After the total ultimate load-carrying capacity of a pile has been determined by summing the point bearing capacity

and the frictional (or skin) resistance, a reasonable factor of safety should be used to obtain the total allowable load
for each pile, or

Qall 5
Qu
FS
(12.16)
where
Qall 5 allowable load-carrying capacity for each pile FS 5 factor of safety
The factor of safety generally used ranges from 2 to 3, depending on the uncertainties surrounding the calculation of
ultimate load. The factors of safety suggested by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are given in Table 12.5.