Warehouse halls and prefabricated structures on ground anchors
The lightweight prefabricated hall stands on a regular grid of columns that transfer concentrated point loads to the foundation. Ground anchors allow these points to be installed without concrete and with load-bearing capacity available immediately after drilling — so the assembly of the supporting structure can begin the same week it is laid down, rather than waiting for the concrete to harden.
What the holes in the hall carry and what they don't
Before anything else, there is one distinction that is necessary, without which the design will not make sense:
Ground piles establish the supporting structure of the hall — columns and frame that carry the load from the roof, cladding, snow and wind.
Ground anchors do not fix the floor board. The industrial floor, its load capacity for shelving systems and handling equipment, is a separate structure and is designed using a custom design. The installation of the supporting structure using screws does not replace this function.
This department is also an advantage in halls: the supporting structure can be finished and covered before the floor is installed — and the floor is then installed dry under the finished roof.
Specificities of building halls
Concentrated point loads. Unlike a FVE stand or furniture, the pillar of the hall transmits significantly higher vertical and lateral loads. The design must be based on a geotechnical survey and the proven load-bearing capacity of a specific type of screw in a specific profile.
Regular row of columns. The dimensions are precisely defined by the design, and the positional tolerance is tighter than in most other applications — the structure is assembled from prefabricated parts.
Pulleys and horizontal wind loads. A lightweight hall has a low own weight and a large area. Therefore, pressure is often not the deciding design factor, but rather the pull — extracting the screw from the ground. This is different from constructing heavy structures, and it is necessary to explicitly address this in the design.
The schedule as a business parameter. For warehouse and logistics facilities, the time to go into operation is part of the business case. A baseline that does not adhere to the schedule increases the cost of the entire project more than the difference in the price of the baseline itself.
Stage-setting. The units can be assembled and installed in sections. This makes turning them on and off possible without any technological breaks between stages.
Why ground anchors for prefabricated halls
Parallel schedule. While the construction is underway, steel construction is being created in the production facility. Because the bolt can be loaded immediately, assembly immediately follows completion of the structure — eliminating the technological pause for curing.
Weather independence. Spinning is not a wet process. It looks like a detail, but in the schedule it is the difference between meeting the deadline and not meeting it.
No digging and no removal. The excavation for the footings is eliminated, as are formwork, the import of concrete, and the removal of the excavated material. The construction site remains accessible and clean, which simplifies the logistics of staged assembly.
Evidence of loadability to each point. The telemetric unit records the torque and depth of each screw. For static purposes, this is a continuous check that the actual profile corresponds to the design assumption — in the case of concrete footings, a comparable document for each individual point practically does not arise.
Reversibility. In the case of halls on a rented plot of land or temporary storage facilities, the structure can be removed after the lease ends and the plot returned without demolishing the foundations.
Statics and proof of load-bearing capacity
The design of the base for the hall is significantly more demanding than for lightweight structures, and it cannot be shortened.
Geotechnical survey is mandatory entry. Without knowledge of the composition and load-bearing capacity of the substructure, it is not possible to design the length and type of the screw, nor to verify the tensile load-bearing capacity.
Design according to Eurocode 7. Ground holes are assessed in the geotechnical design mode — in detail on the page Eurocode 7 and ground screws, including geotechnical categories and design approaches.
Stress test. For projects where the concentrated loads are higher or the profile is uncertain, a static load test is performed on the test screw — in both pressure and pull. This is also the strongest argument for the building authority and for the investor.
Corrosion protection according to the design life. In the case of permanent construction, the corrosion protection of the screw must correspond to the required lifespan of the structure and the aggressiveness of the environment. This is part of the requirements for the screw supplier, not an optional addition.
Recommended machine for warehouse halls
Glentor B80 — primary election. Highest torque in a row — 8,000 Nm at 20 rpm — in combination with compressive force 12,000 N It covers the beam requirements of light-duty prefabricated halls on a standard subfloor. The rapid 2,000 Nm mode at 85 rpm accelerates progress in homogeneous soil, so the entire beam is created in a short time. Remote control allows the operator to control the position of the point with direct visibility.
Glentor C65 — for hard substrates and deeper penetration. Where geotechnical survey indicates a layer of rock that is deeper than 2.5 m, or where there is weathered rock above it, the C65 offers a screw connection to the rock. 3.5m, to the pilot 4.3 m The MTB36 hydraulic hammer (900 J, up to 900 blows per minute) is suitable for profiles where drilling is not necessary. Side-mounted drilling is an advantage when constructing on an existing building, where it is installed close to the existing wall.
| Criterion | B80 | C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 8,000 Nm / 20 rpm | 6,500 Nm / 20 rpm |
| Quick mode | 2,000 Nm / 85 rpm | 2,000 Nm / 85 rpm |
| Downward force | 12,000 N | 12,000 N |
| Max. screw / pilot | 2.5 metres | 3.5 / 4.3 m |
| Hydraulic breaker | no | MTB36, 900 J |
| Founding | front | side |
| Mass | 2,480 kg | 3 050 / 3 250 kg |
| Suitable for | normal foundation, open construction site | hard subfloor, deeper anchoring, completion |
The implementation process
- Geotechnical survey. The foundations are in a range corresponding to the hall’s layout. They determine the composition of the foundation, the level of groundwater, and the load-bearing capacity — the entry for the entire design.
- Static design of the base. The statik determines the type, length, and number of bolts on the column according to the vertical and tensile loads, according to the Eurocode 7 procedures. At the same time, the requirement for corrosion protection is determined according to the design life.
- Test screw and load test. Verification of actual load capacity under pressure and in tension at a representative point before the start of the main work.
- Geodetic determination of the plot. Accurate positioning of points according to the project — the tolerance in the assembled structure is tighter than in other applications.
- Rotation of the raster with a telematics record. Rotation to the projected depth, recording the moment and depth at each point. Deviation from the expected trajectory is an immediate signal for the statics.
- Assembly of the supporting structure. The cladding of the columns and the frame immediately after completion of the scaffolding, without a technological break.
- The cladding, the roof and the floor. The floor slab is installed separately, usually under the finished roof.
Comparison with concrete joists
| Criterion | Concrete footings | Ground screws |
|---|---|---|
| Loadability of the foundation | After hardening | Immediately after drilling |
| The connection of the construction assembly | After a technological break | Immediately |
| Scope of the intervention on the terrain | Excavation for every inch | Point distortion |
| Demolition of the excavation and the import of concrete | Yes | No |
| Weather dependency | Vysoká | Low |
| Document proving the loadability of an individual point | Indirect | Telematics record |
| Stageing by sections | With breaks | Smooth |
| Removal after the end of operation | Demolition and removal | Unbolting the screw |
| Solution for the floor board | Independently | Independently |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the ground anchors support the structure of the warehouse hall?
Yes, if the design is based on geotechnical survey and proven load-bearing capacity of a specific screw type in a given profile. The decisive design condition for lightweight halls is the tensile load from the wind, not pressure — a lightweight structure with a large area is subjected to tension. Therefore, static load testing in both pressure and tensile conditions on a test screw is usually performed for halls.
Are they also fixing the ground holes and the floor of the hall?
No. Ground anchors establish the supporting structure — columns and frame. The industrial floor slab and its load-bearing capacity for shelves and handling equipment are separate structures with their own design. However, this procedure has the advantage that the supporting structure and the roof can be completed earlier, so the floor can be installed in dry conditions under an enclosed structure.
How is the constructability of a building project verified by the building authority?
The documentation consists of a geotechnical survey, a static design according to Eurocode 7 and, as a rule, a report from the static load test on the test screw. This is accompanied by a telemetric record of the torque and the depth of the individual points of rotation as proof of execution. For more details on the normative background, see the page. Eurocode 7 and ground screws.
What is the lifespan of the screw foundation under the hall?
The lifespan is determined primarily by the corrosion protection of the screw and the aggressiveness of the environment in which it is installed. In the case of permanent construction, the corrosion protection must correspond to the design lifespan of the supporting structure — this is part of the requirements for the screw supplier that must be addressed already at the design stage, not when the installation is carried out.
Which machine is suitable for building a hall?
For standard foundations, we recommend Glentor B80 — torsional moment of 8,000 Nm and compressive force of 12,000 N will cover the beam grid of light-mounted halls. If geotechnical survey shows a load-bearing layer deeper than 2.5 m or a hard profile, C65 with a screw up to 3.5 m, pilot up to 4.3 m, and hydraulic hammer MTB36 is more suitable for locations where drilling is not feasible.
Can the hall be built in stages?
Yes. Because the beam can be loaded immediately and there is no technological pause for curing between stages, the hall can be erected and assembled in sections smoothly. This is useful for projects with gradual financing or where it is necessary to commission the first part of the facility before the entire project is completed.
Can the shed on the plot be removed after the lease expires?
Yes, and for properties on a rented plot this is a significant advantage. The structure is dismantled and the anchors are unscrewed with the same machine that was used to install them. No concrete slurry is created or the need for demolition work is required — the property returns to a state close to its original condition. The floor slab, if installed, is dealt with separately.
Where to continue
- Choosing the model according to the project parameters: How to choose a turning machine
- Normative background and evidence of reliability: Eurocode 7 and ground screws
- Comparison of foundation technologies: Ground screws vs concrete foundations
- Light construction on agricultural land: Agricultural structures on earthen piles
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