.9 mm).
Click Here to Access TMP Helical Pile Product Table
Techno Metal Post
1700 Rue Setlakwe
Thetford Mines QC G6G 8B2
Canada
877-332-4339
A Close Up Look at Ten Helical Pile
Manufacturers’ Products
