Helitec Structural Services are approved installers of Helifix systems including Dixie Micro Piles. Dixie Micro Piles is an efficient, economical and non-disruptive method of foundation stabilisation. Installing Micro Piles is the latest technology to permanently fix foundation movement and subsidence.

• Helifix DIXIE pipe piles provide structural support to a building’s foundations following subsidence, with minimum disruption to the occupants.
• Ideal for situations with restricted access.
• Screws into virtually any soil type.

Benefits of using Micro Piles over Polyurethane Injection

Dixie micro piles are driven deep underground. This means any movement of unstable soil above the micro pile flight sections and any subsidence due to voids do not affect the stability of your building. Precise calculations of loads can be made so the systems safety and durability are known.

• Minimal excavations are dug to the foot of the foundations at predetermined spacings.
• A notch is cut in the footings to enable the pile’s underpinning bracket to be located adjacent to the building wall to minimise the eccentric loading.
• The helical pile is ‘screwed’ deep into the stable subsoil using lightweight, hand-held equipment until the specified torque is achieved.
• This determines the pile’s load bearing capacity.
• Adjustable ‘L’ shaped brackets are fitted to the piles and placed under the foundations.
• The brackets are jacked up to mobilise the building load. Further subsidence is avoided with the building weight being supported by the piles.

Underpinning using Polyurethane Injection is a worthwhile solution used in some circumstances. Unfortunately when injecting polyurethane there is no control over is spread. It can cause disruption to plumbing, electrical and other underground services. Over time the polymers can react with different soil types resulting in future upward movement or subsidence. There is no precise engineering loads calculated whilst using the system. So the amount of injection is based on guesswork. Should the building have future movement the only solution is to inject more resins.

Dixie micro piles are piles with a narrow diameter. They’re small, light and inexpensive, but can still carry a heavy load.

Sectional auger Micro Piles are bored with multiple flight sections added down to the desired depth. The concrete can be poured in either with the flights still in place or after extracting them, depending on the stability of the soil.

A chart of torque loads at different depths is completed during boring of dixie piles.

Helitec recently underpinned a home that had suffered subsidence at Husskisson on the South Coast of NSW. Our team made light work to bore the piles into hard clay to the recommended torque loads necessary to permanently stabilise the building.

Contact one of our helpful staff to discuss your building faults.