5. Standards and Design Manuals

Table 2-11 shows some of the existing ASTM standards for evaluation of rigid cellular plastic foam properties. Four committees have control and influence on foam standards: Committee C-16 (Thermal Insulation), Committee D-20 (Plastics), Committee E-5 (Fire Standards) and Committee F-7 (Aerospace Industry Methods). More specific standards for geofoam are now under development by a newly formed “Geofoam Task Group” within ASTM Committee D-35. Out side the United States such as in Norway, NRRL (1992) show example of the procedure to be followed when testing expanded polystyrene for use in road embankments.

In the United States, there is neither EPS geofoam design manuals nor EPS applications manuals. Horvath (1995b, 1998a) and Negussey (1997), present analysis and design guidelines for some geofoam applications. Similarly some EPS geofoam products have their own conceptual guides to analysis and design (GeoTech, 1998). From other countries, the Public Works Research Institute of Ministry of Construc-tion, and Construction Project Consultant, Inc., (1992), Duškov, M., (1999) and Draft European Standards, (1998) present specifications or design manuals for expanded polystyrene.

Table 2-11 Selected ASTM Standards Applicable to Geofoam
(after Ne-gussey 1997)

Tsukamoto (1996) presented guidelines for constructions using EPS geofoam in slope stability and widening embankments applications. In 1995 the highway and traffic research society (FGSV) in Germany published the code of practice for the use of rigid EPS foams in the construction of road embankments. Beinbrech (1996) pre-sented the best summary and recommendations.