Soil Settlement and Water Damage due to Adjacent Pile Installations

Foundation construction especially deep excavation and pile installation in densely built areas in urban cities such as New York City can be challenging due to the presence of numerous adjacent structures. Errors or omissions in the design, improper construction practices, and inadequate inspections may result in damage to the adjacent properties, which causes disturbance to the property owners and may lead to project delays, monetary loss, and litigation. This paper provides a background on adjacent construction issues, focusing mainly on foundation construction. It also provides introductory information about pile installation techniques, namely driven and drilled piles and possible effects of each technique to the nearby properties. Two case studies involving pile installation in New York City are presented to illustrate two different types of damage the adjacent buildings suffered. The first case study is about installation of a support of excavation system which utilized driven piles and caused settlement of the adjacent yards. The second case study is about installation of a foundation system supported by mini piles that caused water damage to the adjacent buildings. The consequences of the damage and the measures taken following the damage are also discussed in each case. The paper also provides recommendations for foundation contractors and engineers so that the risk of damage to the adjacent building from pile installation can be minimized.