One of the primary benefits to building with Glavel is the ease of installation and the simplicity of managing site logistics with regard to sub-slab insulation and materials. Put simply, a Glavel installation involves a vapor barrier, Glavel being laid flat into a foundation, compacted, and wrapped with said vapor barrier. Slab can then be laid atop that layer. While an oversimplification of the process is useful to visualize the process, an in-depth guide is also worth its weight.

EXCAVATION

Excavate immediately prior to the introduction of Glavel to meet flatness and compressive strength in accordance with the object-related requirements. Consult with your project engineer to confirm the requirements for flatness and compressive strength. Lay sewage pipes in pipe trenches with sand on subgrade levels.

LAY THE GEOTEXTILE

Set up the formwork for Glavel and lay out the flat surface with geotextile (Mirafi 140n) overlapping. Provide sufficient overhang so the finished fill can be completely packed later. Position splice bars making the compacted height of Glavel at regular intervals.

INSTALL GLAVEL

If Glavel is delivered loose, it is offloaded directly into the excavated pit. Above the installation site, bags have to be lifted and opened from below with the help of an excavator or crane.

DISTRIBUTE GLAVEL

At smaller sites, level Glavel uniformly to the marked height using an excavator shovel and rakes. For larger construction sites a mechanical distribution is carried out before the head by a charger or shovel. Driving over the uncompacted material should be avoided, as pre-compaction increases material consumption.

COMPACT GLAVEL

For small sites, compacting shall be performed by a lightweight vibration plate (weight: 175-200 lbs, frequency: 85-100 Hz, supporting area: 20″, straight running). So for areas >600 ft^2 you can use a soil compactor. A compression exceeding the specs results in a higher material consumption, but does not have any impact on the technical properties. For design thickness greater than 12″, Glavel must be dumped in two layers and each layer has to be compacted. The flatness of the surface has to be made before the compacting process so that a flatness tolerance of + – 1″ in relation to a length of 4 yards is achieved.

LAY THE SEPARATION LAYER

After completion of compression, the geotextile is wrapped up laterally and the entire Glavel layer is covered with a PE-foil to protect against cement residue.

INSTALL FORMWORK FOR FOUNDATION LAB

Place the formwork for the floor slab directly on the prepared surface and create the floor slab according to the specification. The ring drainage (sewer pipes) is laid around the pit after the formwork has been removed.

For a consultation regarding Glavel and how it could fit into your project’s needs, click here. To learn more about foam glass, click here.