PART 1 − GENERAL1.01 ScopeA.Material,accessoriesandquality

assurancepracticesforblockmoldedexpandedpolystyrene(EPS)rigidcellularElevation®geofoaminroadapplications,embankmentsandbridgeapproachesonsoftground.

B. Typicalinstallationtechniquesareillustratedinthisdocument,butthescopeofthisdocumentdoesnotincludedesignnorqualificationofinstallationcontractors.

1.02 ReferencesA.AmericanSocietyforTestingand

Materials(ASTM): 1. ASTMD6817StandardSpecificationfor

RigidCellularPolystyreneGeofoam. 2. ASTMD7180StandardGuideforUse

ofExpandedPolystyrene(EPS)inGeotechnicalProjects.

3. ASTMD7557StandardPracticeforSamplingofExpandedPolystyreneGeofoamSpecimens.

4. ASTMC578StandardSpecificationforRigidCellularPolystyreneThermalInsulation.

5. ASTMC203BreakingLoadandFlexuralPropertiesofBlock-TypeThermalInsulation.

6. ASTMC303TestMethodforDimensionsandDensityofPreformedBlockandBoard-TypeThermalInsulation.

7. ASTMC2863TestMethodforMeasuringtheMinimumOxygenConcentrationtoSupportCandle-LikeCombustionofPlastics(OxygenIndex).

8. ASTMD1621TestMethodforCompressivePropertiesofRigidCellularPlastics.

9. ASTMD1622ApparentDensityofRigidCellularPlastics.

10.ASTME84StandardTestMethodforSurfaceBurningCharacteristicsofBuildingMaterials.

B. NationalCooperativeHighwayResearchProgram:

1. NCHRPDocument65GeofoamApplicationsintheDesignand

ConstructionofHighwayEmbankments. 2. NCHRPReport529Guidelineand

RecommendedStandardforGeofoamApplicationsinHighwayEmbankments.

C. NationalStandardsofCanada: 1. CAN/ULCS701StandardforThermal

Insulation,Polystyrene,BoardsandPipeCoverings.

1.03 Design RequirementsA.PerformanceRequirements: 1. Unlessspecificallyapproved,

theElevation®geofoamshallbemanufacturedusing100%virginfeedstockforblockshavingnorecyclecontent.

2. AtlasEPSstandardsizeblocksshallbeused,generally16inchesto40inchesinheight,48incheswidth,and96incheslength.Theuseof½blocks,smallerendpiecesandthinnersheetsmaybeusedasneededtooffsetjointsandcompleteprojectgeometry.

3. Regardlessofdimensionsorrecyclecontent,productandaccessorieswillberequiredtomeetorexceedtheminimum

valuesprovidedinSection2.02and2.03ofthisspecification.

4. Elevation®geofoamshallbecuredaminimumof72hoursatambienttemperaturepriortousetoallowblowingagentandcondensatedissipation.Alternately,acceleratedcuringunderheatedareaconditionsshallbeapproved.

5. AllElevation®geofoamblocksshallbeshop-trimmed(moldededgesremoved)toassurefacetruenessandtightdimensionalfitwithadjacentblocks.

6. Elevation®geofoamshallbespecifiedusingthematerial type designationslistedinASTMD6817“StandardSpecificationforRigidCellularPolystyreneGeofoam.”

7. Inareaswheretermitedamageisofhighconcernoverlongperiods,atthediscretionoftheengineerperproject,theElevation®geofoamshallbeenhancedTalonGUARDEPSapprovedandfield-testedforconstructionapplications.

Geofoam Applications

DiviSioN 31EARThwoRk

Foundation Soil

Pavement System

Fill Mass (EPS blocks& soil cover, if any)

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B. DesignConsiderations: 1. Elevation®geofoamshallbeselected

forelasticcompressiveperformanceasrequiredtoresistliveanddeadloadforcesanticipatedduringinsituusethroughoutthelifeofthestructure.RefertoASTMD68171%DeformationCompressiveStrengthminimumvaluesforelasticlimitstressofeachtype.

2. Elevation®geofoamisathermalinsulationwhichwillisolatetheadjoiningmaterialfromnormalgroundtemperatures.Assuch,freezeconditionsandsufficientearthmassoverElevation®geofoammustbeconsideredtoavoidblackiceconditionsorotherundesirablesurfacefreezeeventsofthesupportedstructures.

3. BecausethedensityofElevation®geofoamisroughly1%ofthatofthesurroundingdirt,hydrostaticforcesmustbeconsideredandsufficientballastprovidedovertheblockstopreventupliftduringthelifeofthestructure.

1.04 Quality Assurance A. AtlasEPSPre-Certification–

NoElevation®geofoamshallbeshippedpriortocompletionofpre-certification:1. AtlasEPSshallprovideevidenceof3rd

partycertificationagainstASTMD6817,includingeachofthefollowing:a) Currentcertificationby

UnderwritersLaboratoriesspecifictoASTMD6817(QORW.R16529).

b) ULFollow-UpServicesProcedurestoassurecompliancetoASTMD6817.

c) TestreportsfromULverifying

complianceofprojecttypestoASTMD6817compressiveresistancerequirements.

d) SignedcertificationstatementsubmittedfromAtlasEPSacknowledgingthespecificationsfortheprojecthavebeenreadandunderstood,andthatallElevation®geofoamblockssuppliedtotheprojectwillmeettherequirementsinthespecification.

B. Elevation®geofoamblockcertification–eachdeliveryofElevation®geofoamblocksshallbetraceabletocompliancetestingasfollows:1. Acollective“lot”ofElevation®geofoam

blocksshallbedefinedasthoseofthesameASTMD6817typemanufactured(molded)consecutivelyonthesamecalendarday.

2. EachElevation®geofoamblockshallbemarkedtoinclude“AtlasEPS”,moldeddate,individualblockidentifierandASTMD6817type.

3. Additionally,foreachloadrequiringa3rdpartycertification:a) EachElevation®geofoamblock

shallbeadditionallystampedperULrequirements.

b) EachlotofElevation®geofoamblocksontheinitialprojectdeliveryloadperASTMD6817typeshallbesampledaccordingtoASTMD7557andtestedforcompliancetoCompressiveResistanceminimumvalueat1%deformationperASTMD6817requirements.

c) Initialtypetestingin(b)aboveshallberepeatedforevery650cubicyardsofeachASTMD6817typedeliveredtotheproject.

d) AlltestresultswillbekeptonfileatAtlasEPSforreviewbyUnderwritersLaboratories.

C. AdditionalRequirements–applicableonlywhentermiticide-treatedElevation®geofoamisspecifiedbytheengineer:1. AtlasEPSshallprovideproofof

EPA-registered,termiticide-treatedTalonGUARDEPSapprovedwithbuildingcoderegulations.

2. TheElevation®geofoamblocksshalladditionallybemarkedasrequiredperthebuildingcodeauthority.

D. Elevation®geofoamtestblocks: 1. Portionsofsampledblocksthatare

usedfortestingarenotacceptableforconstruction.Portionsofblocksthatareotherwiseacceptablecanbeusedasdesiredbythecontractorprovidedtheycomplywithanyotherrequirementsofthisspecification.

2. AnyshipmentofElevation®blocks,forwhichtherepresentativesamplesfailtomeettheparametersoutlinedinthisspecification,areconsidereddefectiveandshallbereplacedbythecontractorwithnon-defectiveElevation®blocksatnoadditionalcostortimetotheprojectowner.

Sloped-side fillSloped-side fill

EPS block (typical)EPS block (typical)

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1.05 warrantyA. PhysicalPropertiesWarranty:

PhysicalpropertiesshallbewarrantedtoASTMD6817.1. WarrantyPeriod:20years

beginningwithdateofsubstantialprojectcompletion.

B. TermitePreservativeWarranty[whereapplicable]:Performanceagainsttermiteinfestationresultinginsignificantdegradationshallbeprovided.1. WarrantyPeriod:20years

beginningwithdateofsubstantialprojectcompletion.

1.06 Delivery, Storage & handling A. Delivery:Materialsshallbedelivered

labeled“AtlasEPS,”dateofmanufacture,lot#,materialtypeandanymarkingrequiredtoassistininstallingaccordingtoshopdrawings.

B. StorageandProtection:Storematerialsprotectedfromexposuretoharmfulenvironmentalconditions.1. Avoidprolongedexposuretosunlight,

coverwithopaquetarpifstoredoutsideformorethan30days.

2. Elevation®geofoamshouldnotbeexposedtoopenflameoranyotherignitionsources.

3. Projectsthatincludepetroleumconcernsshallincludeaspecificationforapuncture-free,low-vaportransmissionratedproducttoprotectElevation®

geofoamfrompetroleumproducts.4. Duetothelightweightnatureof

Elevation®geofoam,itisthecontractor’sresponsibilitytoprovidetemporaryballastorprotectionduringstorageandblockplacement.

C. Handling:Elevation®geofoammaybecut,drilled,sawn,sanded,rasped,orotherwisehandledsimilartootherconstructionmaterials,suchaswood.Careshouldbeusedinhandlingtopreventdamagetoblocks.NoheavyconstructionequipmentorvehiclesshallbealloweddirectlyonElevation®

geofoam.Protectivesheathingorplanksshouldbeplacedontheblockstoallowlightrubber-tiredequipmentuse.

1.07 Submittals PriortoinstallationoftheElevation®geofoamblocks,contractorshallprovideengineer:A. ProductData:SubmitElevation®geofoam

dataandinstallationinstructions.B. ShopDrawings:Providedrawingswitha

profileandsectionviewoftheproposedproject,includingindividuallayersofElevation®geofoamblocksinmultiple-layer

projects.Thedrawingshallincludesize,type,location,connectorplatelocationandorientationofallblocks.

C. QualityAssuranceSubmittals:Submitthefollowing:1. EvidenceofAtlasEPScurrentULASTM

D6817certification,auditproceduresandtestreportsverifyingcomplianceofeachtype.

2. AtlasEPS-signedcertificationlettertosupplyspecificationcompliantmaterial.

3. CopyofAtlasEPStestreportforcapturingcompressivepropertyperformance.

4. Evidenceofbuildingauthority-approvedtermiticideTalonGUARDEPS[whenrequiredaspartofthespecifications].

D. Warranties1. CopyofElevation®Physical

PropertyWarranty.2. CopyofElevation®TalonGUARDTermite

ResistanceWarranty[whenrequiredaspartofprojectspecifications].

EPS block (typical)

vertical-face fill

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©2012AtlasRoofingCorporation.AtlasEPSisadivisionofAtlasRoofing.ElevationisatrademarkofAtlasRoofingCorporation.LIT1016AEPS2012-FAL-093Rev.5-4-2012

®

ATLAS EPS8240ByronCenterRoadSWByronCenter,MI49315Tel:(800)917-9138Fax:(800)626-9942

MANuFAcTuRiNG PLANTSByron Center, MI – Tel: (800) 917-9138 Perryville, MO – Tel: (800) 888-2332 Martinsville, VA – (800) 277-0967Tijuana, MX – Tel: (866) 811-9517

PART 2 − PRoDucTS 2.01 ManufacturersA. AtlasEPS,adivisionofAtlasRoofing

Corporation–Elevation®geofoam,Geoclips.1. Corporateoffice:8240ByronCenterSW,

ByronCenter,MI49315;Telephone:(800) 917-9138;Fax:(616)878-9942;www.atlaseps.com www.falcongeofoam.com,multiplelocations.

2.02 MaterialsA. Elevation®geofoamblocks:

1. Elevation®geofoamASTMD6817typesandphysicalproperties:

2. Elevation®geofoamshallnotcontainFormaldehyde,CFCs,HCFCsorothervolatilecomponents.

3. Allblocksshallbeshop-trimmedasnecessarysoallsurfacesaresmoothandflat,arewithintolerancesof+/-0.5%ofrespectiveheight,widthandlengthdimensions.Additionalfieldand/orshopcuttingortrimmingmayberequiredandshallbedonewithasaworhotwirecutter.

4. DamagetoElevation®geofoamshallbecorrectedasfollows:a) Slightdamage(<0.12cubicfeetwith

nolineardimension>1ftmaybeleftinplaceas-is.

b) Moderatedamage(<0.35cubicfeetwithnolineardimension>3.3ft)shallbefilledwithsand.

c) Elevation®geofoamblockswithexcessivedamage(i.e.,exceedingthe“moderate”category)shallbereplacedwithblockswhichmeetthedamagecriteria.

d) Elevation®blocksnotmeetingthedamagecriteriamaybecuttoeliminatetheexcessivedamageandtheremainingundamagedportionoftheblockmaybeusedwithinthefill,providedtheundamagedportionoftheblockmeetsallotherrequirements.

2.03 Accessories A. Elevation®geofoamConnectorPlates

(Geoclips):1. Elevation®geoclipsshallbegalvanized

steelmulti-barbedconnectors.Eachconnectorshallhavealateralholdingstrengthof60lbsminimumwhentestedwithASTMD6817typeEPS22Elevation®geofoam.Installconnectorplatesasdirectedonshopdrawings.

PART 3 − EXEcuTioN3.01 PreparationA. Cleardebrisanddewatersiteasneeded.

Gradeaccordingtoelevationsshownonplans;thefinishgradeshallbesmoothandfreefromholesorprotrudingobjects.CovergradedareatoreceiveElevation®

geofoamblockswithsandorotherdrainagelayer.

3.02 installation A. General:

1. InstallElevation®geofoamblockstothelinesandgradesshownintheplansandasdirectedbytheengineer.ThesurfaceofalayerofblockstoreceiveadditionalElevation®geofoamshallbeconstructedwithavariationinsurfacetoleranceofnomorethan.5-inchany10-footinterval.Nogapsgreaterthan2incheswillbeallowedonverticaljoints.Cutandfittightlyaroundprojectionsandpenetrations.

2. Eachsubsequentlayerofblocksshallbeoffset90degreesfromthedirectionofplacementofthepreviouslayerorotherwisestaggeredforincreasedstabilityofthesystem.

3. Securelayers2andabovewithconnectorplates,usingquantityandpatternrecommendedbymanufactureronshopdrawingstopreventblocksfromshiftingduringthebackfillstage.

4. ForprojectsrequiringaloaddistributionslaboverthetopsurfaceofElevation®geofoam,itispermissibletouserebarsupports(dobies)tosupportthereinforcingsteelduringconcreteplacement.

5. InareaswhereutilitiesareplacedinElevation®geofoam,providespacetoaccommodatepipe,structuresandconduitsystemandflowablefill.

Typecompressive

Resistance @ 1% Deformation (min)

Flexural Strength (min)

oxygen index (min)

Block Density (min)

EPS 15 3.6 psi 25.0 psi 24.0 0.90 pcf

EPS 19 5.8 psi 30.0 psi 24.0 1.15 pcf

EPS 22 7.3 psi 40.0 psi 24.0 1.35 pcf

EPS 29 10.9 psi 50.0 psi 24.0 1.80 pcf

EPS 39 15.0 psi 60.0 psi 24.0 2.40 pcf

EPS 46 18.6 psi 75.5 psi 24.0 2.85 pcf

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