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1

 

16 Reasons to Use

Flowable Fill

 

 

1 Offers Numerous Cost

             Advantages.

 

2Readily available.

      Ready-mixed concrete

      producers, using locally

      available materials, can

      produce flowable fill to meet

      project specifications.

 

3No settlement.

      Flowable fill does not form

      voids during placement, and

      won't settle or rut under

      loading. This advantage is

      especially significant if the

      backfill in a utility trench is

      to be covered by a

      pavement patch. Soil or

      granular fill, if not

      consolidated properly, may

      settle after a pavement

      patch is placed and forms

      cracks or dips in the road.

 

4Easy to deliver.

      Ready-mix trucks can deliver specified quantities of flowable fill to the job site

      whenever the material is needed.

 

5Versatile.

      Flowable fill mix designs can be adjusted to meet specific requirements and a

      variety of performance characteristics.

 

6Improves worker safety.

      Workers can place flowable fill in a trench without entering the trench,

      reducing their exposure to possible cave-ins.

 

7Easy to place.

      Depending on the type and location of void to be filled, flowable fill can be

      placed by chute, conveyor, pump, or bucket. Because flowable fill is self

      -leveling, it needs little or no spreading or compacting. This speeds

      construction and reduces labor requirements.

 

8Allows fast return to

      traffic.

      Because flowable fill can

      be placed quickly and can

      support traffic loads within

      several hours, it minimizes

      road closures for pavement

      repairs.

 

9Strong and durable. 

      Load-carrying capacities

      of flowable fill typically

      are higher than those of

      compacted soil or granular fill.

 

10Can be excavated.

        Flowable fill, having a compressive strength of less than 150 psi, is

        excavatable with conventional excavating equipment, yet is strong enough for

        most backfilling needs.

 

11 Requires less inspection.

        During placement, soil backfill must be tested after each lift for sufficient

        compaction. Flowable fill self-compacts consistently and doesn't require this

        extensive field testing.

 

12Reduces excavation.

        Flowable fill allows narrower trenches because it eliminates having to widen

        trenches to accommodate compaction equipment and laborers in the trench.

 

13Reduces equipment needs.

        Unlike soil or granular backfill, flowable fill can be placed without rollers,

        loaders, or tampers.

 

14Requires no on-site

        storage.

        Because ready-mix

        trucks deliver flowable

        fill to the job site in the

        quantities needed,

        storing fill material

        onsite is unnecessary.

        Also, there is no

        leftover fill to haul away.

 

15Allows all-weather

        construction.

        Flowable fill will

        displace standing water

        left in a trench from rain or melting snow, eliminating the need for dewatering

        pumps. To place flowable fill in cold weather, the material temperature can

        be altered using the same methods in heating ready-mixed concrete.

 

16Makes use of a waste by-product.

        Fly ash is a by-product from the power plants that burn coal to generate

        electricity. Flowable fill containing fly ash benefits the environment by making

        use of these materials. Other waste products have also been used with

        success. 

  

ConcreteAnswers for Architects, Engineers and Developers:

 

Concrete

Answers.org

 

ConcreteParking.org

 

ConcreteStreets.org

 

Pervious

Pavement.org

 

GreenConcrete.info

 

Concrete

Buildings.org

 

SelfConsolidating

Concrete.org

 

GreenRoofTops.org

 

 

 

 


 

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