I saw a post recently where a company was advertising Ductile Iron Pipe Piles as “Micropiles”. I don’t consider ductile iron piles to be micropiles for the simple reason that they don’t fit the definition of a micropile. If you look back to our post on micropile definitions, you will see that micropiles are drilled and grouted “replacement piles”. Ductile iron piles are not replacement piles. They are driven, grouted “displacement” piles.
A friend of mine from north of the border told me once that “the Americans get all bent out of shape when somebody calls a helical pile (or ductile iron pile) a micropile.” Does it matter? I think it does. You would probably look at me funny if I called a car a truck. But thats just me.
Anyway, don’t get me wrong, I love ductile iron piles. I just don’t consider them micropiles. If you need to get into rock, you wont be able to do it with a ductile iron pile but you can with a good old Micropile. They are great in soil though…
Micropile Design and Construction 