Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is used in construction, thanks to its property as a lightweight and heat-insulating material with excellent strength. It is accepted in civil engineering applications such as geotechnical works and earthquake protection.
The choice of materials requires detailed attention and its cost is quite affordable.
Our company has the know-how and experience to offer you new, innovative and above all certified products. Today there are new building materials that many people are not aware of, which offer better results than the old inert materials (e.g. bricks etc.). These materials provide greater security in construction, saving time and better aesthetics in construction.
Geoffros
Geoffros EPS is the name of the expanded polystyrene which is used in geotechnical applications and is practically overlaid on embankments, largely replacing them. Its low weight and special mechanical behaviour make EPS geofoam a reliable solution for the construction of lightweight embankments on soft/compressible soils.
Ο geoabrasion EPS weighs from 0.5% to 2.5% of the weight of conventional embankments and its use helps reduce soil improvement work and project maintenance costs as well as minimise subsidence problems. It has been applied for many years on a large scale all over the world. In Greece, two well-known and successful applications of Geofoam EPS have been made on the PATHE axis (E75) at the points of Kakia Skala and Malakassa.
The most recent and the largest geofoam project in Greece was completed in the summer of 2008 at the 198th kilometer of the Athens-Lamia National Road (PATHE E75) at the Thermopylae bypass, constructed by ATTI-KAT. The project absorbed 50,000 cubic meters of EPS 100 grade EPS 100 Expanded Polystyrene for the embankments of one kilometer of the main road and the transitional embankments of the exit to Thermopylae. The subsoil at this point was very loose and could not support the weight of the embankments made of soil materials (soil) which exceeds 2 tons per cubic meter and the only solution was to use EPS 100 Expanded Polystyrene of 20 kg per cubic meter, i.e. 100 times less.
Our company, despite the very short time of the project, which did not exceed 2 months, managed to deliver half of the quantity required by the project, i.e. 25,000 kilos. The Thermopylae bypass has been in operation for 6 months and thousands of cars and trucks pass over the EPS volumes every day without any problems. This project will be the beginning of many more large projects of this kind since the technical world and the authorities and authorities of public and not only public works have recognized the value of the Geofoam solution over conventional embankments. At the same time, as the years go by, the big difference that the Geofoam solution offers in the maintenance costs of the infrastructure works will become apparent, as it prevents the undesirable and often dangerous waves on the asphalt pavement which, if they do not simply damage the vehicles, may well divert them from their course, putting the lives of their occupants at considerable risk. The choice of C. K. RIZAKOS ABETE as the main supplier for this project was not only a matter of proximity to the project but also, above all, of quality and production capacity as the company's recent investments in machinery (2004) enabled it to produce large quantities of high quality in very short times."
The content of the pages of the website concerning the Geoffreau is part of a presentation
of the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Patras.
Use of expanded polystyrene in the foundations of buildings and infrastructure works
The excellent properties of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and its resistance to moisture, decay and fungi, makes it an excellent material with long term performance in foundation applications.
With the use of EPS geofoam, effective seismic insulation of ground support structures is achieved with significant cost reduction. Important parameters: thickness and density of the infill, wall height, intensity and frequency of loading
The effectiveness of the seismic insulation increases with the thickness of the compressive gasket and with the reduction of the EPS density. For the design, it is proposed to use EPS 100 geofoam (20kg/m3) and to use a seismic increment value equal to 50% of that corresponding to a non-insulated wall (i.e. Ar=50%). The required thickness of compressible infill depends mainly on the intensity of base movement and the height of the wall and to a lesser extent on the flexibility of the wall.
The design may be based on the table:
Wall height h (m)
Seismic Zone
Ι
II
III
2
4
4
4
4
5
6
8
6
5.5
8
12
8
6.5
9.5
17
Percentage thickness of EPS 100 (20 Kgr/m3), tr (%), to achieve seismic insulation efficiency Ar=50%
The study of the University of Patras gives us the way to calculate the thickness of the Geofoam of Expanded Polystyrene that should be used for each underground wall, whether it is a retaining wall or a building wall, according to the seismic zone shown in the following picture and the height of the wall.
The table shows the percentage of the wall height which gives us the thickness of the infill, e.g.
City : Lamia (from picture) Seismic Zone : II
Wall height : 8,0 m (from table) 9,5 %
Therefore its thickness should be 8.0 m X 9.5 % = 0.76 m EPS geofoil. With this thickness a reduction of the earthquake force by 50 % is achieved.
The results suggest that:
The insulating capacity increases as the density of EPS decreases and therefore the use of the lightest possible EPS should be sought.
Optimum efficiency is achieved by using an orthogonal shape, i.e. with a constant thickness of the gasket in terms of height (taking into account the ease of construction).
The insulating capacity of EPS does not depend on the variation in the stiffness of EPS and increases as the percentage thickness, tr, of the gasket increases.
It is possible to achieve the values of seismic insulation efficiency Ar>50% for thickness values tr>15%.
Special Expanded Polystyrene Granules (EPS) with Additive,
Suitable for the production of Thermal & Sound Insulating Lightweight Concrete
Ideal solution for mezzanines & lofts of metal buildings.
A mixture of virgin and recycled expanded polystyrene granules with particle size gradation (diameter 3 to 8 mm) mixed with a special additive which allows perfect mixing with water, cement and sand if required, eliminates the flotation effect of the granules and ensures its homogeneous distribution in the mixture. Isolbeton granules are non-toxic.
They are indestructible and dimensionally stable in time. They do not contain hydrochlorofluorocarbons (CFCs, HCFCs) and nutrients capable of promoting the growth of fungi and bacteria.
The lightweight thermal insulating concrete produced using Isolbeton has the following characteristics:
Gross weight | Thermal insulation - Sound insulation | Economy in the load-bearing structure
Minimum seismic stress | Disappearance of elasticity in the gait
Concrete Quality Control Test Matrices for Pressed Expanded Polystyrene Concrete
The mould is certified as suitable for the production of concrete test specimens.
Expanded polystyrene pressed specimen matrices (EPS) are the new proposition in concrete testing. The matrices Cubettiere® are the most economical and safe solution offering the advantages of a lightweight, disposable material. The dies produce a cube-shaped specimen measuring 15 x 15 x 15 x 15 cm. The mould used for the production of the Cubettiere® is Certified.
System of Plastic Pipes & Special Metal and Plastic Fittings for the transport of construction waste from the floors to the point of disposal.
A system of plastic pipes and special metal and plastic fittings, necessary for the quick, safe and inexpensive transport of construction waste from the floors to the point of disposal. It is an essential tool for any construction work in buildings over one floor.
Tubi collectors are produced from high quality polyethylene (HQPE), which is impact resistant, flexible and difficult to deform.
Safety in use is achieved by the robust construction and the special design of the support and connection of the components, so that their accidental disconnection is impossible.
Nettuno, synonymous with quality in the field of control machines for polystyrene processing, presents a new model in the manual range: the TMSlim. This model of hot wire cutting wire is a professional equipment for the cutting of CUTTING POLYSTYRENE. High quality and heavy duty machines, whose qualities bring them to the top of the market. The different metric and angular settings allow cutting in different types on any side of the building and thanks to its telescopic frame it can cut slabs up to 1,250mm. No maintenance required.
Easy to handle and transport due to the functional handle mounted on the frame and its overall small size making it easy to transport even in the car's luggage compartment.
Through the folding base it can be placed vertically on the ground.
The TMSlim with its high precision makes the cutting of standard plates easier during the installation of external thermal insulation system of buildings. In fact, thanks to the cutting precision, you avoid the creation of thermal bridges (as required by existing energy-saving legislation), and the annoying and polluting of debris from the classic falsettos or saws. For straight and angled cutting or even those requiring a pantograph, the result will look sharp and clean as if it was executed in the factory.
IMPLICATIONS:
C/P On Order
# 125 X 60, 200 X 100, 250 X 60, 250 X 100
- common use in EUMEPS Member States
=not possible from the operational requirements
-not required/applied normally unless the properties are explicitly required
1) Where there are load distribution beams 2) when cargo is carried
EN 
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