Timber Piles

Advantages

• Low cost per unit of capacity.
• Renewable supply – available in a range of lengths and sizes.
• Easily handled and driven with conventional equipment.
• Tapered shape and displacement characteristic result in developing soil capacity in shorter lengths.
• Reasonable tensile and bending capability.

Disadvantages

• Cannot be lengthened (spliced).
• Susceptible to driving damage.
• Vulnerable to deterioration.
• Limited strength, size, and length properties.
• Odour and environmental impact considerations.

General

• Mainly two species (pine, fir) dominate timber pile market.
  Timber piles can be clean-peeled (all outer and 80% of inner bark removed), rough-peeled (all outer bark removed), and un-peeled (all bark retained). Piles destined for treatment must be clean-peeled.
• Visit www.timberpilingcouncil.org or www.citw.org for specific information.
• Treatment must conform to CSA 080.3/080.18 or AWPA C-3/C-18.
• Butt diameters to 450 mm and lengths up to 36 m are available.
• Timber piles are used on land, in fresh water, salt water, railroad and highway bridges, and buildings above and below the flood plain.
• Design must identify potential environmental concerns and compensate with appropriate protection.