EFFC/DFI Task Groups
The European Federation of Foundation Contractors works to promote the common interests of its members by improving the standard of workmanship, technical competence, safety and innovation for specialist foundation contractors across Europe.
DFI and EFFC collaborate on areas of mutual interest through task and working groups related to concrete mixes, support fluids, working platforms and sustainability.
Contents
EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator Task Group
Developed a standardized tool called the Foundation CO2 Calculator which calculates the carbon footprint of deep foundation and ground improvement works.
Group Co-Chairs
Luca Bruni
Injectosond Italia
Luca Bruni, M.Eng., is a structural engineer with expertise in deep foundations and sustainability. Since obtaining his master’s degree from the University of Arizona, he has led multiple companies in obtaining ISO and OSHAS certifications, led CO₂ software initiatives with EFFC and DFI, and held leadership roles with multiple European firms.
Chris Nelsen, P.E., ENV SP
Delve Underground
Chris Nelsen, P.E., ENV SP, is a geotechnical engineer at Delve Underground with more than 5 years of experience. He specializes in geostructural design, installation, QA/QC and is expanding his expertise in site investigations and tunnel impact analyses. As an Envision Sustainable Professional (ENV SP), Chris champions sustainability in infrastructure and in daily life.
EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator
The EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator has been developed using verifiable, standardised data to enable accurate benchmarking of competing project proposals. The tool also allows contractors to compare and contrast different technical approaches within the same project and see what the CO2 emissions will be. Furthermore it can be used throughout a project’s development to compare how it performed against expectations.
Developing the Next Generation EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator
Building on a proven Excel-based version of the EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator, the task group is developing a next-generation online version tool. This upgrade will provide more accurate, accessible and user-friendly carbon assessments tailored to geotechnical works by leveraging up-to-date, location-specific emission factor databases. This will enable the industry to better measure and reduce its carbon footprint.
EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator Sponsors
The task group is looking for sponsors to help offset the cost of developing this online version of the EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator. Sponsors will have early access to the new tool, gain a competitive advantage, bolster their reputation and visibility and support industry innovation.
EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator Webinars
EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator Training Video
This webinar explains why carbon reduction is important and how to reduce emissions by measuring your carbon footprint. The workshop will also guide you through the industry’s leading tool; the EFFC/DFI Carbon Calculator, a free aid which allows the user to assess the carbon footprint of their project.
EFFC/DFI Concrete Task Group
Formed in 2014 to address the issues that contractors experience on site with modern concrete mixes.
Group Chair
Rabea Barhum Ph.D.
BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH
Rabeah Barhum, Ph.D., is a civil engineer with over 20 years of experience in construction materials. Holding a doctorate from Technical University in Dresden, he works in Bauer Spezialtiefbau’s services division, supporting complex foundation projects worldwide. He specializes in concrete, soil-cement and support fluids, and is also a member of the EFFC/DFI Support Fluid Task Group.
EFFC/DFI Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations
The 3rd Edition of the Tremie Guide includes a general review of the Second Edition, comprises more specific advice on testing fresh concrete (in a completely revised Section 5.3), emphasises the Task Group’s understanding of designing sustainable concrete (in a new Section 5.6), and gives an update on interpretation of concrete flow mechanisms made on the basis of numerical modelling (in a revised Section 9, now supplemented by a new Appendix G). This Third Edition replaces the Second Edition.
Research Report: Rheology and Workability Testing of Deep Foundation Concrete in Europe and the US
A companion research report to the DFI/EFFC Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations (2nd Edition) which provides information on the research incorporated in the guide that numerically models the behaviour of concrete when it is poured into an excavation. This is a new area of research which provides new insight into what is occurring during the tremie operation.
Research Report: Testing Concrete for Deep Foundations
A companion research report to the EFFC/DFI Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations (2nd Edition) which provides results of research incorporated in the guide on fresh and key hardened properties of concrete mixtures used in the field.
Fourth Edition
Work has also commenced on the Fourth Edition which will require another two years of hard work by the CTG. The major additions to the Fourth Edition will include:
- Harmonising the Tremie Guide with the new EN 206 Part 3 which will specifically include additional requirements for concrete in geotechnical works. This will replace the current Annex D in EN 206-1. This inclusion is very significant and most of the new requirements are based on the recommendations in the EFFC/DFI Tremie Guide.
- Harmonising the Guide with ACI 336. This is a huge step forward in applying the most suitable test methods and acceptance criteria to modern tremie concrete.
- Further detailed numerical modelling studies to understand concrete flow mechanisms, especially in the design of concrete for challenging geotechnical works. The CTG has been working closely with a number of academic groups who are doing this work. Further time is required for the results to be evaluated and checked and collated.
EFFC/DFI NDT Guide Task Group
The Non-destructive Testing (NDT) Guide Task Group was formed in 2024. Their goal is to develop a guide that will summarize existing publications, theory behind techniques and when and when not to use the techniques. The guide will also provide guidance on evaluation and acceptance of test results.
Group Co-Chairs
Karsten Beckhaus, Dr.-Ing.
BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH
Karsten Beckhaus, Dr.-Ing. is the technical director at Bauer Spezialtiefbau, has more than 30 years in structural engineering, 21 of those in deep foundations, and holds degrees from Technical University in Munich. He leads Bauer’s technical services division, focusing on quality, innovation, and sustainability. Beckhaus chairs European execution standards EN 1536 and EN 1538, shaping the future of foundation engineering.
Rozbeh B. Moghaddam, P.E., Ph.D.
RBM Industries, Inc.
Rozbeh B. Moghaddam, P.E., Ph.D., is chief executive officer of RBM Industries and a faculty member at University of Texas at Austin. With global experience in deep foundation design and remediation, he holds patents in load testing innovation. Active in American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Deep Foundation Institute (DFI) and International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC), he has earned multiple awards, including the ADSC President’s Award and Texas Tech University Engineering Excellence Award, and was inducted into Texas Tech Civil Engineering Academy.
Non-Destructive Testing Guide
Previous versions of the EFFC/DFI Guide to Tremie Concrete for Deep Foundations addressed non-destructive testing (NDT) in the appendix. With each edition, the appendix expanded to cover more topics. EFFC and DFI recognized that the information contained in the appendix was applicable to more than just tremie concrete for deep foundations and that the existing literature was outdated to current practice and technologies. In addition, no single publication covers the theory, application and evaluation of all methods.
Proposed NDT Guide
The first edition of the proposed NDT Guide will focus on methods used with drilled and excavated deep foundation elements. The guide will summarize the theory, applications and limitations for each method, along with recommendations on evaluating the results. The guide will define “anomaly” and “defect” to provide a basis of understanding in the industry and provide guidance on the process to determine whether to accept or reject a deep foundation element.”
EFFC/DFI Support Fluids Task Group
Established in 2017 to investigate the preparation, characteristics and testing of support fluids.
Group Chair
Christophe Justino, M.Sc.
Soletanche Bachy International
Christophe Justino, M.Eng., manages the materials department at Soletanche Bachy. With nearly 20 years of international experience in geotechnical materials, his expertise spans concrete technology, grout materials, drilling fluids, deep foundation works and technical assistance. He is also active in the French federation for civil works.
EFFC/DFI Guide to Support Fluids for Deep Foundations
This guide represents the state of the art for support fluid practice and aims to improve existing design, testing and practices for deep foundation elements – bored piles (drilled shafts), barrettes (LBEs) and diaphragm wall panels. The purpose of this guide is to present current understanding on bentonite, other clays, polymers and blended systems, including the advantages and limitations, in order to allow informed selection of the optimum technical solution(s) for the conditions on each individual worksite. It is intended as a practical addition to existing standards, not a substitute.
This first edition details accepted good practice in the industry. A series of field research studies are underway to collect site data, and to develop and conduct non-standard tests. The results of this research will inform the second edition that is currently in development.
Updates on the EFFC/DFI Guide to Support Fluids for Deep Foundations
EFFC/DFI Sustainability Guides Task Group
To write practical, actionable guidance that helps geotechnical companies improve their sustainability. The Task Group aligns these guides to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, further focusing on the most material goals for geotechnical companies.
Group Co-Chairs
Luke Deamer, Eng.D, ME.Sci, FGS
Keller
Luke Deamer, Eng.D., M.ESci., FGS, GIEMA, group sustainability manager for Keller, holds degrees in sustainability from University of Surrey and Cardiff University. Based in the U.K., he is a member of the Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) and EFFC Sustainability Working Group and DFI Sustainability Committee. His past roles include structural geologist on the Panama Canal and Oman Drilling projects. Deamer has authored several papers and guides on geotechnical sustainability.
Kimberly Martin, Ph.D., P.E., ENV SP
Keller, North America
Kimberly Martin, Ph.D., P.E., ENV SP, senior engineer at Keller North America, leads the development and implementation of Keller’s sustainability strategy. She previously worked as a lead geotechnical engineer in the oil and gas industry. Martin is the past chair of Arizona Geo-Institute and current secretary of Geo-Institute’s Sustainability Committee. She is also a member of DFI’s Sustainability Committee. Martin holds degrees from University of Arizona, University of Texas at Austin and Arizona State University.
Guides Overview
These guides follow a basic what, why, how, measure approach:
What
What is this specific area of sustainability? What impacts do foundation contractors have on this goal?
Why
Why does this area of sustainability matter to foundation contractors? Why should they bother to improve this area of sustainability?
How
How can foundation contractors improve their impact and positively impact this area of sustainability?
Measure
What metrics could foundation contractors use to measure their progress and set targets in this area of sustainability?
Published Sustainability Guides
Sustainability Guides Webinars
Additional Resources
EFFC/DFI Working Platforms Task Group
The EFFC/DFI Working Platforms Task Group pools the experiences across the membership of EFFC and DFI to collaborate on the critical issue of improving the safety of working platforms. Working platforms are used by everyone that accesses a site, particularly cranes and drilling machines.
Group Chair
Peter Faust, Dipl.-Ing.
Malcolm Drilling Company, Inc.
Peter Faust, Dipl.-Ing, has over 30 years of experience in foundation design and construction. He holds a degree in geotechnical engineering from Technical University Graz, Austria. After managing large infrastructure projects in Asia and Europe, he joined Malcolm in 2006, overseeing business development, strategic planning, corporate communications and marketing. Faust is a DFI Trustee and has published guidelines on tremie concrete, support fluids and working platforms for deep foundations.
Guide to Working Platforms
On a typical construction site, the provision of a safe surface to work on involves and affects a number of the contracting parties (the client; principal designer; general contractor; specialty contractor; platform designer; platform installer or earthworks contractor; platform tester and platform maintainer), and as a consequence, the organization of its design, installation and maintenance can be complex. As this concerns money and liability, working platforms are often a contentious issue but nonetheless one that needs to be addressed. This second edition takes each step in turn and describes what good practice is, incorporating the results of recent research undertaken by EFFC, DFI and the industry.
Field Research Study (FRS) #1
Verifying the quality of the platform is difficult and can be expensive to carry out. To understand the best methods for testing and seek a practical solution to this problem EFFC and DFI undertook of comparative assessment of different testing techniques at several sites in the US and Europe. The aim was to find a cost-effective and simple way to assess whether a working platform is fit for purpose before and during the works.Â
Field Research Study (FRS) #2 and #3
Most manufacturers provide track pressure values following the requirements of EN 16228. However, the actual pressures exerted during the operation of the rig may be different due to multiple factors. The purpose of FRS #2 was to provide a more user-friendly summary of applicable track pressures that owners, consultants, designers, general contractors, as well as specialty contractors, can use to estimate track pressure, for at least a preliminary evaluation.
Prior to undertaking FRS #3, the variance in platform designs from different methods was significant, even with the same data set. The intent of FRS #3 was to improve the process of platform design, construction and use by identifying and better understanding the most influential parameters used in platform design.