Over the past few years the benefits and advantages of back filling excavations with foam concrete is well documented.

This process has become the accepted and the prefered method of reinstatement in order to increase productivity and avoid subsequent settlement of the excavation.

When this process was first used the excavated materials were taken to landfill. In 1998/9
a development process pioneered by B.Gas used the excavated material as the aggregate component of the foam concrete.

Note: This concept is now recommended in accordance with the recent utility agreement in relation to materials resource efficiency in street works.

For more details visit:  www.wrap.org.uk/construction

This technology was the subject of a Patent application in November 1999 and was subsequently granted, GB2356628 refers for UK users and validated in Europe in January 2008  00310537.6 REFERS for other European licensees.      

The intellectual property belongs to GK Systems (Europe) LLP, part of the Killoughery group.

This company will issue licences to end-users who are currently using this process or wish to do so in the future.

Please enquire by e-mail to info@gk-systems.co.uk or telephone 08707 601501.

Technical

The aggregate used in Terrafoam is produced by grading and crushing the excavated material.

Low density foam concrete (from 1400 to 1600kgs/m3) due to the integrated bubble structure has an enhanced modulus of elasticity. This enables a higher ‘fines/clay’ content to be accommodated than in the aggregates used in standard concrete as specified in BS EN 12620 without the risk of clay heave; however this must be carefully controlled.

Please contact GK Systems for advice on mix designs and equipment requirements.

Additional products are produced in this process such as Type1&2 and pipe surround material.

The current standard practice is to apply the wearing course of the excavation the day after the foam concrete is placed in order to allow the concrete to set.

In order to reduce the time the particular section of road is not available to traffic ‘same day permanent reinstatement’ is required. This process not only reduces congestion but increases productivity.

In order to achieve this GK Systems have developed a process to rapidly set the foam concrete using standard mobile mixing machinery.

GK Systems can provide the necessary equipment, additives and technical advice to any current suppliers of foam concrete who are interested in offering this additional service to their current client base.

Please e-mail to info@gk-systems.co.uk or ring 08707 601501 for further details.

Terrafoam and Quickfoam are registered trademarks of GK Systems (Europe) LLP.