This is an engineering term for describing how far to drive piles. It is also used in

surveying Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is ca ...

when driving metal posts and

monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, his ...

s that are to be used as bench marks (ie. the elevation of which will be established to a high degree of accuracy). When a very high degree of stability is required the post will be inside an oil filled outer casing to protect it against movement of the surrounding ground usually because of the frost. A rod or pile has been "driven to refusal" when five more blows of an adequate hammer will not budge the rod or pile.

References

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