Foam Concrete and Its Advantages

Term of self-properties for foamed concrete such as:

• • Low density and high strength

Typical densities of foam concrete are between ranges 350 to 1600 kg/m3 and the compressive strengths of 28 day are 0.2 to 18.0 N/mm2. Due to its low density, foam concrete imposes a slight vertical pressure on the substructure, which is particularly important to the settlement as a sensitive area.

• • High fluidity (Self-Leveling and self-compacting)

With relatively low pressures, foam concrete is pumping easily through the hose over long distances. The materials naturally self-leveling and self-compacting and fill the voids, cavities and the smallest suture. Foam concrete meets every sub grade contour when concrete work in excavation area.

• • Reliability

Foam concrete is very long-lived material as durable like rock and it does not easily break down or decompose.

• • Resistance to cold and warmth

Foam concrete is very effective isolating material. Buildings built from foam concrete are able to accumulate cold or heat, which allows minimizing the cost of conditioning or heating. It is an ideal material for countries that have four seasons especially in hot and cold climate.

• • Acoustic-insulation

Foam concrete has high acoustic absorption properties.

• • Superior fire-resistant

Foam concrete is very flammable and suitable for applications where fire is a risk.

• • Variety of usage

The use of foam concrete to produce construction blocks, thermal insulation and roof acoustics insulation, floors, pipe heating, folding block production and interior partition panels, as well as well as floors and basements foam concrete with higher density used.

• • Eco-compatibility

Foam concrete is ecologically clean and does not produce any toxic substances furthermore there have a lot of investigation to used waste material as main ingredients in producing foamed concrete.

Advantages of foamed concrete in term of construction benefit usually in operational and cost efficiencies.

• • Settlement free construction

In conforming to the principle of equilibrium, the effective stress of the underlying soil remains unchanged from that existing prior to excavation and thus settlement of the construction is prevented.

• • Cost saving

Foam concrete allows saving big money as it can be applied directly on existing marginal ground such as peat or poor soils. Minimal lateral loading enables reduced building costs for earth retaining structures. Foam concrete allows construction on marginal ground reducing the need for piled foundations. High volume equipment with rapid installation reduces installed unit cost. Foam concrete requires lower maintenance costs due to the durability of foam concrete and lack of settlements.

• • Time saving

The application of foam concrete can be a great time saver over conventional ground treatment methods for settlement free construction. No waiting period for consolidation of sub soils, eliminating the need for surcharging .No need for removal and replacement with large amounts of borrow soils. Removal of minimal amount of soil to be replaced with foam concrete. Reduce or eliminate the need for piling, sand drains, or grade beams.

• • Rapid construction

Foam concrete blocks are lightweight, big sizes and high accuracy dimensions. It increases the construction speed for several times. Also it is easy to cut channels and holes for electrical wiring, sockets, and pipes.