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 The main objective of underpinning is to transfer

the load carried by an existing foundation from
its present bearing level to a new level at a lower
depth.

 It can be use to replace weak foundation.

 A very expensive and high risk maintenance

works.

 There are several existing conditions

 Underpinning is the installation of support
to an existing foundation to provide either
1.
additional depth or an increase in bearing
capacity.
 Process of excavating under an existing
foundation and building up a new
2.
supporting structure, from a lower level to
the underside of the existing foundation.
which may lead to the need for
underpinning:
Settlement of an existing structure due to
i. Uneven loading
ii. Action of subsoil water (changes in water table)
iii. Cohesive soil settlement
iv. Deterioration of foundation concrete
Construction of a new project with a deeper
foundation adjacent to an existing building
 To permit the level of the adjacent ground to be lowered,
for example for the construction of a new, adjacent
building with a basement extending deeper than the
existing foundations.

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1. Conversion works
3. Change in use of a structure
 Alteration, improvement, and renewal of old
 To increase the load bearing capacity of a foundation, properties may be prompted by the need to
which may be required to enable an extra storey to be
added to the existing structure or if a change of use
preserve national assets of historical
would increase the imposed loading importance.

2. Protection works
4. Addition of a basement below an existing  Protection work to structure when there is a
structure construction of new building in sufficiently
close proximity to existing buildings
5. Action of tree roots
3. Remedial works
 Recent modern buildings which should have
6. The original foundation is simply not strong or continued to perform satisfactorily for some
stable enough; eg, decay of wooden piles. years have often suddenly undergone
movementd and displayed structural defects
which required immediate attention.

7. The properties of the soil supporting the

foundation were mischaracterized during planning
process. 1. Notice to the adjoining owners. Explain in detail the
intention to do the underpinning works and giving full details
of any proposed temporary supports such as shoring.
8. Construction of structures on unsuitable bearing 2. A detail survey on
material (poorly compacted backfill) may cause  the building to be underpinned should be made. Record any
settlement. defects, cracks, supplemented by photographs.
 the temporary support while doing underpinning works such
as shoring works.
 the soil . Make sure that the new load impose is on the
suitable strength = to determined the suitable types of
underpinning work to be done.

3. The loading on the structure should be reduced = bring

down as much as imposed load to the building

 When a structure starts showing signs of

settlement or distress, it is of utmost 4. Determine servicing pipe to the building. Make sure
importance to establish level readings and it will not be interrupted or contractor have to
offset readings by a professional on a daily, provide alternative way for the servicing pipe.
weekly, or monthly basis, depending on the
severity of the movements. 5. Get a permission and give notice to Local Authority
on proposed underpinning works.
 Prior to the start of excavation for a new
structure, it is advisable to have a professional
examine all structures in close proximity to the
construction site, to determine whether or not
underpinning is necessary.

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1. Continuous / Traditional Underpinning

2. Pre-test Method Underpinning
3. Miga @ jack Underpinning
4. Bore Pile Underpinning
5. Needle and pile Underpinning
6. Radial Piling Underpinning
7. Pynford Stooling Underpinning

1. Divide wall to 5 bays. E.g.: 7.50 meter/5 part =

 Continuous/ Traditional underpinning can be
use to replace strip foundation only.
 Either the width of foundation is ½ B or 1B.
1.50 meter each part.
2. Number each bays start from the left side.
(1,2,3,4,5)
3. Excavation works will be done stage by stage to
the sides and under existing foundation.
4. Timbering must be done at excavation area as a
safety precaution especially to the workers.
5. Excavation will start with parts No.3.
6. Excavate till to the new level required.

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6. Construct new foundation with the length of

1.50 meter in excavation/working space area
No.3.
7. Followed with construct new wall with the length
of 1.50 meter on the new foundation. Make sure
that the wall is close enough to support existing
foundation.
8. Fill the gap between existing foundation and new
wall with ‘final pinning’ - mortar with ratio 1:3.
9. Repeat this method to working space No.5,
followed by No.1, No.4 and lastly No.2.
10.End of new wall must be construct with ‘tooth’
to bond the wall with another new wall .

11. End of new foundation must have dowel bars 1. Length of wall to be support.
and toothed to produce strength and neat
connection between new foundation. 2. Width of existing foundation.
12. DPM can be install in underpinning works if 3. Condition of existing foundation.
required.
13. All excavation works must be filling back in 4. Load imposed to the existing foundation.
stages. 5. Estimated ability length for existing
14. It is recommended that parts of excavation works/ foundation.
working area to be underpinned must not more than
6 part. 6. Soil condition under existing foundation.
15. All part/ working area with the same No. can be
excavate in one time.

1. Maximum length of foundation or wall floating in

one time is only 0.9 meter – 1.50 meter.

2. The total sum of the unsupported length of wall

should not exceed 25% of the total wall length.

3. Floating area supposedly not more than 1/5-1/6

from total length in one time if existing
underpinning is too weak or broken or load density
is too big.

4. Buildings with low density load e.g.: double storey

house or buildings with good condition wall, floating
area permitted is 1/3 from total length of the wall.

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1. Explain four (4) common situations underpinning

works maybe required (10 marks)

2. With aid of annotated sketches, explain in detail the

construction process of traditional underpinning
(25 marks)

1. Explain four (4) preliminary works before

underpinning (10 marks)

1. Underpinning for strip foundation will be

done stage by stage as in Continuous
Underpinning.
2. Construct reinforced concrete strip
foundation with appropriate thickness to
allow tension and compaction in foundation.
3. For pad foundation, excavation will be done
under existing pad foundation.
4. New pad foundation will be construct in pit.

 This method can be used for strip and pad
foundation.
 It’s suitable for building which increase the
load bearing capacity to the building. E.g.
increased storey from 5 to 10 storey.
 Subsoil in new excavation level will be
compact and compress to gave a
predetermined loads to the soil before
underpinning works done.
5. When new foundation has matured, jack
hydraulic will be put on the top of the new
foundation.
6. Then, precast concrete beam will be arrange on
top of the jack.
7. Fast hardening concrete is laid between the
precast concrete beam .
8. Before it has finally hardened, set the jack.
9. Precast concrete beam and half hardened
concrete will be jack up to the existing
foundation. All pores between concrete will be
compacted and fill with half hardened concrete

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10.When concrete have matured, jack beam and
concrete one more time to the new level. It is
extended to give a predetermined load on the
new foundation, thus pretesting the soil
beneath.
11. Underpinning material such as engineering
bricks, concrete blocks and steel beam will be
put in the hollow space as a support to precast
concrete beam before remove jack.
12.Remove jack, and fill the hollow space with
underpinning material such as bricks or
concretes.
1. This method is suitable for strip and pad
foundation.
2. Suitable for subsoil with deep bearing capacity
which is not practical to use traditional
underpinning.
3. Using jack in underpinning works can avoid deep
excavation.
4. No vibration and noise in using jack which will
not disturb nearest building or environment.
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5. Can be use in as short as 1.80m depth
working space
6. Existing foundation supposed to be in good
condition to receive piles. At the end it will
act as a pile cap to the piles.
7. The condition and ability of the existing
strip foundation will determine the spacing
of the pile.
1. For strip foundation, excavation works is
done as per continuous underpinning.
Excavate bay by bay with 1.80m depth
working space.
2. For pad foundation, excavation is done
under existing foundation.
3. Hydraulic jack will be use to jacked precast
concrete pile into the suitable subsoil.
4. Short Precast concrete pile with pointed
steel toe , size of 300x300x600mm will be
jack as a first section (initial pile).
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5. Followed with extension piles with the size

300x300x750mm .
6. The pile is jacked until the pile has reached
the required depth.
7. Space between the top of the pile and
underside of the existing foundation is fill
with a ‘final pinning’ mortar, with a ratio
1:3.

1. Suitable method to replace existing foundation

with piling.
2. Simple method of construction which include
excavation, steel casing, reinforcement and
concrete works.
3. Bore pile is most suitable piling work for
underpinning because piling rig can be use in small
and limited space especially under existing
foundation.
4. It can be used in space as low as 1.80 meter.
5. Quite and not produce a lot of vibration.
6. The best diameter pile for the underpinning work is
300mm-950mm.
7. It will be done stage by stage.

1. For strip foundation, excavation works is

done as per continuous underpinning.
Excavation is done bay by bay.
2. For pad foundation, excavation is done
under existing foundation.
3. Allow 1.80 meter depth for working space.
4. Locate ‘ Rig pile’ in working space where as
it functioning as pit excavator.
5. Use steel casing to prevent soil from fall and
fill the excavation pit.

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5. Excavate to suitable depth and arrange
reinforcement in the excavation pit.
6. lastly, pour concrete to the pit and use a
vibrator to release the air.
7. Steel casing will be bring out, one by one.
8. The best bored pile is the pile with toothing
around . It helps pile to bond strongly and
neatly with soil.
9. It is better to make the lower part of the
bore pile bigger than usual to support the
pile.
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 Needle and pile is use if the wall to be
underpinned has a weak foundation that is
considered unsuitable for spanning over the
heads of jack piles.
 This method uses pairs of jacks or usually
bored piles in conjunction with an in-situ
reinforced concrete beam or needle place
above the existing foundation.
 The system works on the same principles as
a dead shoring arrangement relying on the
arching effect of bonded brickwork.
 If water is encountered when using bored
piles a pressure pile can be used as an
alternative.
 There are two ways of arrangements to
enable the work to be carried out. Either
from both sides of the wall or from the
external face only.
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 The needle and pile underpinning is
referring to the arrangement of pile in
underpinning works.
 If using jack, the sequence works is same as
miga @ jack underpinning.
 If insitu pile, the sequence works is same as
done in bored piles.
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 Low cost modern alternative to traditional
underpinning for stabilizing existing sub
structural walls and foundations.
 The pile is installed by using air flushed rotary
percussion drill from inside and outside of the
building.
 Spacing and depth of boring will depend on site
conditions such as the occurrence of solid
bearing strata and extent of structural
damage.
 Although disruption to the building’s interior
is most likely, the relatively short timescale
and minimal excavation make for an economic
process.
 The suitable pile diameter to be used in this
underpinning works is between 120mm –
280mm.
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1. Cut holes in brickwork in the upper part of

existing foundation. This work will be done
alternately .
2. Stools or precast concrete beam positioned
and pinned in holes cut.
3. Remove brickworks between stools.
4. Fabricated and positioned reinforcement
around stools till it be ring beam
reinforcement.
5. Erect formwork to cast concrete beam along
the underpinning works.

 This method is only suitable for strip 5. Removed formwork after concrete matured.
foundation. 6. Do final pinning with mortar ratio 1:3 where
 It’s enable walls to be underpinned in necessary.
continuous runs without the use of needles
or raking shoring.
 The procedure is to cut away portions of
brickwork, above the existing foundation to
enable precast concrete stool to be
inserted and pinned.

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