As well as providing insulation to separate the concrete structure from the ground (preventing thermal bridging) 'Eco-block' foam insulation creates the formwork for the insitu concrete strip footings, and concrete floor slab edge. 'Eco-block' is an insulated concrete form (ECF) made from expanded polystyrene (EPS). The black bars are polypropylene connectors that attach to embedded webs. The forms arrive on site in a 'flat-pack' ready for their construction on-site.
As well as an insulant, Eco-block is used as the formwork for the concrete strip footings and the concrete floor slab edge. Service pipes that penetrate through the footings are also insulated.
As well as an insulant, Eco-block is used as the formwork for the concrete strip footings and the concrete floor slab edge. Service pipes that penetrate through the footings are also insulated.
Eco-block EPS formwork for the concrete strip footings
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| Strip footing formwork |
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| Eco-block made up on site. The footing work has continued to the front (western end) of the site. Concrete piles have been drilled down to bear onto solid ground, then steel reinforced and poured with concrete. The holes at the top of the piles are visible through cut-outs in the insulation through which reinforcing bars can be seen protruding.
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Hi there,
ReplyDeleteGreat to see some insulation under your concrete footings!
A couple of questions:
Can the polystyrene take the compressive pressure of the building above into the ground, or do the footings act as a beam and are the loads transfered into the piles instead?
Are the piles insulated also or are these the only holes in the foundations' thermal envelope?
Good work!
keen to know the answer to that one too.
ReplyDelete