AS 2159 explained: how to ensure your screw pile is compliant
A plain-English guide to what compliance actually looks like, and why “she’ll be right” is the most expensive thing you can say about a foundation. Why this matters A screw…
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Compliance, proven
“100% compliance, 100% of the time” is a claim FTA is happy to have tested. This page is the evidence.
Why compliance is harder than it looks
Every screw pile project in Australia has to satisfy several layers of compliance at once, the National Construction Code, AS 2159 (the primary piling standard), soil-specific requirements, and the design life of the structure above. Skipping one layer to meet another is where the industry gets it wrong. FTA designs to all of them, every time, not the ones that are easiest to demonstrate.
How compliance actually gets built in
Every project starts with site-specific soil data. Without it, a screw pile design can’t be certified.
In-house, led by Travis Yap, checking loads, soil conditions, wind, and the building’s design life against AS 2159.
Torque, depth, verticality and penetration rate are recorded on every pile, not sampled. Installation torque is correlated to verified capacity using calibrated engineering relationships, so capacity is confirmed as the pile goes in, not assumed afterwards.
Corrosion protection, steel grade and coatings matched to the site and the required design life (50 years residential, 100+ years for infrastructure).
Engineering certification, installation documentation and building surveyor approval, in a traceable paper trail rather than a single tick-box.
What this means for you
If you’re a builder
A compliant installation report, every time, without you having to chase it.
If you’re an engineer or surveyor
Full documentation including geotechnical basis, design assumptions, installation records, all available on request.
If you’re a homeowner
Your foundation is engineered for your soil and your building, not a template.