Paragraph 20 During construction, operation and maintenance

Drill or vibro piling must be used as standard, with percussive piling only used if it is required to drive a pile to its design depth and drill or vibro piling has been unsuccessful. If percussive piling is necessary, soft-start procedures must be used to ensure incremental increase in pile power over a set time period until full operational power is achieved.

The soft-start duration must be a period of not less than 20 minutes.

Should piling cease for a period greater than 10 minutes then the soft start procedure must be repeated.