Thanks to the unique properties of the RAVATHERM XPS, it is suitable for a number of special applications in the soil, such as light embankment, in addition to thermal insulation of building structures in contact with the ground Extruded polystyrene foam thermal insulation boards have been successfully used for decades to insulate roads, railway tracks, airport runways and ice rinks, as well as other sub-terrain structures exposed to frost. In harsh conditions of application, the high strength and resistance to moisture and frost are complexly enforced. An effective solution for the protection of these structures is thermal insulation with closed cell polystyrene foam, which reduces the risk of frost damage and the associated repair and maintenance costs. This method of prevention is often simpler and more cost-effective than building foundations with deep gravel beds. The results show that construction sites using RAVATHERM XPS require only half the depth of sand and gravel foundation – in the case of frozen soil. In some cases, weight saving is an important consideration when filling up soils. The general benefit of a soil exchange with light-filling material is that it can also be built on weak subsoils. And its economic benefits come from strength and size-savings of “floated” roads, runways and retaining walls. Thanks to the use of RAVATHERM XPS boards, the support wall does not move, as it reduces the horizontal force load on the support wall in the place of low shear-strength soil, so much slimmer structures can be designed. In the case of an intensive roof garden designed for the roof of a larger public building, where the designer dreamed of a hill several meters high, it may also be crucial for the support structure of the flat roof to facilitate heavy earth filling with XPS boards. For the sake of the example: replacing the lower 30 cm of a 60 cm overlay with extruded polystyrene foam will save more than 500 kg per square metre. The filling with RAVATHERM XPS thermal insulation boards does not have to be expected to break or sink due to the properties of the XPS boards. Extruded polystyrene foam with closed cell structure combines long-term moisture tolerance with high strength, so the shape and size of the boards does not change in the long term. During construction, under normal conditions, the boards must be laid dry above the standard groundwater level. In the case of particularly high groundwater, additional protection is required. The packages shall be laid in a plane on a layer of compressed, flat sand or stone crushing. In the case of several layers, it should be laid in a brick joint, to avoid through-gaps. Unless otherwise specified, in the event of a slip hazard, each layer must be fixed separately, e.g. with a fastener for wood work. The possible slope angle is determined by landscaping considerations and must not be more than 50%! The edge of the embankment shall be stepped, unless its height is less than 1 metre.
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