FAQ

1. Q: What is steel sheet piling?

Sheet pile is a hot or cold rolled structural shape with interlocks on the flange tips. The interlocks permit individual sections to be connected in order to form a continuous steel wall which is earth tight and virtually water resistant.

2. Q: What are the advantages of sheet piling?

Ø         Steel sheet piling is a top choice in water retention systems, particularly with cofferdams, port &harbors, locks & dams and flood protection. It is also excellent for retaining soils that are below the water table.

Ø         Sheet piling will maintain it's shape during installation.

Ø         Driven sheet piles displace soil rather than remove it. Therefore: the support of adjacent structures is not compromised due to soil movement.

Ø         Steel sheet piling is environmentally friendly. In addition to being produced with recycled steel the sheet piles are installed in manner that produces no spoils. Therefore there is no risk of exposure and disposal of potentially hazardous or contaminated materials.

Ø         Retention walls using steel sheet piling have excellent stability, especially in areas with earthquakes. Sheet piling is also useful in very soft clay soils that have little or no strength.

Ø         Steel sheet piling has a long, successful history and awareness in the industry is relatively high.

3. Q: Why would I use steel sheet piling?

There are numerous reasons to use sheet piling. Because it is readily available and transportable it is in many cases a fast and economical solution to an owner's need for a durable, long lasting wall system. For permanent construction, some uses include retaining walls, bulkheads, bridge abutments, graving docks, cut-off walls, mooring dolphins and pier protection cells. Temporary structures would include cofferdams used to construct building excavations, trenches, piers for bridges, and lock & dams on our inland river system.

4. Q: What is a cofferdam?

A cofferdam is a temporary structure (could be several weeks or several years) built to keep earth and/or water out of an area in order that a permanent structure may be constructed within its boundaries.

5. Q: Why are there so many different sheet piling sections?

Different producers have different profiles and different interlock systems. All of the available sections, however, can be broken into two types based on end use.

The most common end use requires sections which resist bending moment. This requirement for beam strength, or section modulus, is provided by "Z-profiles" and "U-profiles". The second end use is for sections which require interlock strength. This need for interlock strength is created when sheeting is installed as a circular cell and backfilled with granular material. The confined fill pushes outward and thereby creates hoop tension in the cell wall. The "flat sheet piling" sections transmit the hoop tension through their interlocks.

6. Q: How long will sheet piling last?

With proper engineering and maintenance you can expect steel sheet piling walls to give you a very long service life. There are examples of sheet piling structures installed prior to 1920 that are still in service and performing well.

7. Q: Is sheet piling a "Green Product"?
Yes, Sheet piling is very "green".

The producers of this product obtain their steel from the electric arc furnace process which utilizes selected recycled steel scrap, producing steel to exacting specifications. The scrap content of the finished steel is in the range of 90 to 95 per cent or more.

8. Q: How long is sheet piling rolled?

Typical sheet piling lengths required for projects range from 15 to 70 feet. Some projects require much longer lengths, perhaps in excess of 90 feet. Contact us for availability of this longer length material.

9. Q: Sheet piling is produced to what specifications?

Sheet piling is available to EN10249 specifications.

10. Q: Can I place vertical loads on sheet piling?
Yes! There is the tendency to view sheet piling as a structural system used only to carry lateral loading from soil and water pressures. In fact, there is no reason that sheet piling can't be designed to carry both lateral and vertical loads. It is of course necessary for the engineer to insure, as with H or pipe piles, that the underlying soils can support the vertical loads.