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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
FEBRUARY
2015
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
When Advance Projects was awarded the contract to construct a
platform onto which the new warehouse would be erected, the
company was unaware that the geotechnical report on existing
in-situ conditions were sub-standard. Confronted with variable soil condi-
tions, it soon became evident to the contractor that surrounding projects
had used this site as a ‘borrow pit’ for all their rubble and low-grade soils.
Difficult working conditions on site were rendered virtually untenable
when sub-surface water and heavy rains wreaked havoc on excavation
attempts, with heavy machinery getting stuck in the already weak mate-
rial. The contractor persevered however, constructing layer upon layer a
number of times without success.
It was at this stage of the project that Kaytech was consulted. At a
site meeting held with BSM Baker Consulting and Advance Projects,
Kaytech’s technical field staff realised that this was an ideal situation for a
high strength RockGrid PC to prove its efficacy. They also explained what
amount of fill material and layerworks on site would be ideal to cover the
RockGrid PC layer to place it under sufficient tension.
The first composite reinforcing geotextile to be manufactured in
South Africa, RockGrid PC consists of a nonwoven layer in conjunction
with high tenacity, bi-axially orientated, multifilament polyester yarns,
the combination of which guarantees the unique characteristics of the
product. The high tensile modulus of RockGrid PC provides excellent
reinforcement characteristics andminimum creep deformation compared
to polyethylene or polypropylene grids or woven fabrics
When the technical field staff’s recommendation was accepted,
RACEWAY INDUSTRIAL
PARK RESCUE
During construction of Raceway Industrial Park, in
Germiston, Gauteng, a unique Kaytech geotextile
solved a severe subgrade stabilisation problem.
The 29 000 m
2
of Rockgrid PC was used to reinforce the substrate.
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