Winslow Geo Anchor Exceeds Site Requirements By Factor of Two

PLEASANT HILL , CA (November 10, 2005) – Pacific Housing Systems™, Inc., today announced final test results conducted on the Winslow Geo Anchor™ in North Las Vegas , Nevada (cross streets MLK and Alexander) on Friday, November 4, 2005 . Initial requirements, developed by Owens Geotechnical Inc. of Las Vegas, called for an installation depth of 15 – 18 feet and a bearing capacity of 30 kips (10 kips with a safety factor of three).

Larry Snedegar, P.E., Senior Project Engineer at OGI, commented, “OGI has worked extensively in this area of town and the soil requirements are challenging. I was extremely impressed with the strength of the Winslow Geo Anchor, as it not only met but greatly exceeded every requirement.”

Test Specifications
Three Winslow Geo Anchors, made of 3/8” thick, 3 ½” diameter N80 steel pipe, were utilized. Two anchors were used to test both tension and compression, and were each installed at 18 feet, and contained two 14 inch helix flights. One anchor was used to test solely tension, was installed at 15 feet, and had a 16 inch upper helix and 14 inch lower helix flight. All flights were spaced approximately four feet apart. The three anchors were utilized to create a variety of test results under different loads and depths.

Each anchor was installed in approximately 10 minutes by a Caterpillar 321’s hydraulically-driven torque converter, where a final installation reading of 4,700 - 5,000 psi (equating to approximately 20,000 foot pounds of torque) was achieved. The installation depths complied with the 15 – 18 foot requirements developed by OGI, and were supervised on site by Purcell Rhoades and Associates of Pleasant Hill, California.

A proof-load test was then conducted using a 21 foot multi-ton I beam (capable of minimal deflection under loads in excess of 50 tons), a 55-ton heavy duty hydraulic jack, a load cell, and proper read-out devices to determine bearing and uplift capacities/displacements encountered during loading sequences. Movement tolerance was set at one-half inch (½”).

Test Results
30 kips acting on the center compression anchor produced zero movement during the initial one-hour loading sequence. The force was then increased to 60 kips for two hours, producing a movement of 1/16” on all three anchors. Finally, the force was set at 70 kips and allowed to act on each anchor for two hours (with a period above 90 kips) producing a total movement of 1/8” for the compression anchor and a total of 1/16 inch movement for each tension anchor.

(During the loading of 90+ kips on the center compression anchor, the outside tension anchor with two 14 inch helix flights installed to a depth of 18 feet underwent a force of approximately 55 kips. The other tension anchor, having a 16 inch upper helix/14 inch lower helix installed at a depth of 15 feet, underwent a force of approximately 35 kips.)

John Maier, staff engineer at the geotechnical firm Purcell Rhoades and on-site supervisor of the test noted, “The expansive nature of soils throughout the greater Las Vegas area presents a major problem for anyone building. Over excavating is a solution, but is time consuming and very costly. The versatility of the Winslow Geo Anchor provided us with anchors of variable lengths and variable helix diameters that are specific for a site’s individual soil parameters. In this case, we loaded the Winslow Geo Anchor to nearly three times test requirements, and it was well within all test/tolerance parameters. Few companies could produce an anchor system that would meet let alone exceed the requirements necessary to support a foundation and home in this soil.”

Chris Maes, vice president of Capstone Construction, and an installation partner of Pacific Housing Systems Distributing, said, “The set up and monitoring of the test was truly outstanding. The ability to produce and move the combination of technical and construction equipment necessary – everything from delicate laser measurement devices to heavy duty hydraulic jacks and large Caterpillar earthmovers -- for such an undertaking is no small task. PHS obviously has great experience in this arena, and brings a depth and breadth of knowledge that is very impressive.”

Jim Winslow, CTO of Pacific Housing Systems, concluded, “We are extremely pleased with the results of this in-depth test. The requirements were stringent, the materials, experience and know-how necessary to meet them, demanding. However, our approach as a integrator of systems/products in marginal soil – and, developing solutions specifically for a given condition instead of trying to fit a site to the product as many other providers do – is the reason we have, over the past 13 years, installed hundreds of systems representing thousands of anchors. This is our forte, and few companies today have that capability and core competency.”

Winslow Geo Anchor
A rotary installed steel anchor, with single or multiple helix coils welded to an internal steel column, providing exceptionally high compression and tension capacity in unstable soil.

Lateral Resistance Device
A highly effective component of the Elevated Slab System strategically spaced and attached over the top of the Winslow Geo Anchors used in securing against the completed foundation’s lateral movement.

About Pacific Housing Systems
Pacific Housing Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of next generation foundation solutions for residential production homebuilders developing projects on marginal soil. The company’s Wafflemat, Elevated Slab and Raised Wood Floor systems are specially designed for areas with high water tables, firm clays and organics and low, moderate, high and critically expansive/hydro-collapsible soil conditions and include the Winslow Geo Anchor and Lateral Resistance Device components. PHS products and systems enable developers to increase the speed, quality and quantity of construction, providing savings in material costs, building cycle time and future warranty issues. For information, visit www.pacifichousingsystems.com.

Winslow Geo Anchor, Smart Floor, Smart Core, Smart System and Pacific Housing Systems are trademarks of Pacific Housing Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. All other product and company names are property of their respective owners. Cost saving statements and forward looking projections are estimates and may vary by project.