Trenching through frozen ground w/ rigid insulation
Trenching through frozen ground w/ rigid insulation
(OP)
Here is the scope of work:
Trenching through silty frozen ground with existing rigid polystyrene insulation about 2 feet down. Trench depth of 3.5 feet.
Laying in cables and then replacing the insulation damaged from trenching.
Backfilling with native soil.
Water necessitates doing the work in winter...water table is about 1' down.
Because of the length of the trench, I'm looking at the possibility of a trencher for cost savings. The problems with this is having torn up insulation. Anyone have experience with this? Will the insulation come out in manageable chunks or will it be a mess? Any way to filter/screen out the insulation from the excavation?
I also looked at the possibility of a dozer w/ ripper, but it won't work in this case. Excavators are slow...any other options or suggestions?
Trenching through silty frozen ground with existing rigid polystyrene insulation about 2 feet down. Trench depth of 3.5 feet.
Laying in cables and then replacing the insulation damaged from trenching.
Backfilling with native soil.
Water necessitates doing the work in winter...water table is about 1' down.
Because of the length of the trench, I'm looking at the possibility of a trencher for cost savings. The problems with this is having torn up insulation. Anyone have experience with this? Will the insulation come out in manageable chunks or will it be a mess? Any way to filter/screen out the insulation from the excavation?
I also looked at the possibility of a dozer w/ ripper, but it won't work in this case. Excavators are slow...any other options or suggestions?





RE: Trenching through frozen ground w/ rigid insulation
RE: Trenching through frozen ground w/ rigid insulation
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Trenching through frozen ground w/ rigid insulation
Most dumps charge extra for foam.
Once foam is broken up, only a team of healthy college students can round it up.
If you can expose the foam first, pour some molasses or something sticky on it to hold it together before breaking it up. We never found a good liquid for this.
(We once misplaced some foam used for low density fill below a roadway and had to dig it up).