SPEEDECK proposed a CFA piled raft foundation, integrating piling, drainage, concrete upstand and slab within a single substructure package. This approach removed the need for multiple trades, simplifying coordination between piling, groundworks, and reinforced concrete works. By providing a one-stop design-and-build solution, SPEEDECK offered the client enhanced cost certainty and reduced overall risk, ensuring a clean and rapid transition into the superstructure phase.
Concept Design
Design Engineering
The foundation was designed as a 300 mm reinforced concrete raft supported by 350 mm diameter CFA piles. Piles were designed to Eurocode standards, achieving a maximum safe working load of 570 kN with pile lengths ranging from 12.0 m to 20.5 m. The total raft slab area measured 1,211 m², supporting the entire footprint of the care home including lift pits and movement joints. The engineering approach prioritised efficiency, long-term performance, and compliance with warranty provider requirements while optimising pile spacing and depth to suit the varying load profile of the building.
Construction
SPEEDECK delivered the piling and raft as a single integrated substructure package, coordinating closely with site logistics and programme demands. The combined approach streamlined sequencing for underslab drainage, reduced the number of subcontract interfaces, and provided a safe, clean, and level working surface ready for immediate superstructure works. This efficiency allowed the client to maintain programme certainty despite site access restrictions and limited laydown space.
