N.J. Admin. Code § 19:6-2.49

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 19:6-2.49 - Timber piles

(a) Timber piles shall conform in quality to class A or B of ASTM D25 standard specifications for round-timber piles, current edition.

1. Size of piles: Piles shall be of adequate size to resist the applied loads without creating stresses in the pile materials in excess of 1,200 psi for piles of southern pine, Douglas fir, oak or other wood of comparable strength; or 850 psi for piles of cedar, Norway pine, spruce or other wood of comparable strength. Except as provided in paragraph 2 below, for piles 40 feet or more in length and of 30 tons capacity or less, the following sizes or classes of piles shall be deemed to be adequate for considerations of stress in the pile material:

i. Piles of 25 to 30 tons capacity: Class A or minimum eight-inch tip with uniform taper.

ii. Piles of less than 25 tons capacity: Class A or B or minimum six inches tip with uniform taper.

2. Piles driven to end bearing: All timber piles, regardless of capacity, driven to end bearing on soils of classes 1-65 through 5-65 shall be class A or shall have a minimum eight inches tip and a uniform taper.

3. Species of wood: Any species of wood may be used that conforms to the provisions of ASTM D25 and that will stand the driving stresses.

4. Peeling: Unless treated, piles need not be peeled.

(b) Where timber piles are to be driven to end bearing on soils of classes 1-65 through 5-65 by use of an impact hammer, the installation of each such pile shall be under the personal inspection of an architect or engineer, and the operations of driving such piles, the observations of penetrations resistance, and the operation of the equipment shall be so conducted as to terminate driving directly when the pile reaches bearing on the hard material. The upper portion above the water table shall be surrounded by a sand and gravel fill and shall not be in contact with any combustible material. A report, prepared by the architect or engineer, describing the procedures, equipment and precautions followed to prevent injury to the piling shall be submitted to the chief engineer.

(c) The use of lagged or inverted piles will be permitted. Double lagging shall be adequately connected to the basic pile material to transfer the full pile load from the basic pile material to the lagging without exceeding values of allowable stress as established in this article. The connection for single lagging shall be proportioned for half the pile load. The diameter of any inverted timber pile at any section shall be adequate to resist the applied load without exceeding the stresses indicated in subsection (a) of this section, but in no case shall it be less than eight inches.

(d) Rules on installation are:

1. All broomed, crushed, or otherwise damaged materials at the head of the pile shall be removed before capping.

2. Any sudden decrease in driving resistance shall be investigated with regard to the possibility of breakage of the pile, and if such sudden decrease in driving resistance cannot be correlated to boring data or some incident in the driving, and if the pile cannot be removed for inspection, it shall be considered as adequate cause for rejection of the pile.

N.J. Admin. Code § 19:6-2.49