The pile cap, otherwise known as the plate (fixed or adjustable) sits directly on the shaft below it. The 4 set screws will be bolted and tightened, with a minimum of 15 ft-lb of torque using a hexagonal key. For the adjustable cap, a fifth screw needs to be installed, to prevent lateral movement of the threaded rod.
A sleeve is attached to the shaft of the pile using self-drilling screws (a minimum of two or three screws is required, see below). Techno Metal Post recommends using the following product or equivalent:
The allowable uplift resistance varied (lb) between the pile cap and the pile during the laboratory test.
UCAN Self-drilling Screws Allowable uplift resistance (lb) between the pile cap and the pile |
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Screw size | Point | Resistance for 2 screws | Resistance for 3 screws | Resistance for 4 screws |
12-24 | #5 | 2 000 lb | 3 000 lb | 4 000 lb |
Please note that for deck piles and building additions, we recommend using a minimum of 2 self-drilling screws. For piles supporting a structure with a roof and no floor (carport, pergola, etc.), we recommend using a minimum of 3 self-drilling screws. The connection of the supported infrastructure may limit the uplifting force.
The use of an adjustable pile cap must be avoided for free-standing structures with a roof (carport, pergola, etc) given the presence, of greater lateral and uplift loads.
HELICAL FOUNDATIONS
Techno Metal Post makes life easier for anyone with a construction project that requires a foundation in almost any type of soil.