Underpinning and existing foundations.
Are the existing foundations known? Does the planned order cover excavation, temporary support, steel, concrete and load transfer? The structural engineer remains responsible for the design.
Review structural work before it reaches site
Underpinning, piling & temporary works advice
Check whether underpinning, piling, excavation support and temporary works form one workable sequence. Darren considers access, plant, working space and load transfer alongside the permanent structure.
What the advice covers
Does the sequence work from first excavation to final load transfer?
Underpinning, piling and temporary support should be considered together. Their order affects the existing building, the excavation and the permanent basement.
Darren examines how the stages connect and whether access, working space and temporary support have been allowed for. The report gives the engineers, temporary-works team and contractor specific questions to answer before work begins.
Practical structural checks
What Darren checks in the structural sequence.
The advice considers how the building is supported while ground is removed and the permanent basement is built.
Piling plant and working space.
Can the piling rig and support plant reach and work safely on the site? Darren checks headroom, platforms, services, obstructions, soil removal, steel and concrete supply.
Temporary support and load transfer.
Are props, shoring, excavation support and working platforms shown? Is it clear who designs, checks, installs, inspects, changes and removes them?
The permanent basement.
Do piles or underpinning conflict with slabs, walls, beams, steel, formwork, access, waterproofing, drains or services? The responsible designers must resolve and approve any conflict.
What to send
Send the latest structural and site information.
Darren will list the documents and revisions checked. If a design or survey is missing, the report will say why it matters.
- Your main concern, project stage and current drawing revisions.
- Surveys of the building, foundations and nearby structures.
- Trial-pit, ground and groundwater information.
- The structural engineer's permanent design and assumptions.
- Underpinning, piling, retaining-wall and load-transfer details.
- The contractor's proposed method and sequence.
- Temporary-works briefs, designs, checks and coordinator details.
- Rig, platform, access, lifting, steel, concrete and soil-removal plans.
- Drainage, buried services, groundwater and waterproofing details.
Spot structural-sequence gaps before work begins.
The report identifies missing information, access and plant limits, and conflicts between temporary support and permanent work. It also gives the team specific questions and confirms who should answer them.
It is not a structural calculation, ground assessment, temporary-works design, installation instruction or approval to start work.
Engineers and contractors remain responsible for design and site safety.
Darren does not design or approve foundations, piles, underpinning, retaining walls, props, shoring or working platforms. He does not act as engineer, temporary-works designer, coordinator, contractor or CDM dutyholder.
HSE states that temporary works must be planned and managed by competent people. Read the HSE temporary works guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Underpinning, piling and temporary works FAQs.
These answers explain what Darren can review and which decisions must stay with the appointed engineers, contractor and project team.
No. Darren can compare practical issues such as access, plant and build sequence. The appointed structural and ground engineers must choose and design the right foundation solution.
No. Darren checks how temporary support is described in the build sequence and points out missing details or responsibilities. Competent appointed people must design, check and approve the temporary works.
Yes. Darren can identify where incomplete temporary-works information leaves a gap in the proposed sequence. Construction must not begin until competent appointed people have completed the necessary designs and checks.
No. The advice does not replace building-control approval, Party Wall procedures or duties under CDM. Your appointed professionals, dutyholders, surveyors and relevant authorities remain responsible for those matters.
Check the structural sequence
Share the latest drawings, proposed sequence and your main concern.
Get an independent view of how the structural stages fit together, while design and approval stay with the appointed engineers.