Screw piles, rod anchors and others

Screw piles comprise one or more rod-shaped foundation elements, generally made of steel, which - depending on their geometry - are driven, pressed, or screwed into the ground. Load is transferred primarily through surface friction. The load-bearing effect can be increased by additional profiling of the lateral surface using threads, helical configurations, the attachment of additional plates, or arrangement as a group of piles.

The terms screw anchor, soil anchor, ground anchor, and spin anchor are used synonymously. These terms may also relate to systems in which several piles are combined with a head connection to form a single foundation element.

On account of the wide range of installation lengths, from approximately 0.8 m to 10 m, the foundation elements can be classified between rod anchors, covered by DIN EN 13782 "Temporary structures", and individual screw piles, where the technical rules for micropiles or displacement piles apply.

Regulatory framework

The design and execution of foundations for construction works using screw piles is generally carried out in accordance with the Technical Building Rules.

With regard to external load-bearing capacity, these include in particular DIN EN 1997-1, DIN EN 1997-1/NA, DIN 1054 and DIN EN 14199 in conjunction with DIN SPEC 18539 or DIN EN 12699 in conjunction with DIN SPEC 18538 (see MVV TB, n° A 1.2.2). For internal load-bearing capacity, the standards of the Eurocode 3 series apply (see MVV TB, n° A 1.2.4).

For certain aspects, for example the verification of durability of steel products in the ground, there are no conclusive technical rules in the Technical Building Rules.

The external load-bearing capacity is determined on a project-specific basis using site investigations, preliminary tests and proof-load tests. Owing to the wide variety of foundation types, the standardised test methods are often too complex, conservative, or not fully applicable.

In application areas falling under the Building Codes, DIBt grants general construction technique permits (aBG) in combination with national technical approvals (abZ) for the products used, unless these already bear CE marking.

The executing company needs to provide a declaration of conformity to confirm the conformity of the construction technique with the provisions of the respective general construction technique permit.

DIN EN 13782:2015-06 Temporary structure - Tents - Safety; German version EN 13782:2015

National procedure

To prepare an abZ/aBG for your construction product, we need an application from you. We recommend that you contact us prior to doing so. Feel free to send us your enquiry informally via email to dibt(at)dibt(.)de or to the competent technical contact listed in the top right.

For a first assessment, please send us the following information:

  • Description of the construction product and its intended field of use
    • e.g. material, configuration, number of sizes, variants, dimensions
    • e.g. use in walls, ceilings, interior construction, building services
  • Description of the construction technique and its field of application
    • e.g. design of walls, ceilings, elements, etc., and interaction of components
    • e.g. application in foundation engineering, reinforced concrete construction, building insulation; as load-bearing or non-load-bearing component; under static and quasi-static loading; fire exposure; other environmental exposures
  • Information regarding impact on regulatory concerns
    • in particular structural integrity, fire protection, health and environment protection, sound insulation as well as thermal performance
  • Explanation of need for an abZ/aBG
  • Contact details
    • preferably email address and/or telephone number, as well as name, organisation/company, and postal address

We will then contact you to clarify the next steps.

If you already hold a DIBt approval and/or construction technique permit and wish to apply for an amendment, supplement, or renewal, please use the form provided below.