Menu

Steel for Basements & Underpinning

The steel that holds a building up while a basement is formed or the foundations are underpinned: needle beams, props and support steel to your engineer's design. We fabricate and install to BS EN 1090 Execution Class 2 and UKCA marked, alongside your groundworks contractor.

30 +
Years Experience
1k +
Projects
EXC 2
BS EN 1090
- Spec In-house Design → Install
Certified & compliance-audited
About this service

Holding the building up while the ground is worked.

Basement conversions and underpinning both come down to the same problem: the building has to be held up while the ground beneath it is dug out and rebuilt lower down. That support usually comes from steel, needle beams threaded through the wall and carried on props, and support beams for the new basement structure and its openings. We fabricate and install that steel to your structural engineer's design, under BS EN 1090 Execution Class 2, and work alongside the groundworks or underpinning contractor who does the digging and concreting. Our own team fits the needles, beams and props, and hands over the paperwork for building control, so the steel side is in one pair of hands.

Holding the building up while the ground is worked.
- 30yrs Since 1994 Rotherham · In-house
What we do

Needle beams, props and basement steel, made to the sequence.

The support steel a basement or underpinning job needs, fabricated to your engineer's design and fitted by our own team.

01

Working to your engineer's design

Your structural engineer designs the temporary and permanent support and sizes the steel. If you have not appointed one, we can point you in the right direction.

02

Needle beams and props

Steel needles are threaded through the wall and carried on props, so the wall above is held while the ground beneath it is dug out in stages.

03

Basement support steel

Beams for the new basement structure and its openings, made to carry the building above once the ground floor is opened up.

04

Fitting alongside the groundworks contractor

Our own team installs the steel to the engineer's sequence, working with the groundworks or underpinning contractor who does the excavation and concreting.

05

Paperwork for building control

You get the drawings, weld records and declaration of performance for the steelwork, ready for inspection and sign-off.

Why UIS

Hold the building up while the ground below is worked.

Underpinning and basement work is done in careful stages, and at each stage the building has to stay supported, which is the steel's job. We fabricate the needle beams, support steel and props to your engineer's design under BS EN 1090 Execution Class 2 and install them with our own team, coordinating with the groundworks or underpinning contractor, and hand over the paperwork for building control.

Request a quote
large white mezzanine floor project tgc mechanical services
Examples

Project & sample images.

← Drag / swipe to browse · click to expand →

Why choose UIS

Why the steel and the groundworks work to one design.

The building has to stay supported at every stage, so the steel is made and fitted to the engineer's sequence.

About UIS
  • 01

    Made to your engineer's calculations

    Needle beams, support steel and props are fabricated to the sizes and stages your structural engineer specifies for the support sequence.

  • 02

    The steel, coordinated with the groundworks

    We fit the steel; the groundworks or underpinning contractor does the digging and concreting. We work to one engineer's design and sequence so the two sides line up.

  • 03

    BS EN 1090 Execution Class 2, UKCA marked

    Fabricated to the execution class structural steel is specified against, with the declaration of performance supplied.

  • 04

    Fitted by our own team

    The team that makes the steel installs it, in the engineer's sequence, so the building stays supported at every stage.

In their own words
Sir Robert McAlpine logo

"I've worked with UIS for several years on some high profile and very complex projects. Their attitude and work ethic are second to none - providing high quality services and products which are delivered safely and on time every time. Overall they are a pleasure to do business with and wouldn't hesitate recommending UIS for any steelwork or metalwork packages."

Stuart Bale
Sir Robert McAlpine
large structural steel project grp large background customer zig zag walkway from steel balustrade
Common questions

Questions clients ask us.

No. We fabricate and fit the steel that supports the building, the needle beams, props and basement beams. The excavation, underpinning and concreting are done by a groundworks or underpinning contractor, and we work to the same engineer's design and sequence.

Needling is threading steel beams through a wall and carrying them on props, so the wall above stays supported while the ground or foundation beneath it is worked on in stages. It is a common way to support a building during underpinning and basement work.

Yes. Basement and underpinning work is designed by a structural engineer, including the support sequence, and building control will want the calculations. If you have not got one, we can point you in the right direction.

Yes. As well as the temporary support steel, we fabricate and fit the beams for the new basement structure and its openings, to your engineer's design.

We are based in South Yorkshire and fabricate and install across the UK with our own teams.