Technopol SA — Civil & Geotechnical

GeofoamLightweight Fill

Engineered, ultra-lightweight EPS fill material with a density of about 1% that of soil — minimising vertical and lateral loads, preventing settlement and reducing build time on traditional fill projects.

Engineered Lightweight Fill

At its core, Geofoam is an engineered, ultra-lightweight fill material with a density of about 1% that of soil. This property offers its most dramatic advantage: minimising vertical and lateral loads. This prevents settlement, which can be a costly and time-consuming issue with traditional construction.

Geofoam is a quiet powerhouse in modern construction. Its applications showcase a shift in engineering philosophy — from relying on sheer mass and reinforcement to using smart, tailored materials that reduce loads and mitigate risks from the ground up.

Key Properties
  • ~1% density of soil
  • EPS12 – EPS30 grades
  • Closed-cell, hydrophobic
  • Lifted by 1 – 2 people
  • Incidental thermal insulation
Use Cases
  • Pavement engineering
  • Retaining walls
  • Buried-structure protection
  • Slope stabilisation
  • Urban load-sensitive features

Technical Data

PropertyTypical RangeNotes
Density10 – 30 kg/m³EPS12 – EPS30 grades, depending on specification
Compressive Strength @ 1% strain15 – 100 kPaDepends on density grade
Water Absorption< 4% (EPS)Closed-cell structure, hydrophobic
Block Sizes2.5 × 1.250 × 950 (typical)Easily shaped and stacked
Weight~1% of soilOne block can be lifted by 1 – 2 people
Thermal Conductivity (k-value)0.030 – 0.038 W/m·KProvides incidental insulation

From the Ground Up

  • Road & Rail Embankments
    Reduce settlement on soft soils where traditional fill would overload the substrate.
  • Bridge Approaches
    Minimise the ‘bump at the bridge’ caused by differential settlement between abutment and embankment.
  • Buried Structures
    Protects tunnels, culverts and pipelines from imposed surcharge loads.
  • Void Fill
    Quick backfill solution for irregular or large voids — easily shaped on site.
  • Retaining Walls
    Reduces lateral earth pressure behind retaining structures.
  • Slope Stabilisation
    Replacing heavy slope soil with high-strength, lightweight Geofoam reduces gravity loads to stabilise landslide-prone areas.
  • Urban Construction
    Enables high-strength, lightweight urban features — rooftop gardens, stadium seating — without compromising structural integrity.
  • Frost Heave Mitigation
    The hydrophobic, closed-cell structure helps prevent frost-related ground movement.

Smarter Fill, Smarter Build

Geofoam reflects a shift in engineering philosophy — from relying on sheer mass to using smart, tailored materials that reduce loads, accelerate schedules and lower the environmental impact of civil works.

LogisticsImproved logistical efficiency
EnvironmentReduced emissions vs heavy fill
GroundwaterGroundwater & seismic protection
Frost HeavePrevention through closed-cell structure
Circular EconomyEPS-based, recyclable input
Risk MitigationReduces load & settlement risk
InnovationCornerstone of modern civil works
Density10 – 30 kg/m³ (EPS12 – EPS30)

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