Load tests on piles are conducted on completion of 28 days after casting of piles. Two types of tests namely initial and routine tests, for each type of loading viz. vertical, horizontal (lateral) pull out, are performed on piles.

Initial Tests on piles:

Pile Head – The pile head shall be chipped off till sound concrete is met wherever applicable. The reinforcement shall be cut and head levelled with Plaster of Paris. A bearing plate with a hole shall be placed on the head for the jack to rest.

Reaction- Kentledge shall be suitably designed to get the desired reaction on the piles. Anchor piles (if required) shall be placed at a centre to centre distance of 3 times the pile diameter subject to a minimum distance of 2 M.

Settlement- 2 dial gauges for a single pile and 4 dial gauges for a group of piles with 0.01 mm sensitivity shall be used. They shall be positioned at equal distance around the piles on datum bars resting on immovable supports at a distance of 3D (min. of 1.5 m) where D is the diameter of pile or circumscribing circle for non-circular piles.

Application of load- It shall be applied as specified depending on the type of test (routine / initial). Each load shall be maintained till the rate of displacement of the pile top is either 0.1 mm in the first 30 minutes or 0.2 mm in the first one hour or 2 hours whichever occurs first. The next increment in the load shall be applied on achieving the afore said criterion.

The test load shall be maintained for 24 hours.