Geofoam Benefits
The use of gravel provides reliable, stable, and thermally beneficial structures to support operations and assets. Geofoam is a resilient material that can be advantageous compared to the gravel it replaces for a variety of reasons:
Engineered Material
Geofoam physical properties are more reliable. The manufacturing process is engineered with quality control, whereas in-situ soil consistency can be highly variable. Geofoam material is durable. It will not corrode, rot, decompose, or support mold growth.
Less Expensive
In many scenarios, the use of insulation will reduce construction costs. For example, many project sites are challenged with proximity to suitable sources of gravel. The greater the distance the project is from a gravel source, the more expensive it is to transport heavy gravel. Greater gravel haul distances actually increase cost savings potential compared to transporting lighter geofoam.
Smaller Footprint or Reduced Bury Depth
A geofoam-insulated embankment will require less gravel to achieve the same thermal resistance compared to a non-insulated embankment. The image to the right illustrates two thermally equivalent embankments. The smaller insulated
embankment will have a shorter height
and narrower base (footprint)
compared to the non-insulated
embankment. In soft
ground applications, geofoam
insulation can be used to reduce
the amount of soil cover required
to protect infrastructure. For example, in a buried pipeline application, the use of geofoam insulation will reduce the soil cover and associated bury depth required to impede frost penetration into the ground and ultimately to prevent the pipeline from freezing.
Using less gravel with insulation is possible since one inch of geofoam has about the same thermal resistance as one foot of gravel. This rule of thumb is conservative for many engineered fills. Through more detailed calculations, actual gravel quantity savings can be evaluated.
Two thermally equivalent roadway embankments
Greater Protection
Infrastructure projects designed with combined geofoam and gravel serve as an ideal way to protect assets from damage caused by permafrost thaw & frost action as well as from lateral & vertical stress.. Added protection leads to extended infrastructure life and reduced maintenance activity.
Indirect Benefits & Cost Savings
• Less environmental impact – Smaller footprint means less impact on the arctic tundra or to other sensitive ecological areas.
• Less mining – More foam means less gravel that needs to be mined.
• Less blasting – Less mining means less blasting. Loud noises can be a challenging issue for communities living nearby.
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• Faster construction – This is possible when projects are slowed by and dependent on gravel availability.
• Faster permitting – Less gravel and a smaller footprint can lead to a quicker and less arduous permitting process.
• Improved safety – In roadway applications, geofoam can reduce the height requirement of the embankment. A shorter roadway shoulder means less danger in the event a vehicle slides off the road. In soft ground applications, geofoam can improve ground stability and result in a more structurally sound fill.
• Fast and easy transport – Especially considering remote locations, lightweight geofoam can be quickly packaged and delivered to the construction site.