GeoSpan® and GeoVoid® compressible fill materials are expanded polystyrene (EPS) products designed to act as a compressible medium between swelling soils and structural elements. Where long-term soil movement can be predicted, Plasti-Fab compressible fill materials can be designed to reduce the forces that would be induced on structures by soil movement thus reducing the likelihood of damage to the structure above.
Where swelling or shrinking soils are known to be present, National Building Code of Canada (NBC) provisions require that soil movement be provided for in the design of structures likely to be damaged. GeoSpan and GeoVoid compressible fill material properties assist designers in addressing the NBC requirements as follows:
- Plasti-Fab compressible fill materials are designed specifically to meet the structure requirements for each application.
- Compressible fill materials are available in a range of compressive resistance to permit design for light structural to heavy structural elements.
- Compressible fill material design criteria are provided for each application in a design summary for review by the project design engineer.
- Compressible fill material properties are not affected by the presence of water on the short term nor are they dependent upon the presence of moisture on the long term.