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 | | FILLMASTER PROVIDES A LIGHTER FILL MATERIAL | | | Vencel Resil | | 03/06/2008 | | | Contractors looking for a highly effective, strong and lightweight alternative to traditional fill material are turning to expanded polystyrene. Fillmaster 100, from Vencel Resil recently provided the perfect solution at the new electric sub station, which was being built in the grounds of Leeds General Infirmary.
30m“ of Fillmaster 100 was supplied to contractor Allerton Construction, also based in Leeds, which was used as a hardcore replacement under the ground floor slab. Allerton Construction had previously used Fillmaster very successfully for the nearby Chapel Allerton Hospital for the same purpose.
Phil Ibbitson from Allerton Construction explains: “The ground structure was very weak in some areas, so we didn’t want to overload it with concrete or heavy fill material, which could have caused problems with subsidence later on. We used Fillmaster on a previous job like this and had good results, so it made perfect sense to use it again.”
‘Fillmaster’ is one of a new generation of fill materials that is much lighter, yet have a very high strength-to-weight ratio. The product is being widely used in civil engineering and construction projects across the country as it is easy to handle, quick to install and affordable, compared to other materials. Fillmaster is only around one per cent of the weight of traditional fill materials.
The product was chosen because of its effectiveness as an infill material. The only preparation required in the excavated sub-base was a 50mm blind of compacted sand and the damp-proof membrane (DPM), which can be installed above or below the insulation layer.
Fillmaster is available in a range of different grades to accommodate different load bearing requirements. As it is manufactured in blocks, the product proved very quick to install without the need for specialised trades or equipment. Fillmaster 100 also helped to minimise the environmental impact, locally and on-site of supply vehicles delivering goods to site because of its lightweight nature.
Adrian Walker, Technical Sales Manager for Vencel Resil, said: “Expanded polystyrene is being widely specified as a fill material for a number of very good reasons. Contractors like it because it is really easy to handle and is not affected by the weather conditions on site.”
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) has been used for over 30 years in road construction, for bridge abutments, bridge underfill, noise bunds, retaining walls, soft and hard landscaping and a whole host of other ground and civil engineering applications. | |
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