Conventional underpinning using steel and concrete has long been the go-to solution for supporting or strengthening the foundation of an existing house, building or structure for engineering and construction professionals. However, alternative more innovative solutions are challenging the status quo.
These methods of stabilising and lifting structures have been in use for more than a decade and are gaining favour because they eliminate the invasive and disruptive side effects of conventional underpinning. This raises the question: Is conventional underpinning still the best solution or can we confidently shift to more innovative alternatives, particularly when it comes to larger buildings and assets?
Understanding underpinning
Underpinning involves installing an additional structural support system to the foundation of a structure. The most common approach to underpinning involves extending the depth of the foundation into firmer soil. This requires invasive digging of holes for access and the installation of a new underpin beneath the foundations. The underpin is constructed of steel or concrete and steel, to ultimately create a new foundation beneath the existing one. Once these new foundations are installed the structure can be lifted using mechanical jacking and packing.
While traditional underpinning delivers effective results, which is why it still exists today, it is a rudimentary remedy that is slow to install, very invasive and can also cause more damage to already fragile buildings.
One of the key drawbacks with traditional underpinning is logistics. Often due to high costs and the size of installation equipment, new foundations are typically only installed three metres apart. This leads to fewer footings being installed which can cause a point load to the bottom of the foundations during the mechanical jacking process. Point loads can cause damage to the building, especially if its foundations are inadequate or if the building is a rigid structure built from stone or brick.
The underpinning process normally involves jacking one underpin position at a time, which can place undue stress on other parts of the building and cause serious aesthetic and structural issues.
Traditional underpinning can be an incredibly invasive process as it requires access for excavation works to be carried out. The excavation works often damage footpaths, services and gardens that require costly reinstatement or repairs, and forces building occupants to deal with disruptive elements, like large excavations with all the associated mess, noise, and the impact of transporting, delivering, and storing steel and other underpinning materials.
The solution is already available
Technology already exists to replace invasive and costly underpinning techniques. Mainmark’s JOG Computer Controlled Grouting (JOG), for example, has proven to be a superior approach to underpinning and lifting with the ability to relevel very large structures and buildings up to ten storeys high.
JOG is a unique cementitious grout mix that sets in less than a minute and develops compressive strengths that are far higher than most foundation soils. The JOG grout is mixed in a central, computer controlled, mixing plant on site. Once mixed, the grout is circulated through high pressure hoses to 40mm injection holes that are drilled to the required location and depth under the structure’s foundations. The number of injection points needed varies from dozens to many hundreds. Small quantities of the grout are injected into the ground where it quickly sets and creates a stable layer. The process is repeated hundreds of times over several days, creating a solid foundation that eventually provides a lifting force that slowly, gently and evenly raises the structure or building.
The whole process is carefully monitored with accurate survey equipment and the amount of grout directed into any of the injectors can be controlled from a central computer. This level of control allows technicians to send more grout to areas that need additional material. The outcome is a uniform lift that does not damage the structure. Compared to traditional underpinning, JOG injection grout points are spaced more tightly at 1.0 to 1.2m, allowing for a more even injection process that minimises structural stress.
Due to JOG’s ability to be delivered through 40mm holes, injection points can be easily repaired. Ultimately, the whole JOG process is surgical with only minimal disruption to the structure and its occupants.
Comparing JOG with traditional underpinning
There are many factors that determine if traditional underpinning is a suitable solution, but the cost, invasive process and the ground’s long-term bearing capacity often mean it is not viable for many projects. New technology, like JOG, is not only easily delivered and non-invasive; it has a lifting capacity of 25 tonnes per injector. This makes it suitable for:
- Larger footprint and multi-level buildings
- Brittle and ageing structures, including churches and heritage buildings
- High traffic infrastructure that needs to minimise downtime, e.g., train stations, bridges, retail complexes
- Unlevel gravity sewer or gravity water pipelines
- High value, critical infrastructure, including industrial facilities, mining processing plants, and
- Public buildings such as like museums and galleries.
Mainmark has used JOG to successfully repair hundreds of structures across Australia and New Zealand, including an earthquake damaged heritage church, the award-winning Christchurch Art Gallery liquefaction remediation project, an unlevel multi-storey apartment building and a two-storey waterfront brick home suffering from adverse soil conditions.
With techniques like JOG already available, the future of structural remediation is no longer speculative. Mainmark is constantly researching and developing new ways to improve the cementitious grout mix and its delivery. However, even in its current form, JOG is the next evolution in engineered building stabilisation and lifting solutions. Perhaps it’s time to respectfully leave traditional underpinning in the past and look ahead to new alternatives to the conventional method.
By Steve Piscetek
Steve Piscetek is Mainmark’s Divisional Manager, MCM (Mainmark Civil and Mining). Steve has extensive experience working in construction, road and water infrastructure, the mining and resources sector and offshore construction. At Mainmark, his technical acumen and pragmatic approach to safety and quality assurance has seen him successfully tackle many challenging and complex ground remediation projects.
