How The Dwyer Company Stabilized Two Settling Chemical Tanks at Primient in Dayton
- Project Type: Commercial
- Project Services: Pressure Grouting, Push Piers, Shoring/Underpinning
Two 23-foot diameter tanks holding chemicals at Primient in Dayton, Ohio had settled far enough to move away from the support structures above them. Primient called The Dwyer Company out on an emergency basis. Dwyer investigated the existing foundation, measured voids running from 3 inches to 60 inches under the slab, then installed 48 push piers around the two tank perimeters at depths of 20 to 30 feet and filled the voids with grout.
Facing active settlement under a tank or vessel?
Quick Facts
- Dayton, Ohio
- Project Type: Commercial – Emergency Repair
- Owner: Primient
- Structures: Two 23-foot diameter tanks in chemical service
- Foundation System: 48 push piers, 24 around the perimeter of each tank
- Pier Depth: 20 to 30 feet
- Void Fill: Grout placed in voids measured between 3 inches and 60 inches under the existing slab
- Existing Conditions: Footer approximately 4 feet below the existing slab
- Site Conditions: Limited access; active tank movement monitored by an on-site surveyor
The Challenge
Two tanks 23 feet across and full of chemicals had settled enough to pull away from the support structures above them. Movement was still active when Dwyer arrived, which changes how the work gets planned and how fast it has to happen. Everything about the response ran on that clock.
Access made it harder. Getting equipment in and out of the tank areas was difficult, which limited what the crew could stage and how it moved between the two tanks. What sat under the slab was also unknown at the start, so the extent of the voids and the depth of the existing footer had to be established before anyone could design a repair.
Key Project Details
push piers installed, 24 around the perimeter of each tank
feet below the existing slab & existing footer found approximately
Voids under the existing slab measured between 3 inches and 60 inches, then filled with grout
The Solution: Push Piers and Grout Void Fill
Dwyer started with exploratory work around the tanks to establish what was underneath them. That investigation put the existing footer about 4 feet below the slab and measured voids running from 3 inches up to 60 inches. Those two numbers set the pier design and the grout quantities, so the repair was built on measured conditions.
The crew installed 48 push piers, 24 around each tank, driven between 20 and 30 feet to reach capacity, then grouted the voids beneath the slabs. A surveyor stayed on site through the installation to track tank movement and confirm the rate stayed slow enough for the crew to work safely. Limited access shaped the sequence, so entry and exit around each tank was planned before the equipment moved.
The Impact
Settlement mitigated
Forty-eight push piers carry the tank perimeters, driven 20 to 30 feet to capacity.
Voids filled
Grout closed the space under the slabs, which ran as deep as 60 inches in places.
Investigation before design
Exploratory work established the footer depth and the void extent before the first pier went in, so the repair matched the conditions on site.
Safe work under active movement
Survey monitoring ran throughout, confirming the tanks were moving slowly enough for pier installation to proceed.
Why Push Piers?
Push piers suited an emergency at Primient, where two loaded tanks were moving and the repair had to reach capacity quickly under an existing footer.
- Driven to capacity – Piers advance using the weight of the structure, so each one is installed against the load it will carry.
- Works under existing foundations – The system attaches to the footer in place, so the tanks stayed put through the repair.
- Fast to install – Piers reach capacity without cure time, which matters when movement is still happening.
- Compact equipment – Installation fits sites where getting in and out of the work area is difficult.
Why Choose The Dwyer Company for structural integrity?
Deep History • Solid Choice
The Dwyer Company’s proven track record in commercial and industrial foundation systems made us the trusted partner for the emergency at Primient. Our crew investigated the existing foundation, installed 48 push piers around two moving tanks, and grouted the voids beneath the slabs while survey monitoring ran on site.
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