The Problem With “Passing” as Good Enough
In Manitoba’s building industry, the truth is simple: builders will often choose the cheapest foundation option that a building inspector will approve. That might mean old, used, undocumented API-5CT J55 oilfield pipe — a material never intended or certified for building foundations — gets driven into the ground to support a structure.
On paper, it “passes.” In reality, it’s a gamble.
A Real-World Example
Recently, I called a designer at a local lumber yard regarding a project. Their specification?
- Steel driven piles for the foundation.
- No requirement for “new materials only.”
- No requirement for compliance with NBC-referenced steel standards.
But here’s where it got interesting: in the notes for screw piles, the same designer required:
- CCMC certification
- Hot-dip galvanizing
- Stamped engineering
- Every certification possible
When I pointed out the double standard, the response I got was:
“We aren’t ignorant about what’s going in the ground.”
That’s about as close as you get to a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in foundation design. And it’s exactly why homeowners and commercial clients need to understand what’s happening under their buildings.
Why Screw Piles Are the Better Choice
Unlike repurposed J55 casing, quality screw piles:
- Are manufactured from new steel that meets or exceeds CSA/NBC-referenced standards
- Come with full mill certification and traceability
- Can be CCMC certified and engineer-stamped for specific loads and soil conditions
- Offer predictable capacity verified by torque correlation and/or load testing
- Can be installed in frozen or wet soils with minimal disturbance
- Using calibrated installation equipment, capacities are known and not guessed
With screw piles, there’s no mystery about where the steel came from, what it was used for before, or whether it’s structurally sound.
The Risks of Using Old J55 Oilfield Pipe
API-5CT J55 was designed for oil and gas wells — not for structural piles.
Risks include:
- Unknown history (fatigue, corrosion, bending)
- No traceable certification for structural use
- Potential contamination from prior oilfield service
- Variable wall thickness and mechanical properties
Once it’s underground, you can’t see the corrosion starting inside the pipe. The load might hold now — but what about in 10 years?
The Double Standard Needs to End
If screw piles are required to be certified, galvanized, and documented, why shouldn’t all foundation piles — driven or helical — meet the same standard?
This “look the other way” approach for driven piles rewards the cheapest option, not the safest one. The result? The long-term cost of repairs falls on owners, not the builder who cut corners.
Our Position
At Hanover Screw Pile, we believe:
- Every pile — screw or driven — should be made from new, certified steel
- Piles should meet NBC-referenced standards for steel and fabrication
- Homeowners and builders should demand full documentation of what’s holding up their structure
- “Don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t belong in foundation work
📞 Let’s Build It Right Call Today 204-388-9037
If you want a foundation that’s built to last — with piles you can trust — talk to us. We install engineered, CCMC evaluated, certified screw piles that meet or exceed every applicable standard.
Don’t leave your building’s future to chance. Ask what’s going in the ground.
