High Quality Foam Concrete
Foam Concrete Limited utilises the best raw materials available to produce high quality foam concrete and our exclusive foam concentrates, PROVOTON and SYNVOTON, manufactured for us here in the UK, provide a highly durable and uniform micro-bubble structure which forms a non-porous matrix within the foam concrete and ensuring a finished product with exacting design characteristics.
Our technologically advanced high volume on-site production equipment, allows consistent quality control, unmatched by other foam concrete manufacturing systems.
11th November 2009
There has been some trade press reporting on the issue of Hydrogen gas being produced and subsequently exploding as the result of Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) being used as a filler in some foam concrete mixes.
Below is the text of our recent Techinical Health & Safety Alert:
Technical Health & Safety Alert - September 2009
Production of Hydrogen Gas in Foam Concrete
Over the last three months, there have been two reported instances of foam concrete exploding in-situ. Whilst none of the foam concrete concerned was supplied by Foam Concrete Limited, we feel that it is important to publicize the issue, together with advice on how to avoid the situation arising again in the future.
The problem only occurs when recycled aggregate Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA), is included in the foam concrete mix, producing hydrogen gas as the result of a chemical reaction between aluminum particles (present in all IBA) and the alkaline cement paste in the foam concrete mix.
The severity of these incidents may have been compounded by the fact that at both sites in question, the foam concrete was topped with an impermeable material. This is believed to have allowed a build-up of gas, which was subsequently ignited by a spark.
It is essential that until further notice, only virgin aggregates or other inert materials should be used in the manufacture of foam concrete. Inert materials include: Pulverized Fly Ash (PFA), Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS), sand, or crushed stone fines.
In other words, do not use IBA in foam concrete under any circumstances and if in any doubt, contact your foam concrete supplier for certification of materials types and sources before commencing work.
Foam Concrete Limited has never used IBA in the manufacture of foam concrete. With the push towards sustainable construction methods, we have looked at the possible inclusion of certain recycled aggregates in some of our mixes, but have not been able to satisfy ourselves that the aggregates offered can be processed efficiently enough to screen out all deleterious materials. We source our materials from quality assured suppliers only and are happy to supply source certificates and mix designs prior to commencing work.
For further information, please contact our Head Office by any of the methods shown below.
