Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)

ManoMajor

Benefits

Q: How does the Helipost save us money?

A: The Helipost saves our clients’ money by:

• Eliminating drill spoil removal

• Eliminating concrete curing delays

• Reducing project installation labor

• Reducing heavy equipment mobilization

• Reducing traffic control costs

• Reducing project insurance

• Measuring installation torque to validating anticipated soil conditions

Q: How does the Helipost save us time?

A: The Helipost saves our clients’ time by:

• Providing an instant foundation ready for load support

• Manufacturing the foundations prior to start for the project

• Installing in 15 minutes or less

Q: What is the price per square foot of material for the Helipost?

A: The Helipost is priced on a "square-foot" basis. The cost per square foot of sound wall for our product varies from $4 -$6 depending on the size. When you include the overall project savings for labor (no concrete curing delays), drill spoil removal, equipment mobilization, insurance, and traffic control, our product is very competitive.

Q: How safe is the Helipost?

A: The Helipost is a safer product to use for the following reasons:

• The Helipost requires less heavy equipment to install – relieving unnecessary jobsite traffic.

• The installation speed of the Helipost allows the contractor to reduce the duration of traffic control needed over the life of the project.

• Secure Piers can design the Helipost to load support standards that meet or exceed the load support provided by a concrete caisson.

Q: Is the Helipost reusable?

A: Yes, the Helipost is reusable because it is easily removed and hot-dipped galvanized. The Helipost has an expected lifespan of 75 years. The combination of steel thickness and galvanization should allow a contractor to reuse the Helipost on multiple jobsites for temporary foundations, load tests, and soil verification.

Q: Can the Helipost be used for a temporary foundation?

A: Yes, the Helipost is great solution for a temporary foundation because it is easily removed. The soil remaining in the Helipost can be drained and used to fill in the remaining hole.

Helipost Specifications

Q: What is the lifespan of the Helipost?

A: The Helipost is designed to have a lifespan of 75 years on a project specific basis. Soil corrosivity standards used by Secure Piers can be found in the National Bureau of Standards. The Helipost is galvanized, post assembly in accordance with ASTM A123. All accompanying hardware is galvanized in accordance with ASTM A153.

Q: Is the Helipost galvanized?

A: Yes, the Helipost is 100% hot-dipped galvanized for a 75-year lifespan. Corrosion is an inevitable electrochemical process wherein metals return to their more stable mineral states. Design of underground steel structures must incorporate allowances for corrosion. The following chart provides a statistical estimate of the flexural, shear, and torsional strength of the HelipostTM galvanized steel casing after 75 years of embedment in soils matching the corrosive categories listed. Corrosion rates are based on statistical analysis of over 300 tests performed by the National Bureau of Standards (see engineering handbook for more details).

See also:

Q: Can the Helipost be removed to visually inspect for corrosion?

A: Yes, the Helipost can be unscrewed from the ground, inspected, and reinstalled into the soil for future load support.

Q: Where are your manufacturers located?

A: The Helipost is manufactured in seven States across the country to optimize Helipost availability while minimizing shipping-related costs. The map below shows the location of our manufacturers. (View a location map.)

Q: How are the Heliposts shipped?

A: The Helipost is shipped palletized vertically on a flatbed truck. Because they are galvanized, they do not need to be shipped in an enclosed vehicle.

Product Certifications and Testing

Q: Is the Helipost approved for use by a State Department of Transportation (DOT)?

A: Secure Piers is currently approved in 7 states with applications pending in 30 more.

Q: Has the Helipost been tested?

A: Secure Piers has subjected the Helipost to a variety of successful lateral load tests.

Q: Has the Helipost been tested by a national testing laboratory for crash resistance?

A: No, the Helipost does not require crash testing because it is below the earth’s surface. Only those components above the ground (soundwall panel and post, lightpost, etc.) are required to have crash testing.

Secure Piers can design the Helipost base plate to accommodate bolt patterns that facilitate break-away posts, light poles, etc.

Q: Does Secure Piers have a quality control plan?

A: The Helipost does have a quality control plan.

Engineering and Design

Q: Why does Secure Piers design their foundations with a safety factor of 1.5?

A: The Helipost can be designed with a Factor of Safety of 1.5 for the following reasons:

• The generally accepted factor of safety for lateral loading is 1.5

• Concrete Uncertainty - Concrete Caissons require a larger factor of safety because of the unpredictable soil strata and curing pattern of the concrete. Because the Helipost is pre-fabricated, we can ensure the structural integrity of the foundation prior to installation. This cannot be achieved with a concrete caisson. The use of the Helipost eliminates this unnecessary factory of saftey.

• Torque Monitoring - Through careful monitoring of the installation torque, we can mitigate soil inconsistencies which are responsible for much of the additional safety factoring.

• Rebar requires 3" - 6" additional inches of concrete to encase the caging. This increases the size of the caisson which the Helipost does not have to incur.

• Secure Piers, LLC recommeds a load test between two Heliposts on every jobsite. Every load test performed by Secure Piers for the Helipost passed with flying colors while being designed with a safety factor of 1.5.

Q: Why do you use the Brinch-Hansen method for design calculations when selecting foundation size?

A: There are numerous methods by which to design foundations. Secure Piers, LLC uses the Brinch-Hansen method because the 1997 Helmers, Duncan, and Filz (see http://matrix.vtrc.virginia.edu/DATA/SOUNDWALL/) study performed for the Virginia Transportation Research Council found it to be the most accurate method when compared to field data and load test data.

Q: Can I use the Helipost if it not approved by my State DOT?

A: Yes, most State DOT’s accept Value Engineering Change Proposals. Typically, Secure Piers will work with the contractor to draft a cost-reduction analysis based on the use of the Helipost. Should the DOT require additional engineering, Secure Piers will provide this service free-of-charge.

Q: What size Helipost should I use?

A: Secure Piers will design the appropriately sized Helipost to minimize material costs while providing the same load support provided by concrete caisson, auger-cast pile, or driven H-pile.

Q: Why does the Helipost come on standard-duty and heavy-duty sizes?

A: Secure Piers, LLC has two sizes due to the various site conditions that may exist on a project. Our sizing matrix is based on the load requirements (height, post spacing), soil corrosivity, soil type, necessary installation equipment, and the price of steel. It is our goal to provide a properly designed, durable and cost-effective foundation.

Q: Can the Helipost be custom-sized?

A: Yes, the Helipost can be custom-sized to meet differing soil conditions, wall heights, and soil corrosivities. We can alter the length, wall thickness, lead, and baseplate connections for your project requirements.

Q: Can the Helipost baseplate be redesigned to match our baseplate design?

A: Yes, the baseplate can be redesigned for alternative bolt patterns, wall widths, vehicle impact, and increased thickness.

Q: On a project, can the Helipost be sized for each individual location instead of one standard foundation size?

A: Yes, Secure Piers can design foundation-specific Helipost sizes to minimize materials costs. It should be noted that some DOT’s require the foundations to be sized for the highest wall height and least supportive soil conditions.

Q: Should I use more than one post size on a project?

A: If your project has differing wall heights and soil conditions, you can choose to have your foundations sized on a site-specific basis. It should be noted that some DOT’s require the foundations to be sized for the highest wall height and least supportive soil conditions.

Q: Can the Helipost be labeled for each foundation location?

A: Yes, our manufacturers can label each foundation according to size and location (foundation number) along the specific wall.

Q: Can a foundation layout plan be provided?

A: Yes, Secure Piers can provide a foundation layout plan in order to quickly deliver the Heliposts to their proper locations.

Q: Can the Helipost be designed with a break-away connection?

A: Yes, Secure Piers can create a break-away connection for lightposts.

Helipost Installation

Q: How long does it take to install the Helipost?

A: The Helipost will install in 15 minutes or less depending on the size and soil conditions where it will be installed.

Q: Can the Helipost be installed within a confined footprint?

A: Absolutely. The Helipost excels in restricted footprint scenerios because it only requires a trackhoe or skidsteer to install. Likewise, you can reduce your traffic control on restricted footprint projects significantly because you don’t have to wait for concrete foundations to cure. You can instantly install your lightpost or highway sign that same day your install the Helipost.

Q: How does the Helipost connect to the torque motor?

A: The Helipost connects to the torque motor with an adapter plate designed and provided by Secure Piers, LLC.

Q: What capacity should the torque motor have to install the Helipost?

A: For most projects, the Helipost will install with a torque motor capacity of 25,000 ft/lbs.

Q: Why should we monitor torque during installation?

A: When you monitor torque, you are confirming the anticipated soil conditions determined by the boring logs. Therefore, you have also confirmed the appropriate Helipost size for the required load support. A torque meter can be rented from Secure Piers or purchased from one of many national fabricators.

Q: How does installation torque validate soil boring logs?

A: The Helipost is installed using a torque-motor attached to a skidsteer or trackhoe. A torque-meter can be attached to the torque-motor to identify the installation torque required to screw the Helipost into the existing.

Secure Piers, LLC has created an installation torque chart that corresponds with the soil type and blow count. When the torque reading is matched with the soil chart, the soil borings are validated.

Q: How can my company get a torque motor to install the Helipost?

A: Secure Piers, LLC can rent a torque motor to a contractor. There are various companies in the United States that will sell torque motors for contractors anticipating frequent installations of the Helipost.

Q: Can the Helipost be installed into soils with cobble and tree roots?

A: The Helipost has been successfully drilled through a variety of soil conditions (including tree stumps). The Helipost will engulf a rock of 3" diameter or less through the cutting mouth. Larger rock and cobble will be displaced.

Q: What happens if the Helipost encounters a larger boulder during installation?

A: Should the Helipost encounter cobble in excess of 6” diameter, or a larger boulder, it would have to be removed or the hole pre-drilled as you would a concrete caisson.

Q: What is the maximum soil blow count that the Helipost install into?

A: The Helipost is not intended for soils of a blow count over 50/6.

Q: Can the Helipost be removed and reinstalled?

A: Yes, the Helipost can be removed and reinstalled in a new location. A contractor or DOT may choose to remove the Helipost for the following reasons:

• Temporary Noise Barrier – Contractors have elected to install temporary noise barriers to reduce construction site noise and dust. The Heliposts are then removed and drained of soil to fill the hole. Those Heliposts can then be moved to a new jobsite.

• Unexpected Soil Conditions – Unlike a concrete caisson, a Helipost can easily removed should it encounter unanticipated soil conditions that cannot support designed load. In this case, Secure Piers can fabricated a larger Helipost to match the soil conditions.

• Load Testing – Prior to construction, a contractor can measure torque by installing a Helipost to verify soil conditions. Likewise, a second Helipost could be installed to perform a load test onsite. Upon completion of the load test, these Helipost could be moved to actual locations on the project.

• Corrosion Observation – The Helipost can be removed to observe corrosion.

Q: Where do I get nuts, bolts, and washers to connect the Helipost?

A: Secure Piers LLC will gladly supply nuts, bolts, and washers for connection to the supported structures should a contractor make this request.

Helipost for Highway Signs

Q: Can we purchase an inventory of Heliposts for repetitive highway signs installation?

A: Secure Piers supply an inventory of Heliposts that meet the load requirements for a standard sign installed by a State DOT. The inventory of Heliposts will allow the DOT to install their highways signs on their own schedule.

Helipost for Lightpost

Q: How does the conduit run through the Helipost?

A: Secure Piers has created a modified Helipost that contains slits in the casing and holes in the baseplate for transferring conduit to the Lightpost.

Q: How tall of a lightpost can a Helipost support?

A: The Helipost can currently be designed to support lightpost upto 100ft tall.