What is known as Geofoam

[borisdavenport]

Hi,
I recently found that one of our neighbors used a white colored material for landfilling named Geofoam. Anyone knows what is this exactly? Does it cause any kind of soil pollution?

 

[IRstuff]

see link

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[bridgebuster]

Perfectly safe

 

[msquared48]

Used frequently in backfill conditions to lower lateral pressures to retaining walls.

No worries.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[dik]

This may absorb water considerably... you might be looking for closed-cell extruded polystyrene... in Canada, Type 4 for UV exposure.

Dik

 

[EireChch]

In my experiences this types of materials are ok for low bearing pressures from slabs but when there is point loads involved they are not so good. There are different types that are suitable for different uses so i would always check with the supplier (and get confirmation via email, not a phone call).

 

[OldBldgGuy]

Hopefully it's buried so there is no UV exposure, but an added benefit is eliminating frost effects under it or if it is adjacent to a foundation. Not sure where you are, but we have to worry about it here.

 

[OSUCivlEng]

Back when I worked for the Kansas DOT we replaced a large portion (>10,000 C.Y.) of a brand new bridge embankment with Geofoam. That was in 2005 and as far as I know it's still performing well. It had a crushed rock underdrain which also worked quite well. The plans also specified to wrap the outside surface of the Geofoam with a strip drain (Mirafi I believe). This was basically a black dimpled plastic with a black geotextile glued to the the dimpled side. In the heat of the summer day the black plastic heated up significantly and "softened" (i.e. melted). It also melted the Geofoam underneath it. Fortunately we discovered this pretty quickly and kept the strip drain covered up as soon as it was placed so it couldn't heat up.

 

[fattdad]

there are no third-party detriments. As a neighbor, I'd not worry.

There are two design concerns with geofoam. One is buoyancy. If the ground water table inundates enough of it, it'll pop out of the ground. That can be addressed by design. The other is attack by hydrocarbons. If diesel fuel, gasoline or other such compound leaks into the ground it'll dissolve. In practice, we cover the geofoam by HDPE or other such membrane.

I'd put my feet up on the coffee table and go back to enjoying life!

f-d

ípapß gordo ainÆt no madre flaca!