ODEX Piling is a percussive drilling method, well suited to forming piles in rock formations, or through Made Ground deposits where obstructions exist.
ODEX piling methods can be used for bearing piles, embedded piled retaining walls, and for tension anchors.
Advantages of ODEX Piling
- Can be used to drill through most unreinforced obstructions, or to socket into rock.
- The provision of a fully welded permanent casing ensures pile integrity is not compromised when drilling through soft or loose shallow superficial soils.
- Relatively light-weight piling rigs, as small as 2.5t, can be used to form ODEX piles
- ODEX piles can be installed in headroom as little as 2.5m.
The ODEX Piling Process
From start to finish, what is the process of ODEX piling?
Step 1 – Prior to the rig arriving to site the client surveys the area for services, prepares a suitable working platform at top of foundation level, and drives a numbered pin into the working platform at each pile position.
Step 2 – A health and safety briefing will take place, the rig will be prepared to work, and moved to the first pile position.
Step 3 – 750cfm compressor/s will be set up in an appropriate location, and airlines are safely connected to the rig drilling head.
Step 4 – The ODEX hammer is connected to the rig, and starter casing secured in place.
Step 5 – The hammer and casing assembly is positioned over the setting out point. The hammer is then progressed to 200mm above working platform level, using air flush to clear arisings.
Step 6 – Drill rods & casings are sequentially added as the ODEX hammer is progressed to depth. Each casing is fully welded at the pre-swaged collar. This process is completed until the designed/required casing depth is achieved.
Step 7 – The ODEX hammer is removed and replaced with a circular percussive drill bit (button bit). The button bit is progressed inside the open casing to form a socket in the underlying rock, using air flush to clear the arisings.
Step 8 – Ready-mix concrete is placed in the open casing, using either a forward tipping dumper, concrete pump, or concrete skip, and a reinforcement cage plunged into the fresh concrete. This is to provide fixity between the piles and reinforced concrete foundations.
Occasionally a full depth reinforcement bar is provided, in achieve a tension capacity, and/or enhance the compression capacity of the section.
When is ODEX Piling used?
ODEX piling is widely used on projects ranging from residential housing, commercial development & refurbishment, to large scale civil engineering projects, and many more.
ODEX piles are equally suited to piled raft slab and traditional ground beam and pile cap applications. In addition to the construction of bearing piles, ODEX piling methods are equally well suited to the construction of contiguous piled retaining walls.
To get a better understanding of when ODEX piling is used, check out our case studies pages.
Our Piling Rigs
We offer ODEX piling in diameters ranging from 150mm up to 273mm in diameter, although our most popular pile size is 220mm/190mm.
Our current ODEX piling fleet consists of:
- Hutte HBR204
- Hutte HBR203
You can find out more about our rig collection on our fleet page.
Alongside ODEX piling, we also offer larger diameter percussive drilling, using our 430mm diameter down the hole hammer (DTHH).
Contact our expert piling team/engineers for advice on your project and get a no obligation quote
What We Offer
- Free site visits
- Free no obligation quotes
- 12 Year warranty of all work
- Estimates based on detailed tender stage designs
FAQs
Q – What is the diameter of an ODEX pile?
A – The diameter of an ODEX pile typically ranges from 150 mm to 324 mm, depending on the specific application and requirements of the project. GeMech also have capacity for larger diameter percussive drilling, using our 435mm diameter hammer.
Our Testimonials:
We have always found GeMech to be professional, straight talking and a pleasure to work with.
Simon Blackledge, Commercial Director, Gr8Space Group
GeMech handle all aspects of our ground improvement projects together with transparency and professionalism.
Darren Faircloth, Faircloth Construction Ltd
GeMech have always been courteous, knowledgeable and honest throughout our dealings with them.
Charlie Barker, Deep Living London Ltd
I have always found all members of the GeMech team to be extremely customer focused, technically proficient and totally driven to provide the best possible service and quality on site.
James Sinclair, Blue Dot Construction
In a competitive market GeMech has always stood above the competition as an exceptional ground improvement solution provider.
Daniel Calnan, Kent Structures
We have worked with GeMech on a number of projects, both complex with restricted access and large housing schemes. They have always been pro active providing solutions and costings. They have delivered all of our schemes to programme.
John Reed, Capstan
Clear, professional & practical communication during the pre-construction phase allowed for a smooth operation on site. Correct methods of piling for the presenting ground conditions were discussed and employed, resulting on hitting programme targets aswell as budget constraints.
James Scott, Willmott Dixon
Talus Solutions Ltd enjoys a harmonious relationship with the team at Ge-Mech Ltd, working together on various industrial, commercial and private sector housing projects. We have found Ge-Mech to be dependable and competitively priced in what they do and always ready to assist.
Philip Halford, Talus Solutions Ltd
Having worked with Gemech for over 20 years, they have always provided a first class engineered solution for our schemes.
Julian Mitchell, Mitchell Design & Construction
From start to finish the GeMech team take care of everything from the initial design to bringing each project to a successful conclusion on site.
Mark Blackhurst, Barnack Estates UK Ltd
Capabilities:
- Pile diameter 220mm – 435mm
