FLAT JACKS
Low height steel capsule jacks
The Structural Engineer's Solution for Temporary & Permanent Load Transfer

Temporary Flat Jacks

Oil or water inflation
When Flat Jacks are to be used for a limited period and subsequently removed, inflation is normally done with hydraulic fluid such as oil, however certain circumstances may necessitate the use of water instead. For small number of jacks, requiring relatively small volumes of oil or water simple hand pumps may be used for inflation. Larger jacks or large numbers of jacks may require electric or diesel powered pumps.

Hydraulic circuits
Single or multiple Flat Jacks can be inflated individulaly or on inter-connected circuits. Each jack has a needle valve for locking off and may be fitted with a pressure gauge if required. Hydraulic circuits of any complexity can be made with steel tubing or flexible hydraulic hoses.

Jacking force
The force exerted by a hydraulic jack is the product of the fluid pressure and the effective piston area. In a Flat Jack the effective area varies and is not a simple function of its manufactured dimensions.

For ordinary application Fagioli PSC Limited provide calibration tables giving effective area for distance of opening which can then be correlated with hydraulic pressure to give the force exerted.

By careful inflation Flat Jacks will acurately introduce the required force or deflection and, after an interval to ensure that the situation is static, steel wedges can be introduced, the Flat Jacks removed and the remaining gap grouted up. Alternatively the Flat Jacks may be part of a temporary support system and be removed with it.