Cooling Tower Foundation & Structural Support, Ottawa

For the cooling tower installation, a modified concrete pad was essential to support the steel framework, but the site presented challenges. The dense blue clay subgrade made achieving the required 98% compaction difficult, highlighting the importance of foundation engineering in this project. This is a foundational task that prioritized addressing the ground conditions before any pouring began, showcasing the expertise needed in Ottawa construction services.

The pad had to support the full steel framework of a cooling tower installation, but the subgrade was dense blue clay, which made achieving the required 98% compaction particularly difficult. In foundation engineering, getting the sub-base wrong can expose the entire structure to shifting over time, so it was essential for Ottawa construction services to correct the ground before any forming began.

The team over-excavated an additional foot of clay and replaced it with layered 4-inch stone wrapped in filter cloth, building a stable 3-foot sub-base crucial for the foundation engineering needed in the cooling tower installation. After successful compaction testing on both the sub-base and base materials, they formed the main pad with integrated piers engineered to support the steel framework. The design included high-load rigid insulation beneath a 12-inch slab, with columns reinforced by a dense double rebar mat for long-term stability and resistance to shifting. Once poured, the pad was tarped and heated to meet curing conditions and pass concrete strength tests, after which the team moved on to forming and pouring the structural columns as part of their Ottawa construction services.

Despite facing unexpected challenges, the team adhered to the schedule, including weekend work, and progressed to the final stages of the cooling tower installation. Utilizing specialized equipment, they ensured the precise connection of the cooling tower, reflecting the expertise often associated with foundation engineering in Ottawa construction services.

Structure: cooling tower foundation and structural support for cooling tower installation. Subgrade challenge: dense blue clay, requiring 98% compaction to meet foundation engineering standards. Sub-base: 1 ft of over-excavation with layered 4-inch stone in filter cloth, designed for a 3-foot stable build-up. Slab: 12-inch with high-load rigid insulation beneath for optimal performance. Reinforcement: dense double rebar mat featuring engineered piers and columns to enhance stability. Curing: tarped and heated, successfully passing concrete strength tests. Scope: excavation, forming, concrete, structural columns, and equipment set, all part of our comprehensive Ottawa construction services. Location: Ottawa and surrounding areas. 

Have a foundation or equipment pad with tricky ground conditions? Send the drawings or site details for a quote. Call or text (613) 370-0158.