Revolutionize Your Concrete Lifting Services
Jen Mazur
A Deep Injection Primer
The marketplace, our customers, and the team here at HMI have long awaited the introduction of products to solve the root cause problem of sunken concrete and structures. Deep foam injection is the perfect compliment and natural extension of a polyurethane concrete lifting business. Until now patent restrictions have limited our offering but now we are ready to make you ready to offer this service.
WHAT IS DEEP FOAMJECTION™?
The process of injecting polyurethane foam into various layers of soil and substrata below the level of a concrete slab or structure is not new. Terms like Deep Injection have historically described the process of injecting the liquid mix of Part A & Part B polyurethane below the surface to bind soils and increase compaction to strengthen the environment. Even before foams were used the compaction grouting process was applied where various grouts were injected to affect the same result. Deep Foamjection is the HMI Brand for all the equipment and foams to perform this service.
WHAT IS THE REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEEP FOAMJECTION & POLYURETHANE CONCRETE LIFTING?
The difference between Deep Foamjection and basic polyurethane concrete lifting is the depth of the injection. Specialized equipment and material are required that compliment current HMI systems.
Over its four decade experience HMI has always said “what we raise is only as good as the soil underneath it.” Now, with Deep Foamjection equipment and material is available to solve that problem as well, irrespective of how old the concrete is or the depth of the unstable substrata.
DO I HAVE TO ADD DEEP FOAMJECTION™ TO MY POLYURETHANE CONCRETE LIFTING SYSTEM?
Mudjacking and Polyurethane Concrete Lifting businesses will remain as viable, in demand and profitable as they always have without the introduction of Deep Foamjection. Deep Foamjection is an added service which avails contractors to new and different projects and market segments.
WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU INJECT FOAM AT VARIOUS DEPTHS BELOW CONCRETE AND STRUCTURES?
Installed as a liquid, the foam saturates into the soil and travels the path of least resistance until it is fully expanded. Much like a man made root system; installed foam will exponentially improve the weight bearing capacity of the subgrade and bind it together.
WILL DEEP FOAMJECTION™ LIFT CONCRETE SLABS AND STRUCTURES?
The primary objective of Deep Foamjection is to stabilize subgrade by binding soils and adding strength. When applied correctly, enough foam can be installed to lift slabs and structures. How much foam, where, and at what depth will depend greatly on the project. These factors will also determine what type of assistance or design you may need from an engineer. Standard practices can be applied; however an engineer will take into consideration the project objectives, the weight and construction of the slab or structure and suggest your point layout, depths and estimated quantities of foam. Much like foundation piering, an engineer is often required to determine the weight of the structure, why and where the soil failed. Engineering provides assurances as to material to be added so that it will bring the structure back up and continue to carry the load.
DO I ALWAYS NEED ENGINEERING SUPPORT TO OFFER DEEP FOAMJECTION™?
Many projects will not require the aid of an engineer, specifically in the case of slabs and small structures. This is always up to the discretion of the contractor. Always remember the obvious, every slab you lift could use more support.
I THOUGHT DEEP INJECTION WOULD ALLOW ME TO RAISE BIG BUILDINGS?
Deep Foamjection will allow you to raise structures. However, the greater the scale, and weight the greater the complexity. In order to bring a structure back into place you need to apply enough pressure in the right places. Often the exact amount of pressure will be difficult to achieve in one point for structures. As with foundation repair, piers are installed with engineer guidance and pressure is applied at multiple points simultaneously to insure control without damage and to safely lift the structure back into place. The same holds true for Deep Foamjection. To build the pressures necessary and control the lift, multiple points may be needed to be injected into simultaneously. Depending on how settled the structure is, it may be more cost effective to install foam to prevent further future settlement and then complete cosmetic repairs caused by the initial settlement.
Reminder: the primary objective is to fix what has failed, that is the soil under the slab or structure. That is a business in itself. As with all HMI opportunities, how you approach Deep Foamjection in your business will be your decision; large or small.
WHAT IS SPECIAL AND DIFFERENT ABOUT THE HMI DEEP FOAMJECTION™ OFFERING?
Significant planning has been underway for years to insure HMI customers can take advantage of the unique market opportunities of deep injection. Historic developments in your current system were introduced in anticipation of the opportunity. HMI”S offering is and will be different because of:
- The EliteOne Gun – The EliteONE gives you the ability to have more control. Deep injection has been traditionally installed with the GX7 gun. Foam could only be injected into a pipe once and any significant pause to allow foam to expand would clog the pipe and not allow any more injections. To inject more foam would require another point at a different depth. The EliteONE gun purges air through the pipe to allow for subsequent injections after the foam has expanded.
- FOAM – HMI has developed foam specifically for the Deep Foamjection application. This material is hydro insensitive (HydroFOAM). This means that it will still react into great foam even if there is water present. The foam was developed without dangerous gases that many other hydro insensitive foams utilize.
- SPECIAL QUICK CONNECT PIPES – A variety of injection pipes and accessories are available to allow you to be productive and profitable while injecting foam deeper to meet project objectives.
For active HMI customers, there is more information available about the best practices for DEEP FOAMJECTION on our CUSTOMER SUPPORT PORTAL.
Jen Mazur is the Sales and Service Director of HMI. With over a decade of experience in the concrete lifting industry she has guided hundreds of entrepreneurs to profitability.
