Today marks a very special day at Pier UK, as it’s 15 years to the day since we received our very first Vacuum Excavator. Whoever would have thought that 15 years on, we would be preparing ourselves for the delivery of our 100^th system. Entering the specialist marketplace of Vacuum excavation back in 2008 was seen as a huge risk. Especially with the current climate back then and considering since 2001 we’d concentrated solely on the installation of deep drainage. As we were one of only a handful of companies offering Vacuum Excavation hire at this time, we soon realised its potential and directed our focus toward its growth. So much so, that we decided to cease the drainage installation side of our business in 2012. Our growth continued over the coming years, and we soon became the largest provider in Europe by 2015. We are extremely proud to have been able to maintain this status to the current date. It’s fair to say, that for us to reach such a milestone, we could have only achieved this by employing some good people to make this happen. Today we directly employ more than 140 staff, allowing us to continuously grow our business. All that said we have no intentions of stopping here or even slowing down anytime soon. Indeed, we intend to expand our fleet even further in 2024, with a commitment to our customers to provide the best service possible from our 6 strategically placed depots throughout England, Scotland & Wales. At the start of our Vacuum Excavation journey, we committed to purchasing our very first system from MTS Saugbagger GmbH. Since this point, MTS have been our number 1 supplier and continues to be so to the present day. This fantastic relationship has seen both businesses go from strength to strength throughout this period. It’s this special bond that made us want to champion MTS and their 25 years in business, along with our achievements. By marking this momentous occasion for both companies and dedicating our 100^th truck in memory of the late Frank Walther. Frank was one of the founders of MTS Saugbagger GmbH, who sadly passed away in January 2023.

Our first truck purchased 15 years ago

The same truck today, still going strong

Dedicated to the memory of Frank Walther

Our director Sean collecting the 100th truck

The post Our 100th Truck appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

Ensuring excavation safety is an essential part of modern contractor work, the law states that no excavation work should be carried out until the area is completely safe. Failing to secure an excavation site correctly can have disastrous consequences for workers and management, resulting in delays, injury, and even death.

One of the main causes of accidents on-site is poor preparation. Injuries from trench collapse or serious utility strikes could be avoided with correct planning and through the use of modern ground survey techniques such as Ground Penetration Radar.

According to the HSE Guidelines on preventing accidents in excavation, there are 6 essential steps that must be taken by the manager and on-site workers before and during the excavation work.

The steps a manager must take:

• Ensure that the excavations are made safe by using trench supports or other effective measures.
• Be aware that there is no safe minimum depth of excavation.
• Providing training for your team which highlights all risk (big and small).
• Ensure that adequate inspections are carried out on all excavations on a weekly basis, especially after any bad weather.
• Provide competent supervision.
• Ensure that the plant doesn’t work too close to the edge of an excavation.

The steps the on-site workers must take:

• Never go into an unsupported trench where there is a risk of a collapse.
• Never work outside the protection of trench boxes or trench supports.
• Keep the plant at a safe distance from the excavation edge.
• Never work underneath an excavator.
• Be alert to the risks from underground services or undermining adjacent structures.
• Maintain fencing and other safety measures in order to protect others.

An increasing number of contractors are opting for more modern methods as a way of ensuring excavation safety on-site. Excavation techniques such as Vacuum Excavation is considered to be the more safe and reliable way to excavate.

Vacuum Excavators are able to excavate up to 4m³ per hour without requiring any manual labour or the use of mechanical diggers. The large suction arm is remotely operated from a safe distance, ensuring that the area is clear until all pipework has been exposed and greatly reduces the risk of any personal injuries or service strikes.

Although Vacuum Excavation costs more than the traditional excavation methods, companies within the Construction, Utility, and Highway industries are being won over by the speed, efficiency, and array of safety benefits.

Suction Excavators may prove to be particularly useful following on from the announcement of a nationwide ‘lane rental’ scheme and are increasingly being utilised to speed up the work on construction sites in built-up areas.

Building sites used to be notoriously dangerous. However, modern safety guidelines have improved the health and safety of building sites, and using vacuum excavation only further increases the safety of working on site. However, they are still dangerous, and due care and attention must be paid at all times. Cable strikes are extremely hazardous and are a serious risk during traditional manual excavation. Cable strikes are not only dangerous, but can also prove to be expensive for the project. Companies have been fined after cable strikes, for nearly 1 million pounds, so the cost can be exceptionally high.

Potential Excavation Hazards and Risks

Cable strikes are one of the most dangerous excavation hazards to be aware of during manual excavation work. This risk can be increased when working off old or unclear utility plans. It is not uncommon to find utilities in different locations as shown on the map, and this can be extremely dangerous, even deadly. Aside from cable strikes, manual excavation results in dust and debris being thrown into the air, which can put your team at risk. Vacuum excavation sucks up the dust, giving a cleaner working site, which is healthier for everyone.

The Role of Health and Safety Measures

HSE, Health and Safety Executive, requires that workplaces must be free of recognised hazards and follow established safe excavation practices. Building sites are naturally hazardous places, so the role played by HSE on site is notable. Trenching or excavation is included in the remit of HSE, and they have regulations relating to excavation. Excavation can be a dangerous process, due to collapsing earthworks, however using vacuum excavation is safer than traditional excavation.

HSE Excavation Safety Standards and Regulations

The HSE website has very clear guidelines around safely trenching and excavating on-site. Remember that as an employer, you are responsible for the safety of your employees, and you must follow the standards and regulations to ensure site safety practices are followed at all times. Using vacuum excavation will help to carry out your excavation in line with the latest regulations and standards.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

If you fail to follow the government regulations and an employee dies as a result, the consequences could be devastating. People have been jailed for negligence resulting in fatal workplace accidents. Repeated non-compliance on site can result in harsh fines and the removal of licences. Safety is taken seriously on site, and businesses that breach health and safety regulations will be caught and brought to justice. Using vacuum excavation will help to keep your employees safe, and your business legal and compliant.

Choose Safe Excavation from the Team at PIER UK

When you come to the team at PIER UK for your excavation needs, you can be confident that we will provide a safe and fully compliant vacuum excavation service for your site. We work with you to ensure that your excavation work is carried out safely, reducing risk to your employees. Not only is vacuum excavation safer during the excavation, but it is also cleaner, as the vacuum excavation sucks the dust into the excavator, helping to keep the air cleaner and healthier on your site. Work with the team at PIER UK for a safe and clean excavation, simply call us today on 01925 228674

“We are pleased to see more people adopting the use of Vacuum Excavators. Excavation safety has always been of the upmost importance to us here at PIER (UK) are we are pleased to see the rest of the industry adopting similar practices. We are proud to have the UK’s largest fleet of Vacuum Excavators, and we can provide a solution for almost any terrain, whether it is on a highway, city centres or even oof-road.”
— Sean Quinn, Managing Director of PIER (UK).

The post Why Is Excavation Safety So Important? appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

Have you ever wondered how Vacuum Excavation works? Why continue with the stressful exercise of instructing your operatives to excavate around existing services with traditional methods of excavators and spades?

Vacuum Excavation Process

• Place the remote-controlled boom over the area that requires excavation, around 6–8 inches above the material. Switch on the vacuum fans to start the suction process.
• As the material starts to make its way up the suction pipe, follow the material with the boom ensuring the 6–8-inch gap is maintained to allow for constant air flow.
• As the service becomes visible, the material gets harder, the use of an air lance may be required to loosen the ground or clear the service.
• There is a selection of tools onboard to deal with different conditions i.e., reduced pipe size for narrow areas, air lance for loosening material and air breakers for breaking up the hard surface, all driven by a built-in compressor.
• With our vast experience in the Civil Engineering sector, we offer advice on other equipment or materials that may be required to complete the task safely and can even assist with the temporary works.
• To support projects, we can provide a full package i.e., supply ground protection with rubber mats or fence panels to fence off the work area.
• The material is stored in a built-in skip that is capable of holding 8m³. To reduce transport costs, we take the excavated material to a stoke pile on site.
• The material is dispensed by lifting the lid upright and side tipping the material to offload onto the ground. The material can also be tipped directly into demountable skips, ready for removal from site to avoid reloading.
• Many contractors prefer the vacuum system when working in built-up areas to ensure safe excavation around existing services and to keep footpaths clear of material to prevent slips, trips and falls for the work force and public. In addition, the noise level of the equipment is under the legal requirement.
• To prevent any contamination in the air, the vacuum is created by air circulation where there is a filter system that consists of 42 filters. This ensures that there is no escape of dust.

Material Removal and Adjustments

Vacuum excavation is a safe, efficient, and clean way to remove material off-site, or to move it around the site. As vacuum excavation is so much quicker than traditional excavation work, it also reduces the cost of removing materials. Some sites require trees and earth to be moved, to form new green spaces on the site. A vacuum excavator can remove the earth from around tree roots, and allow the tree to be safely moved, and resituated, with the earth. This ability to recycle and reuse is part of the environmentally friendly credentials of the vacuum excavator.

Suction Excavation is Perfect For:

Vacuum excavation is perfect for a whole range of scenarios. It is proven to be quicker, safer, cleaner, cheaper, and less damaging. In almost every situation, vacuum excavation is consistently the best choice. It is ideal for the following:

• Safe excavation around buried utilities
• Emergency repairs around pipework and utilities
• Deep excavation
• Restricted access sites
• Rail ballast removal
• Clearing contaminated ground and sewers
• Roof and basement work
• Clearing around tree roots without damaging them
• Culvert clearance
• Water treatment filter bed clearance

Taking Control of Excavations

Using vacuum excavation gives you control over the excavation on your site. Even if the services or utilities plans are old, or unclear, you can still proceed with clearing the site, without worry, using vacuum excavation. Due to the speed of vacuum excavation, you can prevent delays on projects, no longer waiting for crucial areas to be cleared. Many development projects now have very stringent environmental requirements in place, and using vacuum excavation means that you can keep to these specifications. Vacuum excavation can help to relocate trees, and it reduces the dust in the air, helping to reduce site pollution. The collective benefits of vacuum excavation give you more control over the excavation part of your project and reduces the risk of the project being derailed at this stage.

Hire the Right Team

When you choose to work with the team at PIER UK, you are benefitting from years of experience and knowledge in vacuum excavation. We have invested heavily in our fleet of vacuum excavators as well as our team of operatives so that we can bring our resources to every project that we undertake. Our operatives are experienced at working with your on-site construction team, and will always work to your schedule. We are here to work with you, to provide you with exceptional vacuum excavation services, no matter the size or scale of the project.

You can contact our team on email or on 01925 228 674. Alternatively, you can view our latest projects on our Social Media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Read related article:

• Vacuum Excavation Is Used To Expose Underground Services

The post How Does Vacuum Excavation Work? Process Explained. appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

Excavation is an important part of any construction project and is even more important for utility projects. The process uses different tools and techniques to move soil, rock and other material to form a cavity and prepare the area for construction, or to lay new utilities as well as repairing the existing ones, but what are the latest excavation techniques in construction?

When it comes to excavating a site, it can be a difficult decision in which method is the best for your company and choosing the wrong type can be a costly error in both monetary and safety terms.

What is Excavation in Construction?

Excavation work is carried out in many construction projects. Construction does not just take place on the top of the ground but involves work below the surface, whether this is clearing the site, working around utilities, or laying foundations, much of the initial work of construction is below ground level. In some ways, this work is some of the most important. If there are problems with foundations it will affect the whole building, so ensuring that the work done in preparation is of a high quality, is essential.

Work Procedure of Excavation

The work procedure on a construction site involves more than just moving earth. A thorough understanding of the process, procedure, and expected outcome are necessary to achieve a good result. It is essential to understand the centre line and excavation drawings, and setting out of the plan on the ground. The site must be cleared of weeds, bushes, and plants, after which the ground can be marked out so that the excavation is carried out in the desired location. Benchmarks are set so that correct levels can be maintained. Once everything is correctly marked up, then the excavation job can begin. After this is done, then the earth and material must be removed, and any necessary shoring up carried out, to ensure the cleared area is safe and stable.

Drawings Required for Excavation

Gridline drawings are required for the excavation operation on a building site. These detailed plans mark out the ground on a grid system and are invaluable for safely excavating below ground. One of the huge benefits of vacuum excavators over more traditional types of excavating is that if the site plans do not show the utilities in the correct place, then the risk is far less. With traditional excavating, the risk of cable strikes is high and can have catastrophic consequences. With vacuum excavating, your risk is massively reduced. It is a safer and more sensible option if you have any doubts about the accuracy of your site drawings.

Scope of Work for Excavation

Excavating does not simply involve the removal of earth or materials to create a cavity. It also comprises the correct study of the site, marking out the boundary lines precisely, and ensuring that the excavating is carried out within the markers and to the correct depth. After the material has been excavated, it must be removed, and the space created needs to be correctly shored up so that it is safe. Always ensure that you work with a professional company such as ourselves, so that your finished work is completed to a high standard and ready for the building work to proceed.

Excavation Techniques in Construction

Cut and Fill Excavation (or Stripping Excavation) is used to clear large areas in construction. This process involves removing layers of wide and shallow rocks, sand and topsoil, as well as other materials.

Trench Excavation is where the length of which the excavated areas exceed the depth and is typically used to access or bury services lines, as well as installing or repairing pipelines and sewers. Vacuum Excavation is perfectly suited to this type of work as it removes the risk of breaking power lines or utilities, typically associated with diggers and manual excavation which dramatically improves on-site safety.

Basement Excavation is all about the layer below ground level in an existing building. This type of excavation is used when the construction is set to be completed partially below ground level. It is worth noting that this excavation can be complicated depending on the size of the property in question.

Borrow Excavation is quite different to other types of excavation. The goal here is not to just excavate the material as it also needs to be removed from the area. The efficient form of equipment for replacing Borrow removal is a Vacuum Excavator, of which PIER (UK) have an ever-growing fleet.

Drainage Excavation is used for draining ditches, wastage around structure as well as storm drains, which are located at the shallower depths of combined sewers. With the drainage systems being notoriously small and difficult to reach, Vacuum Excavators, are ideal for this type of excavation.

As the industry leaders in Vacuum Excavation, PIER (UK) will listen carefully to their customers’ requirements and provide a solution that is suitable for the job at hand. You can contact our team through our contact form or alternatively call 01925 228 674. You can also view our latest projects on our social media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

The post Excavation In Construction – Methods & Safety Considerations appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

Vacuum excavation is the best choice for many projects. The advantages of vacuum excavation over traditional excavation methods are numerous. It is safer, due to the reduced risk of utility strikes, as it simply sucks the earth from around the utilities. It is more environmentally friendly as it allows for less disruption to the topsoil, as well as delicate extraction around areas such as tree roots. It is quicker and cheaper than traditional methods. It is also incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide range of locations and projects.

Uses of Vacuum Excavation

Vacuum Excavation has increasingly become the smarter choice for safe excavation. The strong suction power can quickly clear away material, whilst the remote-controlled boom allows for precision at a safe distance. With an array of suitable applications for this no-dig technology, we have noted the top Vacuum Excavation uses.

1. Exposing Underground Utilities

Using suction power to gently pull away the material from around buried utility line has many more safety benefits than traditional ‘digging.’ The no-dig approach uses suction power to extract the ground material, reducing the risk of tools striking the lines and cutting local utilities.

2. Trial Holes and Buried Asset Surveys

When you’re working on a complex site with an array of utilities underground, using a Vacuum Excavator for trial holes checks the accuracy of utility location tools and provides a blueprint of what is buried underneath.

3. Deep Excavation Work

For deep excavation work, the remote-control operation of the vacuum boom ensures that the work can be carried out from a safe distance. The precision control ensures that the work can be completed quickly, but in a safely controlled manner. Extension pipework means that the work can be carried out in hard-to-reach locations.

4. Tank Excavation

For industrial sites with tanks, containers, bunkers and silos, the Vacuum Excavator can make light work of emptying out vessels. The equipment is often used to remove stored material for deep cleaning or decommission old storage units, the strong suction power provides fast clearance.

There are many more Vacuum Excavation uses and if you have a project that you think using a Vac-Ex would benefit from, please enquire with our team.

5. Excavation for Rail Line Maintenance or Removal

Maintaining rail lines requires precision work that can be carried out safely and with minimum disruption to the rail service. Vacuum excavation is quick and precise, making it the ideal choice.

6. Site Preparation

Sites need to be cleared before construction work begins. It is unclear on some sites what is below ground level, but the safe excavation technique of using the power of suction reduces the risk of clearing sites.

7. Municipal Work

Often carried out in restricted areas, which much existing infrastructure to work around, vacuum excavation is a popular choice for municipal work. Often consists of vital work that needs to be carried out swiftly to restore necessary services.

8. Landscaping

Many landscape projects involve moving large quantities of earth. Vacuum excavation allows you to easily and quickly move earth from one area to another, whether you need to build up in one area, or take away in another. Creating the initial landscape structure quickly and efficiently helps to keep the project on budget and on track.

9. Construction

Construction sites use excavation to clear areas ready for foundations, vacuum excavation is chosen for its safety, speed, and versatility on construction sites.

Advantages of Vacuum Excavation

There are many advantages to using vacuum excavation on your next project. Vacuum excavation is used across projects of all sizes, and across a multitude of different locations, all of which benefit from its many advantages over traditional excavation methods.

1. Non-destructive

Vacuum excavation allows you to excavate soil without damaging the delicate topsoil, this enables you to preserve important flora and fauna. It can also be used to carefully excavate around tree roots, helping to maintain the life and health of the tree. Where you are working on sites with tree preservation orders, or where you wish to move trees to another location, being able to extract them with no damage is extremely important.

2. No Utility Plans Required

Whilst is it advisable to have utility plans for your site, if you have no plans or out-of-date plans, then using vacuum excavation is the only safe way to excavate your site.

3. Minimises the Risk of Utility Strikes

Utility strikes are notoriously dangerous and expensive. Using a suction excavation method reduces the risk of cable strikes, as the earth is safely extracted from around the utilities.

4. Cost Effective

Vacuum extraction is cost-effective, a vacuum machine can clear a site far quicker than traditional manual labour, which makes it a cost-effective method.

5. Safer and Cleaner Work Site

In traditional extraction, the dust from the ground is sent into the atmosphere, which can have long-term health risks for the workforce. With vacuum extraction, the dust is sucked up, helping to keep the air cleaner and safer. This combined with the reduced risk of cable strikes helps to improve the safety and cleanliness of your site.

5. Faster

Many projects have tight deadlines and complex schedules. Vacuum extraction is faster than traditional extraction, making it the ideal choice for many sites.

6. Environment friendly

It is less disruptive to the local environment and less polluting for the air and nearby waterways. Vacuum extraction is a more environmentally friendly way to carry out excavation on your site.

7. Vacuum Excavation Safety

The safety aspect of vacuum extraction is all-important. Cable strikes have long been a serious concern during site work. Utility plans are often outdated or missing, increasing the risk to the workforce. Being able to safely uncover utilities has improved the safety of construction sites. Reducing the risk to your workforce is essential, and choosing safer excavation methods is an excellent step to take toward safer construction.

Conclusion

It is easy to see why vacuum extraction has become the extraction method of choice for many projects. It is safe, cost-effective, quick, and environmentally friendly. It can be used in built-up city areas, or hard-to-reach rural locations. It can be used on projects of all sizes and scales. There are different types of vacuum excavators available, from small city excavators, to tracked excavators that can be used at locations where wheeled vehicles cannot access. In short, the vacuum excavator has improved the extraction techniques of civil engineering across all areas and is the go-to choice for the majority of projects. If you are considering vacuum extraction for your next project, why not speak to our friendly and helpful team today on 01925 228 674

Read related articles:

• Using Vacuum Excavation To Locate Utilities
• Why Choose PIER (UK) for your Vacuum Excavation Requirements?

The post What is Vacuum Excavation Used For? appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

Vacuum excavation has many advantages over the traditional method of manual excavation. Not only is it quicker and safer, but it is also less harmful to the environment and the workforce, making it the best solution for all your excavation needs. Vacuum excavation reduces the impact of building development, reduces energy consumption, and is so precise that it can be used to gently extract earth from around tree roots without causing any damage.

What is a Suction Excavator?

A suction excavator is a cleverly designed machine that uses the power of suction to safely and quickly remove earth and ground materials. The suction tube draws the material up and into the holding tank within the excavator. Vacuum excavators come in different sizes, for different projects. Smaller excavators are used in restricted or built-up areas that can be hard to access, whilst there are tracked versions that are used in locations that are inaccessible for wheeled vehicles.

Advantages of Suction Excavators

There are many advantages of using vacuum excavation over conventional manual excavation. From increased safety, and a reduced environmental impact to cheaper costs, it is easy to see why more and more people are choosing to use vacuum excavation.

• Precision Excavation

Vacuum excavation is very precise. For example, a skilled operator can excavate earth from around tree roots without damaging the roots or tree. This allows work to be carried out around tree roots, or even move large trees with substantial root formations. This same precision is important in heavily built-up areas, where there are many structures close by which could be affected by earth movement. Using vacuum excavation compared to traditional digging open excavation reduces the amount of earth that needs to be removed.

• Increased Site Safety

Cable strikes are a major risk during excavation, and can be lethal. Vacuum excavation can remove earth from around utilities and cables without damaging them, significantly reducing the associated risk. Another benefit of using the vacuum method is that it reduces the amount of dust produced during excavation. With more traditional forms of excavation, workers are at risk from increased dust in the air, which can have long-lasting health implications. When using a vacuum excavator the dust is sucked inside the excavator helping to maintain healthy air quality. To prevent air contamination, the vacuum uses a 42-filter system that ensures no dust will escape.

• Increased Efficiency

A vacuum excavator can clear a large area of ground in a short space of time. Manual excavation is notoriously slow, but an excavator will quickly and efficiently remove large quantities of earth and other extraction materials. This efficiency is reflected in the reduced cost per cubic metre.

• Environmentally Friendly

A vacuum excavator can carefully remove earth and debris from a certain area, this means that less material can be removed than with open excavation, and earth can be removed from under the topsoil without needing to disturb flora and fauna on the top layer. Vacuum excavators can also be used with very long hoses, up to 150 metres, so that vehicles can be parked at a distance from the excavation site which in turn can protect local habitats and environments. The vacuum can be used around waste and sewage pipes without running the risk of damaging the pipes and causing sewage to spill into the ground, and local water network, helping to prevent water pollution. The reduction of dust during extraction also benefits the environment.

• Cost-effectiveness

The comparative cost of vacuum excavation services when compared to manual excavation is impressive. To clear a cubic metre using the suction method costs £44, whereas using manual extraction costs £75. This is a significantly cheaper way to carry out excavations, and this cost saving only increases with the scale of the project. Vacuum excavation has so many benefits including the cost factor, that it really is the best choice for your next project.

Applications of Suction Excavation

There are many locations where a suction excavator is the best choice. For example, clearing blocked pipework on a beach using a tracked excavator, helps to prevent environmental issues. Suction excavators are often used in building projects, from commercial developments to affordable housing sites. Working with utilities, such as during road alterations that revealed utilities that were not marked on site plans, many industries benefit from suction excavators such as Rail, Refineries, Airports, Highways, Civil Engineering, Sub Stations, Utilities, Gas, Specialist Material/Unique Projects, and Removal of Wood Bark & Coconut Fibres.

Enjoy the Benefits of Vacuum Excavation Today!

There are many scenarios where the best excavator solutions are to use suction excavation over manual excavation work. The reduced environmental impact, reduced pollution, reduced cost, and increased efficiency, are just some benefits of vacuum excavation. No matter the size or scale of your project, here at Pier UK, we have the best excavator for your project. Whatever you need our experienced and professional team are ready to work with you. We have teams operating across the UK. To discuss your excavation project please contact our friendly and helpful team on 01925 228674.

Read related article:

• The City Friendly Small Vacuum Excavator

The post What Are The Advantages of a Suction Excavator appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

Come and test your Christmas knowledge with our Ultimate Christmas Quiz. Last year’s quiz was tough, but we’ve upped the ante and created an even harder quiz for 2022!

Think your know your Christmas? Be warned, this Christmas Quiz is tough and you’ll need to use all your Christmas knowledge to score highly. Then challenge your friends and colleagues and see who has the best Christmas knowledge.

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You can also play our new Santa World Cup Runner game for a chance to win a £100 gift card!

As the UK leaders, our team are experts in vacuum excavation and are here to answer your questions. Contact our friendly Sales Team here or call 01925 228 674. Alternatively, you can view our latest projects on our Social Media platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

The post The Ultimate Christmas Quiz 2022 appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

We are in the run-up to Christmas and in the middle of a World Cup, so we thought it was the perfect time to launch our new Santa Rooftop World Cup Runner game! All you have to do is help Santa boot those balls and leap across as many rooftops as possible, whilst avoiding all the obstacles! Score a minimum of 500 points and you’ll get on our leaderboard.

So have a break from whatever you’re doing and challenge your mates to see which of you can get the highest score. You can play the game here and share this link with your friends:

https://pierukltd.rooftoprunner.com/

We’re also offering you a chance to win a £100 Gift Card! Simply score more than 500 points to get on our leaderboard, enter your name and email address and we’ll enter you into the prize draw.

Good luck and enjoy the game!

The post Play Pier UK’s Santa’s World Cup Runner! appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

When it comes to construction, excavation is an important part of the process, and it might play a bigger role than you might realise. It is a lot more than just digging a hole because there is a lot more planning and work involved in ensuring that excavating is carried out correctly and safely. Excavation companies play an integral role in the success of construction projects, let’s discover what is excavation and what role it plays.

Excavation Explained – Why is it Important?

The excavation process involves the moving and removing of soil and rock from an area where construction is going to take place. There is more to it than this as it can include clearing an area through drilling, grading, and trenching. Each project will involve using heavy machines and equipment such as bulldozers and excavators.

How Does the Excavation Process Work?

There are many elements that make up the excavation process such as site preparation, drilling, and trenching, and it is required in the construction of roads, sewer lines, and drainage. However, the process will include:

Preparation – A professional construction company will work with a range of other services such as land surveyors before they begin any work. This will ensure that the work is planned safely and that any obstacles in the area are removed such as trees and boulders.

Excavation – This will involve excavating, drilling, or digging, but it will begin the process of moving and removing soil and rocks. They will undertake all grading and smoothing while they will remove dirt and debris. The area will be prepared in accordance with the construction project.

Trenching – Where trenches are required for foundation footings, they will undertake the process of soil removal and all other debris

Essentially, before an excavation takes place the process will follow these steps:

• Setting corner benchmarks
• Ground surveying and top levels
• Excavate the area to the agreed depth
• Mark up the cut-off levels
• Mark the boundaries of the construction site

Excavation Equipment

Backhoe Loader

The backhoe loader is the main tool that forms part of the back loader hoe. This is used to remove compact, hard material, and it can be used to lift heavy loads.

Bulldozer

If your construction project requires the removal of large amounts of rocks and soil than a bulldozer will be used. This has a large metal blade on the front that is used to push material.

Trencher

Again, if you have large amounts of earth to move then a trencher can help with this. It has large metal teeth that are made of steel and these tear into the ground, making it possible to dig trenches that can be used to lay utility pipes, cables, or drainage.

Skid-steer Loader

If part of your construction project requires work in a compact area then a skid-steer loader might be required. This can be used for digging, but it is lightweight and manoeuvrable, while it can be used with different tools.

Vacuum Excavator

If materials such as earth and debris need to be removed from a hold then a vacuum excavator can take care of the job. A large pipe is placed into the hole before materials are then sucked into a storage area located within the vehicle. We often do trench work, we have our City Sucker for compact areas, and our tracked vac for rough terrain.

Crawler Loader

Crawler loaders are used on rough terrain where the tracked chassis enables them to move with ease. Therefore, they can be used on the unstable ground while they also have the ability to excavate large materials such as rocks and heavy soil.

What Makes Excavation Projects Successful?

The process of excavating land is not a simple process, and it requires certain expertise to get it right. To make it successful, the requirements of the project will have to be mapped out so that all parties have a clear understanding of the work involved. The work schedule should be created so that it is clear and easy to follow. In addition to this, the right drainage will have to be implemented along with stormwater management to help avoid problems with soil erosion and the structure that will be built.

Why Vacuum Excavation Is The Right Choice For Your Project?

If you work within the Civil Engineering or Utilities industry, you may have heard of Vacuum Excavation. This modern excavation method has been rapidly gaining popularity over the last few years, proving to be a viable alternative to manual or mechanical digging.

But why is Vacuum Excavation the right choice for your next project?

1. It is faster than manual digging – The Vacuum Excavator’s remote-control suction arm works by breaking up the earth surrounding the buried services and sucking up the debris through a pipe and into an inbuilt chamber. The suction arm is capable of excavation up to 2m3 per hour, which makes it a much quicker alternative to the more traditional digging methods.

2. It is a safer method – Vacuum Excavation only requires one operator and foregoes the need for mechanical diggers or manual digging. This means that the risk of injury from collapsed trenches or service strikes is greatly reduced.

3. It is a more reliable method – Due to its autonomous nature, a Vacuum Excavator is capable of excavating with precision and repeatability, reducing the risk of human error.

4. It is more cost-effective than manual digging – As Vacuum Excavation is much quicker and more precise than the more traditional methods, costs can be kept to a minimum with less risk of unexpected fees from damage or project delays.

What Do Excavation Companies Do?

An excavation company will handle the entire excavation project. It will be managed from start to finish, ensuring that the work is completed in line with the timescale and requirements of the project. They will manage the site preparation, grading, trenching, and drilling. They will also provide the required machinery to undertake the work which will include the likes of excavators and bulldozers.

How to Choose The Right Vacuum Excavation Company?

When choosing a vacuum excavation company, you have to make sure that they are suitable for your project. Experience is important when selecting a vacuum excavation company as the more experience they have, the more likely they are to be able to meet your needs. You should research the company and then look at whether they have any testimonials or customer satisfaction ratings. In addition to this, they should also have the right equipment and hold all necessary licences and insurance as this will ensure that all the work they carry out is protected but also to the necessary standards. Finally, consider the cost of the work and how that compares with other companies.

“We are pleased to see more people adopting the use of Vacuum Excavators. Excavation safety has always been of the utmost importance to us here at PIER (UK) where we are pleased to see the rest of the industry adopting similar practices. We are proud to have the UK’s largest fleet of Vacuum Excavators, and we can provide a solution for almost any terrain, whether it is on a highway, in city centres, or even off-road.”

— Sean Quinn, Managing Director of PIER (UK).

As the industry leader in Vacuum Excavation, PIER (UK) will listen carefully to their customer’s requirements and provide a solution that is suitable for the job at hand.

The post What is Excavation: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.

In order to start any construction, it is important to understand the ground conditions. Essential factors like soil composition need to be determined, and these factors enable a decision to be made on whether it is feasible for the construction to go ahead. The simplest way to get the information needed is to excavate a trial hole, and it is considered the most cost-effective way to get the geotechnical site data needed.

What is a Trial Hole?

A trial hole is generally a pit excavated to a depth of up to 4 metres. They are usually dug by hand, although the larger ones may require a small digger or suction excavation and need to be at least a metre deep. A digger cannot be used if the ground has known underground gas pipes or electrical cabling, which is why vacuum excavation is often favoured. If the trial hole goes over 1.2 metres, structure protection to shore up the pit must be used, and of course, this is a particularly vital health and safety issue if you require people to enter the pit as a pit collapse of a 4-metre hole could be fatal. Not having to send people into a pit is the best bet, which is why hand digging is best for small pits, and vacuum excavation for larger holes, as you get all the data you require without risk to personnel.

What Is The Purpose of a Trial Hole?

A trial pit may be needed for many issues, including:

• trial holes for foundations to ensure they are suitable for extension works
• trial holes for utilities to gain an understanding of the soil conditions and water drainage
• trial holes for buried services to prevent cable strikes and other damage
• trial holes for soil testing, including from spoil heaps adjacent to the pit

Trial Pit Excavation Procedure

Deciding to dig a trial pit should be in consultation with a structural engineer and should not be attempted by someone without the necessary qualification.

A method statement for trial holes is a vital document that must be prepared in advance of the trial hole works. It defines the purpose of the hole and clearly states what needs to be established and why the pits are needed.

The limitations of trial pits are generally few and far between, but it is fair to say they cannot reach the same depths as a borehole. They can also disrupt the surface significantly and be hard to correctly fill when the site investigation is finished. However, it is still a popular method and recommended for many construction purposes.

Advantages of Trial Pits

Minimises Damage

A trial pit can help you establish what buried obstructions might lay under the ground and therefore enable you to mitigate the risk and avoid damaging anything that you may later regret. Cable strikes are both time and cost-heavy and really not something you want to get involved in no matter what construction project you are involved in.

Cost Effective

A trial hole is an easy and practical way to investigate a site. This is because there is normally no heavy machinery required, which limits transport and fuel costs, and it can usually be completed in one day, unlike sonic drilling and window sampling.

Increases the Safety of the Project

With the information gathered from soil samples and collecting data from soak away tests, the safety of the ground can be determined. It will alert you to any contamination issues or anything that might need further investigations before work continues. Issues that could put your workforce at risk if they were not discovered before work commenced.

Helps Determine the Construction Materials

For example, if you are building an extension, the existing foundations need to be checked to ensure that they are strong enough to cope with the additional structure. It also gives you a chance to get a better idea of work timings and budget as there is a massive difference between, say, 900 mm deep foundations and those of 2.5 m deep. Not only will it change the timeline of your project, but it could easily require different qualities of materials.

What is the average depth of the trial holes?

The average depth of a trial hole is anywhere from one metre to 4 metres deep. If you reach a depth of 1.2 metres, you need to bring in structural measures to prevent collapse and to protect people who need to enter the pits.

A trial hole or pit is a vital part of any construction project. However, it is important that it is carried out by experienced professionals. Even if you intend to carry out construction yourself, this is a vital job that requires experience. The benefits of trial pits are clear to see, and it is the most cost-effective way of getting the information needed as they are usually dug by hand. They are cheaper than boreholes and can often be completed within a day, ensuring results can be processed as quickly as possible.

Contact Pier UK Ltd

To learn more about the trial hole excavation services, why not contact our team today? They are happy to answer any questions you might have and are waiting to take your call.

The post Trial Holes: What Is Trial Pit In Construction appeared first on Pier UK Ltd.