The ECP Model 200 uses the same lifting technology as all ECP piering systems. This hydraulic manifold lifting system is the system of choice for the engineering community. The ECP lifting system was designed by the staff at ECP along with Enerpac Hydraulics to be the safest and most controlled lifting system available.
The ECP Model 200 pier system is designed to achieve great driving depths while supporting the foundation directly. With the use of specially designed 12” galvanized steel pier sections, this compact pier system installs easily even in the most cramped of spaces. Overhead obstructions are not a concern with this concentric design. Everything is installed directly under the foundation and in line with the loads placed upon it.
The ECP Model 200 steel pier, like other resistance piers, is an end-bearing pier that does not rely upon nor requires skin friction to produce support. Each pier is field load tested after it is installed. The piers are able to develop a factor of safety because the piers are installed and load tested individually using the maximum weight of the structure as the reaction force. The ability of the system to develop significant factors of safety comes from the different methods used between pier installation and load transfer during restoration.
The piers are driven individually and the entire structure works as the reaction. A friction reduction collar is attached to the lead section of pier pipe. The purpose of the collar is to create an opening in the soil that has a larger diameter than the pier pipe. This dramatically reduces the skin friction on the pier pipe as it is driven into the soil and allows the installer to load test and verify that the pier encountered firm bearing stratum or rock that is suitable to support the design load. During load transfer, high pressure hydraulic jacks are placed at multiple locations, and connected to a manifold, thus reducing the load on each pier to only the design working load.
