When Is a Micropile the Right Choice?

A micropile is a prestressed concrete pile manufactured in short segments — 1 to 3 metres per section — that are joined together on site to reach the required depth. Because each segment is compact, installation can be carried out with smaller pile-driving rigs, unlike full-length standard piles, which typically require larger machinery and enough working space to manoeuvre and install them.

This defining feature makes micropiles well suited to sites with physical constraints, such as home and kitchen extensions built against an existing structure, where there is no room for large pile-driving equipment, or foundation reinforcement beneath an existing roof, where the working height is limited by the structure already in place. Joining short segments lets the site team work within narrow spaces and low headroom without having to demolish additional existing structure.

Another common scenario is a site that heavy machinery cannot reach at all — land down a narrow soi, for example, or a plot hemmed in by surrounding buildings — where transporting full-length piles in for installation is difficult or simply impossible. In these cases, the micropile becomes the option that lets the project proceed without reworking the entire plan.

Beyond site-access constraints, choosing a micropile should also be informed by a soil assessment and a load analysis of the structure being reinforced or extended, to make sure the number and placement of piles matches the actual load. Our engineering team is available to consult from the initial site assessment through installation and post-installation testing, for confidence in the resulting structure.

In short, the micropile is best chosen for site-access and space constraints rather than for load capacity alone. If your project involves a narrow work area, low headroom, or a site down a soi that large vehicles cannot reach, a micropile is worth discussing with our engineering team before you decide.

Beyond the micropile, the company also manufactures several other prestressed pile profiles — square, hollow hexagonal, and I-section — each suited to different soil conditions and site layouts. Choosing the right pile ultimately means weighing both site-access constraints and the properties of each pile type together, rather than either factor alone.