Bauer: New record project in Kuala Lumpur

Bauer: New record project in Kuala Lumpur

Bauer Spezialtiefbau GmbH can look back on many records in recent years. In addition to Bauer’s contribution to the currently tallest building in the world – the 828 m high Burj Khalifa in Dubai – Bauer is also participating in the construction of the tallest skyscraper of the future: the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, with a height of over 1,000 m, that will also stand on Bauer piles. In Malaysia too, Bauer has participated in many prestigious projects over the years – including the limestone cavity filling and slumpzone treatment for the construction of the world-famous Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which were also among the tallest buildings in the world from years 1998 to 2004 and are still the highest twin towers in the world. 

Bauer (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., the local subsidiary of Bauer Spezialtiefbau GmbH, has been recently awarded a contract by Arena Merdu Sdn Bhd, a fully owned subsidiary of KLCC Holding Sdn Bhd, owned by Petronas, the Malaysian National Oil Company, for a new project in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, which will again break all records. Bauer will be carrying out diaphragm wall and piling works for the skyscrapers in lot 164, lot 165 and lot 166 in the KLCC – the Kuala Lumpur City Center – until July 2019. The development consists of a 4-story basement car park, 5-story shopping center and a office tower.  What is so special about this project is the pile depth: Out of a total of 225 contracted piles, 137 piles for the Tower have a diameter of 2,500 mm and have been designed to be constructed to a depth ranging from 90 m up to a maximum depth of 150 m. "These are currently to my knowledge the deepest piles ever made in Malaysia," says Egon Stahl, General Manager of Bauer Malaysia. 

Prior to start of piling at each pile position, a soil investigation is carried out to determine the competency of the bedrock level and determine the pile toe level. "Only then can the actual drilling begin," continues Egon Stahl. Two further "records" are needed to reach the depths required for the bored pile: a BG 72 – Bauer's largest rotary drilling rig to date – and a five-fold kelly bar that is 150 m long will be used. "The project is thus a record in three aspects: Bauer is doing drilling work for the deepest piles to date in Malaysia, with what is currently Bauer's largest drilling rig and the world's longest kelly bar. A truly unique project," sums up Egon Stahl. 

In addition to the deep tower piles, 88 nos. of 2,000 mm bored piles up to a depth of 75 m for the shopping complex area, and basement retaining diaphragm wall with a thickness of 1,000 mm and a depth of 38 m will be constructed. In addition to the Bauer BG 72, a BG 48 with a 125 m long kelly bar is also being used for the piling works.