Hotel Laundry Room

Location: Manitoba

In early 2018 we were tasked with an exciting project that required a unique solution. Our client was tasked with eliminating undesired vibrations passed through the floors and walls of the hotel by the commercial laundry machines. The floor was built solid to support the weight of the machines, however it was not effective in preventing noise caused by the machines shaking. Naturally this shaking detracted from the guest experience in the hotel.

A 3 foot crawl space existed below the floor of the laundry room and several plumbing pipes ran across the space. It was also important that the down-time of the machines be minimized as they served a vital role in the operations of the hotel. With the floor cut open, per the footprint of the machines, another challenge became apparent...there would be only a 7 inch gap to work with and the piles needed to be very close to one wall. Our crew exercised a considerable amount of caution, bringing the excavator through the lobby, down the hall, around a challenging corner and finally into the laundry room. Once inside, venting was added to the excavator, which ran outside through a window to make certain no exhaust fumes entered the room. This was an effective way to ensure the safety of our crew during the installation period.

Each helical pile was brought in a split pile design to allow us to maneuver the piles in the restrictive crawl space. The piles were installed through the 7 inch gap and extensions were secured with galvanized structural bolts. As the piles were turned into the ground, the walls were protected with plywood and a finishing extension was added to turn the piles down to desired height.

After installation was completed welding of heavy duty plates and bracings ensured any lateral forces were isolated. Since screw piles, unlike concrete piles, require zero curing, the washing machines could be loaded onto and secured to the piles immediately. With the machines now supported independently from the rest of the structure, they no longer vibrate or shake the floors and total comfort has been achieved. Our client was thrilled to have found a solution that was not only cost effective but quick as well.

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