Stabilizing and Load Testing Piles in New Solar Construction

~Rapid Installation Footings
Tested, Proven, and Adaptable

Our stabilizing fixtures in action

RFG has developed systems that imitate nature, are backed by sound engineering principles and supported by solid test results in the field. The soil is bound in a multiple axis web, creating lateral and tension stability similar to a fully driven pile. Our system can be adapted to multiple pile and beam installation support systems.

Patent Summary

“PILE CONNECTION FOR HORIZONTALLY FIXING AN ELONGATED BEAM FOR A FOUNDATION SUPPORT SYSTEM”

US Patent No. 11,828,038 issued Nov 28,, 2023

“MICROPILE CONNECTION FOR SUPPORTING A VERTICAL PILE”
US Patent No. 11,788,246 Issued Oct 17, 2023

Canadian No. 3202201 Issued February 21, 2024

“PILE CONNECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING A VERTICAL PILE”
US 12,416,128 Issued Sept 16, 2025

Canadian Patent Application # 3,190,458 filed February 21, 2023

“PILE CONNECTION WITH OPEN COLLAR SECTION”
US 2023/0063844 A1 Published Mar 2, 2023

“PILE SYSTEM” US Patent D953,843 Issued Jun 2022

“PLATE ASSEMBLY” US Patent D901,282 Issued Nov 10, 2020

Vertical Pile Support Fixtures

Designs suitable for partially embedded, fully embedded, and no embedment piles in need of stabilization.

Stabilize driven solar pile refusals/ rejections; straighten and stabilize storm damaged piles, or add support to highly eroded piles.

Fixtures are robust, made of heavy gauge steel and HD galvanized. Micropiles are 1.9" round Sch 40 or 1.5" HSS, 3/16" wall - specified in lengths to match design loads.

Multiple sizes of clamping fixtures to match tension and moment load requirements. Fully adjustable insert stumps with welded top plates.

Multiple load tests performed in a variety of soil types; capacities below are listed by micropile length.

Structural engineers available to design (specify necessary micropile number and lengths) and certify installations based on geotechnical reports of the installation site.

Bearing capacities are limited by skin friction on the micropiles, not the fixtures. Tested in penetrable soils including sand, sandy loam and clay. Soft rock installations may require predrilling to obtain designed embedment. System not well-suited to hard rock installations without drilling and rock-bolting connections.

Flange-Mount Fixtures
To install or stabilize vertical piles

Horizontal Application Fixtures

Web-Mount Fixtures
to install or stabilize vertical piles

Saddle Fixtures
to install or stabilize vertical piles

We also produce fixtures for horizontal support of pipe, tubing, beams and timbers. Micropile lengths are specified based on engineering requirements to meet / exceed system uplift and lateral design loads.

Scalable Collar Fixtures
for horizontally installed round and rectangular steel

Web Mount Fixtures
for horizontal support beams

Scalable Platforms
to support inverters, generators and similar equipment, with or without internal frames

We produce a range of two-part clamp fixtures to support vertical piles. (Access to these designs is limited to those who have executed our NDA.) If you would like to view our new products, make sure you sign and send the NDA form at the bottom of the website to dale.miller@rapidfootingsgroup.com and request the password to view our new products!

Benefits

Ease of Installation

Immediate Load Bearing

Environmentally Friendly

Use in Difficult Terrain

No Concrete

Ideal for Remote Locations

Installation regardless of weather conditions

Use in situations with significant underground impediments

Can be installed with existing equipment

Pull Test Summary of Tension Capacities by Soil Type and Micropile Length

One Micropile at Each length

Longer micropiles significantly increase capacity
Larger HSS micropiles increase capacities but require higher impact energy to install
Data summary from multiple pull tests completed in each soil type
Data listed are averages for each soil type

5000

4000

Pounds of Tension

3000

2000

1000

0 4'

4.5'

5'

5.5'

6'

6.5'

7'

7.5'

8'

8.5'

9'

5100

2925

1526

2053

1496

2618

220

250

572

800 1400

Clay Soil

Sand

Sandy Loam

Pull Test Summary of Lateral Capacities by Fixture Design
in Clay Soil

A single RR fixture with two 5-ft micropiles added 3,250 and 3,750 ft-lbs of capacity, in two separate comparisons, relative to similarly embedded piles with no added support.
Small clamp fixture with two 6-ft micropiles and no pile embedment held 4,000 ft-lbs.
Two RR fixtures with four 5-ft micropiles added 7,200 ft-lbs of capacity relative to a similarly embedded pile with no added support.
Large clamp fixture with six 5-ft micropiles and no pile embedment held 12,500 ft-lbs.
Large rectangular fixture with eight 5-ft micropiles and no pile embedment held 33,000 ft-lbs

(In each test, failure or capacity described as 1-inch lateral movement of vertical pile as measured 12 inches above ground level.)

Structural Steel Footings Install Quickly and Easily Without Concrete

Our unique, patent pending fixtures simplify the installation of structural footings for piles and beams. When compared to concrete, our cost-effective products produce quick and easy foundations, regardless of weather conditions or terrain.

References and Related Articles

Longevity of Galvanized Steel (The corrosion resistance of HDG varies according to its surroundings but generally corrodes at a rate of 1/30th of bare steel in the same environment. Conservative estimated life of 50 to 100 years minimum under most conditions. American Galvanizers Association, Centennial, CO., 2022 )

https://galvanizeit.org/reinforcing-steel-online-seminar/why-hdg-rebar/longevity

https://galvanizeit.org/hot-dip-galvanizing/how-long-does-hdg-last/in-soil

Conductivity of Galvanized Steel:

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9591598

Abstract: This paper investigates the physical reasons for the apparently poor conductivity of galvanized steel plates (GSP), which has not yet received a proper explanation. Apparent conductivities as low as 0.1 MS/m were reported in the past, which are incongruously low compared to the DC conductivity of steels (4 to 8 MS/m), or zinc (16.7 MS/m), the most common coating agent used against corrosion in steel products.

Environmental Impacts of Galvanized Steel versus Concrete

https://southatlanticllc.com/blog/5-ways-galvanizings-environmental-impact-is-green/

Concrete production and use is a large contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, exceeded only by transportation and electrical energy generation. Cement manufacturing alone is responsible for roughly 5% of global CO₂ emissions. Concrete also makes up the largest proportion of construction and demolition waste, and represents about a third of all landfill waste. Recycling concrete is difficult and expensive, reduces its strength and may catalyze chemical reactions that speed up decay.

Mason, J., and Bruce, D., 2001. Lizzi's structural system retrofit with reticulated internal reinforcement method. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (1772) 107-114.

Bruce, D.A., Dimillio, A.F., and Juran, I., 1997. Micropiles: the state of practice. Ground Improvement, 1(1) 25-35

Tsukada, Y., Miura, K., Tsubokawa, Y., Otani, Y., and You, G.L., 2006. Mechanism of bearing capacity of spread footings reinforced with micropiles. Soils and foundations, 46(3) 367-376.

All RFG fixtures and micropiles meet or exceed ASTM A123 standards for thickness of zinc coatings