B1310 - Caisson work and pile driving

Operational Details
Caissons are constructed out of precast concrete, and steel, or poured in place concrete. Industrial submersible pumps are used to continually remove seepage from the bottom of the dig, so that lifting by a crane or bucket machine is not over taxed. Conveyors are also used to remove soil and debris from the bottom of the caisson. Once the soil is removed or conveyed out of the caissons it is moved to a central point where the soil is either carried away by gravel trucks or spread out of a large area of land by earth moving machines.

When the digging is completed, reinforcing steel is set into place and concrete poured to form a solid piling, the inside of the caisson can then be filled with rock, debris, concrete or left with access doors for workers to inspect at a later time.

Piling driving is done by a truck mounted pile driver, or mobile machine, that uses counter weights. The weights can be added to or removed. This allows the movement of a weighted sledge or beam to descend upon a wooden or steel pile and drive it into the soil. This process is often used in setting piles into place for smaller bridges, or anywhere solid pilings need to be driven. Most often piles are used where soil conditions are more favourable, or where bridge traffic is lighter, in terms of volumes and weight.

SIC Codes
000000110 - Caisson work
000000111 - Pile driving