Contaminated soils and archaeological sites are a common challenge when building in New Zealand, but Blade Pile offers a simple and safe solution.
Because Blade Piles are screwed into the ground at low speed, the soil is gently displaced and fully encapsulated as the blades advance. This means there is no need to remove contaminated soil from site. Projects avoid the cost and delays of excavation and disposal, and onsite teams are protected from unnecessary exposure, keeping the site cleaner, safer, and far more efficient.
For projects located on archaeological land, Blade Piles are an ideal foundation choice. With no soil extraction, the ground remains undisturbed, ensuring any archaeological material stays preserved in place for future generations and protecting compliance requirements.
Blade Pile New Zealand has completed numerous projects on contaminated and archaeological sites across the country. One Christchurch project involved ground affected by old landfill with elevated levels of hazardous materials. Traditional decontamination would have cost well over $170,000 and significantly delayed the programme. Using Blade Piles, the soil remained safely encapsulated in the ground, eliminating the need for decontamination works. The foundation solution was delivered for only $40,000 and completed in just three days.
When your project encounters contamination or archaeological constraints, get in touch with Blade Pile. We’ll work with your geotechnical and structural engineers to determine the safest and most cost-effective foundation approach.