December 19, 2025 - Residential Auger-Installed Steel Piles

In accordance with the City of Brandon’s building regulations, auger-installed steel piles, also known as screw or helical piles, must meet specific engineering and certification standards when used in residential applications. These piles are permitted for structures such as single detached dwellings, duplexes, row housing, one-storey additions, accessory buildings, decks, and ramps.

For installations where the bearing capacity does not exceed 5,000 lbs per pile, sealed engineering plans and certification may not be required depending on the construction type. However, any application exceeding this load threshold mandates sealed plans and a letter of certification from a licensed professional engineer.

All piles must conform to CCMC evaluations when applicable, including installation in cohesive soils and adherence to specified conditions and limitations. If the piles are not CCMC-evaluated, their specifications must be submitted under an engineer’s seal, confirming compliance with ASTM standards and the 2024 Manitoba Building Code (MBC), including clauses 4.2.3.8(1)(e), 4.2.3.10(1), 4.2.4.1(1), and 9.4.1.1(1)(c)(i).

The table and its associated notes below demonstrate the City of Brandon’s requirements when augured piles are used for foundations in residential applications.

REQUIREMENTS FOR AUGURED PILE INSTALLATIONS
Application (Bearing Capacity per pile)	Construction Applications(3)	Evaluation(1)	Sealed Plans(7)	Engineer Certification(2)
Up to a maximum allowable 5000 lbs /pile(8)	New Construction(4)
	One-Storey Additions(5)
	Accessory Structures(6)
	Decks
	Ramps
Greater than 5000 lbs /pile(8)	Any residential application

Table notes:

1. Augured piles that are evaluated by CCMC must be evaluated in cohesive soils and must bear the CCMC evaluation number and manufacturer’s identification (including model). Installation must be carried out in conformance with the CCMC evaluation’s “conditions and limitations.” (See also below section “Supplementary information for non-CCMC evaluated augured pile manufacturers.”)
2. “Engineer’s certification” is a letter of certification for the foundation provided and sealed by the foundation design engineer.
3. The referenced construction types may be separate or attached to the main dwelling.
4. New construction includes but is not limited to single detached  dwellings, duplexes, row housing.
5. Single-storey additions with no basement, also includes 3- and 4-season sunrooms, mudrooms, porches, etc.
6. Accessory structures may include carports, gazebos, sheds, etc. These structures are single-storey only.
7. “Sealed plans” are drawings sealed and signed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the Province of Manitoba. They must indicate the manufacturer, model number and capacity of the piles. (See also below section “Supplementary information for non-CCMC evaluated augured pile manufacturers.”)
8. Augured piles supporting concentrated loads loading exceeds 22 kN (5,000 lbs.) per pile require sealed plans and engineer certification.

 
Supplementary information for non-CCMC evaluated augured pile manufacturers
If a product does not carry a CCMC evaluation, the product’s specifications (including manufacturer’s identification and model number) must be submitted under the seal of a professional engineer licensed to practice in Manitoba, and indicate that the piles have been tested to ASTM D 1143, ASTM D 3689 and/or ASTM D 3966 (latest editions), for maximum load(s) of____, and is acceptable for use in cohesive soils. In addition to specifying the conditions and limitations of the product, the engineer should also indicate that the piles comply to the 2024 MBC for:
a. Clause 4.2.3.8.(1)(e)
b. Sentence 4.2.3.10.(1)
c. Sentence 4.2.4.1.(1)
d. Subclause 9.4.1.1.(1)(c)(i)
 
When sealed plans include products which are not CCMC evaluated, or do not have the equivalent information provided under note 1), the engineer will be responsible to certify that the specified piles have been tested to ASTM D 1143, ASTM D 3689 and/or ASTM D 3966 (latest editions), for the applicable loads and are acceptable for use in the soil located at the site. In addition to specifying the conditions and limitations of the product, the engineer should also indicate that the pile(s) comply to the 2024 MBC for:
a. Clause 4.2.3.8.(1)(e)
b. Sentence 4.2.3.10.(1)
c. Sentence 4.2.4.1.(1)
d. Subclause 9.4.1.1.(1)(c)(i)
 
 
The City of Brandon’s By-law can be viewed here: Building By-law No. 7258c

The CCMC Technical Bulletin - Auger-Installed Steel Pile Foundations can be found here: Auger – Installed Steel Pile Foundations  
 
The 2020 National Building Code can be viewed here: National Building Code of Canada 2020

The latest edition of the Manitoba Amendments to the National Building Code (Regulation 78/2023) can be found here: Manitoba Building Code, M.R. 78/2023