Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for the construction of a lift within a shaft. In a first aspect of the disclosed technology, there is provided a method for installing a modular lift within a shaft, comprising the steps of: inserting a frame of the lift within the shaft, the frame comprising one or more stabilisers; adapting the one or more stabilisers to contact an internal face of the shaft; wherein the frame is held in position by the forces exerted through the stabilisers.

Abstract: A pile cage (2) has a reinforcement structure (4) having a first part (8) adapted to remain in a pile, the first part terminating at a predefined cut-off level (20), and a second part (10) that is protected in order to debond it from concrete cast around it. A split-wailed annular tube (30) is located at the cut-off level (20) and is connected to a supply of pressurised fluid after the concrete has been poured and set. The tube (30) expands under pressure initiating a crack that is propagated by the escape of fluid from the slit (32) towards a centre of the pile at the cut-off level (20). The entire cracked central surface of the cast pile acts as a hydraulic jack separating the pile cap (104) from the remainder of the pile (102).