Restricted Access Balcony Reinforcement :1 Excellent Structural Solution with Heli Pile

De Uitdaging

The project began when our Technical Sales team conducted an essential site survey for a stunning home with restricted access, dramatically perched on a very steep incline overlooking a Scottish loch.

The task was critical: reinforce the existing wooden pillars supporting a substantial balcony. Without reinforcement, the momentum of the structure risked pushing the entire section down the slope, compromising the building’s stability.

For most contractors, this site would be a non-starter. The environment—steep, tight, and unforgiving—made using traditional large piling rigs, heavy machinery, and concrete lorries completely impossible. Any reliable structural solution had to be installed using lightweight, portable equipment. This was the key requirement for the commissioning structural engineer en building surveyor.

De Oplossing

This is where Target Fixings excels. Our lightweight, handheld installation tools and small-scale rigs mean we don’t just adapt to difficult environments; we conquer them. We knew the incline was no match for the Heli Pile system.

Our chosen foundation solution involved a combination of our $60 \text{mm}$ en $100 \text{mm}$ Helipalen.

Design: The plan called for installing 16 piles to a maximum depth of 5 metres. This would anchor the balcony pillars firmly into the deeper, stable earth, countering the immense load and momentum of the structure on the slope.
Logistics: The system’s low-impact installation method allowed us to safely transport all equipment—compressors, rigs, and Heli Piles—up the steep slope without damaging the environment or requiring extensive ground preparation.
Goal: The final step would be caging and concreting the piles to create a robust, immovable foundation that provides a permanent structural solution.

Installatie

With the plan approved, the team loaded up and headed north.

Precision Piling: 83 Metres of Deep Reinforcement

On-site, logistics were everything. We set up the compressors at the base of the incline and ran air lines up to the work area. Following the pre-approved plan, the installation was executed with surgical precision:

- $60 \text{mm}$ Helipalen were installed at a crucial $30$ – degree angle to effectively counteract the slope’s momentum.
They were flanked by the more substantial $100 \text{mm}$ piles for maximum load distribution.
We ran two installation drivers simultaneously, resulting in a collective driving time of $23$ hours and $8$ minutes.
In total, we installed $83$ metres of Heli Pile, with almost all positions reaching a $3$ -metre depth, and two key positions going down to $5$ metres for maximum anchor strength.

Final Stages: Reinforcement Caging and Concrete Finish

The next phase involved building and fitting the reinforcement cages. Due to the lack of space at the top, eight rebar cages had to be meticulously built at the bottom and manually carried up the steep slope.

The cages were fitted around the Helipalen and secured using $10 \text{mm}$ -thick top plates. These plates increase the punching shear resistance and provide a critical connection point between the piles and the existing wooden pillars.

Finally, we arranged the pour. The $5$ cubic metres of concrete required was delivered by a $20$ -metre boom pump truck which, after a careful squeeze, remained at the base of the incline. The boom provided the necessary reach, allowing us to complete the pour without major site access issues.

The next day, the shuttering was removed. The result? A fully reinforced balcony foundation, securely anchored on the steepest of inclines. This project is a perfect example of why engineers and surveyors choose Target Fixings. If you are facing a foundation challenge with restricted access, contact us today.