The technology was first employed in the construction of HS2’s Maria Fidelis facility in Euston.
By Mr John Stevenson (Senior Communications Officer), Published
The HIPER Pile deep foundation system developed by City civil engineering academics in collaboration with Keltbray, has won the award for Best Innovation at the Construction News Awards on 14th July 2022.
HIPER stands for Hollow Impression Enhanced Pre-cast, Energy storage and generation and Re-use.
The HIPER Pile system beat off stiff competition from more than a dozen stalwarts in the civil engineering and construction field, including Skanska, Costain, Laing O’Rourke, SV Installations and ‘Highly Commended’ Taziker.
The judges noted that the HIPER Pile is a “comprehensive innovation” with great potential and application across multiple alternative uses.
They also said Keltbray’s extensively researched and proven concept showed “continual innovation and a significant whole-life value and sustainability impact”.
HIPER Pile is a suite of piling innovations that can deliver embodied-carbon savings of up to 94 percent. Compared with traditional, bored piling, HIPER Piles contain a central void that can be used for energy storage and generation to give unprecedented operational carbon savings, helping buildings to be self-sustaining.
HIPER Piles can be built to exacting tolerances and because they are hollow they can be inspected and reused.
The technology was first employed in January 2022 in the construction of HS2’s Maria Fidelis facility in Euston.
Dr Andrew McNamara, Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering, said:
We are delighted that the construction industry is beginning to recognise the massive potential that HIPER Pile can offer. It will be a major contributor to the goal of genuinely sustainable construction. We are now driving a fundamental change in the way that foundations are built and our strong relationship with Keltbray will continue as we seek to optimise the performance of this innovative technology.