Deep Lock® is a specialized deep soil stabilization process developed by Alchatek. It involves injecting a structural polymer deep into the soil, where it expands and solidifies. This process enhances the stability and strength of the soil, making it an effective solution for various geotechnical challenges. One key feature of Deep Lock® is its ability to stabilize soil below the freeze/thaw line, making it particularly useful in cold weather conditions.

Applications of Deep Lock® in Cold Weather

• Foundations: Deep Lock® is extensively used to stabilize and strengthen foundations, especially in areas where the soil is compromised due to moisture or other factors.
  
  
• Under Sunken Slabs: For sunken slabs, where soil erosion or voids have occurred deeper down, Deep Lock® provides an effective solution to fill and stabilize these gaps.
  
  
• Settling Structures: Entire structures that are settling, not just the slab, can benefit from the deep soil stabilization offered by Deep Lock®.
  
  
• Interior Footings: In scenarios where exterior piers are used for stabilization, Deep Lock® can be employed for interior footings, avoiding damage to floors and providing a balanced stabilization approach.
  
  
• Brick and Stone Foundations: These types of foundations, which are challenging to stabilize with piers, can be effectively supported using the Deep Lock® process.
  
  
• Pre-construction Soil Stabilization: Before construction begins, stabilizing the soil ensures that the foundation rests on solid ground, a crucial step for long-term structural integrity.
  
  
• Culverts: Deep Lock® can be used for stabilizing and sealing culverts both from the outside (probe-grouting style) and from the inside by injecting the polymer just below the steel.

Why Deep Lock® is Used in Cold Weather

Cold Weather Performance: Deep Lock® can be performed even when the top layer of soil is frozen, making it ideal for cold weather applications.

• Addressing the Root Cause: By stabilizing soil deep below the surface, Deep Lock® addresses the underlying causes of structural problems rather than just the symptoms.
  
  
• Preventing Resettlement: It ensures that once slabs or structures are stabilized, they remain in place without resettling.
  
  
• Warranty Benefits: When employing the Deep Lock® process, contractors can offer better warranties due to effective and long-lasting stabilization.
  
  
• Ease of Process: The process is relatively easy to learn and implement, making it a practical option for a wide variety of contractors.

Deep Lock® offers a versatile and effective solution for a range of soil stabilization needs, particularly beneficial in cold weather conditions. Its ability to work below the freeze/thaw line and address deep-rooted soil issues makes it an invaluable tool in the geotechnical contractor’s arsenal.

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Polyurethane grouting is an essential process in construction and infrastructure projects with the need to lift structures, fill voids, and stabilize soil. While polyurethane grouting has been utilized for decades, advancements in technology and technique have enabled a new level of precision and control in modern grouting applications. Innovations in polyurethane injection methods and equipment allow design and construction teams to achieve highly accurate, consistent injections for maximum strength and longevity. 

Precision is critical in polyurethane grouting applications. Inadequate filling of voids or inconsistent distribution of grout can lead to structural instability, settlement, and even collapse. Precise injections ensure that soil is saturated, voids are filled, and slabs are leveled accurately. This provides uniform load distribution and protection against shifting, vibration, and erosion. Precision also prevents wasted materials and rework due to incorrect amounts or placement of grout. 

Modern polyurethane grouting equipment and techniques enable accurate monitoring and adjustment of grout injection rates, depths, pressures, and consistency. Some examples of modern technology include: 

• Hydraulic and Electric Pumps: Modern polyurethane injection equipment includes hydraulic or electric pumps. These pumps provide precise control over pressure and flow, ensuring a more uniform injection of grout material.
• High-Pressure Injection: Modern equipment can handle high-pressure injection, making it suitable for stabilizing deep structures and addressing challenging soil conditions. High-pressure injection ensures better penetration of the polyurethane grout.
• Remote Monitoring and Data Logging: Advanced systems come with remote monitoring and data logging capabilities when necessary. Operators can monitor the injection process remotely and collect data on pressure, flow, and other parameters for quality control and documentation.
• Compact and Portable Systems: Some advanced injection grouting systems are designed to be compact and portable, making them easier to transport to job sites and set up quickly.
• Safety Features: Modern equipment includes safety features such as shut-off valves and pressure relief mechanisms to protect both operators and the equipment itself.

Modern polyurethane grouting equipment has revolutionized construction and infrastructure project challenges, offering engineers and design teams an array of precision-driven advantages. The evolution of polyurethane injection equipment, including hydraulic pumps, pneumatic pumps, and computerized control systems has empowered design teams and application technicians to achieve precise outcomes.

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The owner of a home in Montana contacted Yellowstone Structural, a geotechnical specialty contractor, about a distressing issue: one side of their house was starting to settle into the soil. This 1970s-era home did not have the proper drainage systems in place, allowing rainwater to accumulate and erode away at the soil underneath. Poor compaction of soil during the construction process was another likely cause of instability. This property owner needed a permanent solution quickly before the exterior, interior, and even the roof of the home were damaged beyond repair.

Powerful Polymer

The contractor chose to perform deep soil stabilization with Alchemy-Spetec’s AP Lift 430. This high-strength structural polymer is ideal for challenging soil compaction and void-fill jobs. AP Lift 430 also meets NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 standards for contact with drinking water, an important quality for any material to be installed around a residential dwelling. 

Painless Procedure

Contractors performing the Deep Lock® soil stabilization process strengthen the soil at all levels with minimal imposition or downtime to the property owner. In this case, the crew installed a pair of injection tubes every three feet along the footing of the house on the side that was beginning to sink. Next, they stabilized the supporting soil with AP Lift 430, injecting the structural polymer to depths of eight feet, and then four feet at each injection point until full compaction was achieved.

Rapid Result

Two technicians completed this job within six hours. They permanently stabilized the soil underneath the sinking side of the house with minimal equipment and no collateral damage to the structure or surrounding property.

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A property owner in Montana contacted geotech contractor Yellowstone Structural regarding a garage that was recently converted into a bedroom. The garage lacked effective rainwater drainage, thoroughly compacted supporting soil, and a proper foundation with a footing like the rest of the house. For these reasons, it had sunken several inches. Alarmingly, the “new bedroom” was now beginning to break away from the rest of the house. The property owner found cracks in the siding and wanted to make sure there would be no further movement.

Powerful Polymer

The technicians planning this deep soil stabilization job chose AP Lift 430, a widely used favorite in the industry. This multi-use structural polymer is ideal for compacting soil, filling voids, and lifting slabs and structures.

Painless Procedure

Without the option of a structural polymer repair plan, a contractor would likely have had to dig around the garage, add a new foundation underneath, and then use helical piers to keep it in place. This would require the demolition of decking and surrounding structures. Heavy equipment (which often causes additional concrete surface and lawn damage) would be needed to get all of this done.

Fortunately, contractors like Yellowstone Structural can achieve soil stabilization and compaction on projects like this with the smallest footprint and the least amount of heavy equipment required. These technicians chose to implement the Deep Lock® process to stabilize the soil at all levels with minimal imposition or downtime to the property owner. First, the crew identified the exact parameters of all the unstable soil. Next, they installed a pair of injection tubes every three feet along the footing of the house in the affected area. This job required 17 of these dual-tube injection points. Next, they created a high-strength durable polyurethane footer with AP Lift 430, injecting the structural polymer to depths of both eight and four feet at each injection point. The technicians performed these injections until significant backpressure was reached to confirm full soil compaction.

Rapid Result

This highly efficient “surgical strike” style job was executed by a crew of two within eight hours. No heavy equipment or messy excavation was needed. The structural polymer was cured in place within 30 minutes of injection. Water won’t erode it; insects cannot eat or bore into it. The property owner’s new bedroom is now sitting on stable soil.

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