Teretek® Used to Fill Void Under 4,500m2 Research Laboratory

Housing a number of large vacuum chambers, the drainage system under part of the building had not performed as intended and, as a result, voids had formed under the concrete slab. Rebuilding the laboratory was not an option as it would have caused significant operational and logistical issues involving the large vacuum chambers located on the floor. Replacing the flooring would have been time consuming and costly, and moving the chambers wasn’t an option. This meant the only viable solution would be to remediate the ground under the building, repairing the foundations, to enable the research laboratory to continue to operate as normal. The firm that originally constructed one of the buildings at the laboratory was reappointed to carry out repair work to the site. Mainmark was contacted to provide a specialist non-invasive ground remediation solution. Due to the unique environment of the lab and the need to keep the entire area and its contents clean and dust free, Mainmark recommended the use of its proprietary, non-invasive Teretek® resin injection solution. To reduce dust in the atmosphere, the team had to work carefully and precisely, and specialised drill attachments were used in conjunction with vacuum extractors using HEPA filters. Specific antistatic coatings on the flooring in the vacuum chamber rooms also meant the location of each hole used to deliver the resin had to be positioned precisely. To add to these challenges, at the time of the project the UK COVID-19 restrictions meant the team had to use specialist PPE in order to comply with health regulations and to help ensure everyone’s safety.

Small incisions were drilled at even spaces throughout the floor area, allowing the expansive geopolymer resin to be injected into the sub-base directly under the internal floor slab, providing uniform treatment throughout the surface area and filling the void underneath. Using this keyhole technique, the solution was delivered in a way that created minimal mess and was flexible enough to work around the dayto- day operations of the lab and meet the client’s requirements. Mainmark’s expertise and experience gave the construction firm the confidence to commit to the project after the initial assessment. Through careful liaison with the extensive project management team and a relevant multi-disciplinary science facilities council, Mainmark was able to complete the works and fill the voids during the COVID-19 shutdown period, safely. In just 11 days, Mainmark successfully treated the foundation ground with Teretek resin, filling the voiding directly beneath the ground bearing floor slab as required, working to strict minimal dust requirements, saving the client time and money. Without the resin injection solution, this job would have involved a full building demolition and rebuild, resulting in significant disruption and operational capacity for the client.