Management at a luxury hotel in Atlanta contacted geotech specialists Panhandle Seawall and Infrastructure after discovering significant voids beneath their swimming pool during routine maintenance. What began as a standard pool inspection quickly escalated into a serious structural emergency that threatened the integrity of part of the building. PSI was able to mobilize within days, providing temporary support until the foundation contractor could underpin the column footing and provide a permanent solution.

Initial Assessment

The investigation began when hotel maintenance staff noticed several concerning issues:

• Visible cracks developing in the pool structure.
• Accelerated water loss beyond normal evaporation.
• Significant increase in monthly water bills.
• Further investigation revealed an approximately 800 cubic foot void beneath the pool.
• A critical structural issue where a column footing was precariously supported only by the edge of a rock formation.

The severity of the situation led to a partial condemnation of the hotel structure, requiring immediate intervention to prevent potential catastrophic failure.

Proposed Solution

After careful evaluation by the project engineers, AP Lift 475 was selected as the optimal solution due to its superior characteristics:

• Higher density formulation for enhanced structural support.
• Superior bearing capacity to meet engineering requirements.
• Rapid deployment capabilities for emergency situations.

The project required approximately 300 gallons of material, deployed in three separate sets, to provide the necessary structural reinforcement.

Procedures

1. Safety Implementation

• Installation of proper ventilation systems.
• Deployment of temporary support beams.
• Setup of adequate lighting for the work area.

2. Grout Implementation

• Initial deployment of the Deep Lock® method to solidify underlying soil.
• Systematic void filling through carefully timed injection intervals.
• Continuous monitoring of material flow and structural response.
• Progressive filling to ensure complete void elimination and stabilization of footing.

Results and Conclusion

• The emergency shoring proved successful on multiple fronts:
• Complete stabilization of the compromised column footing.
• Establishment of solid connectivity between the underlying soil and structural elements.
• Prevention of further structural degradation.
• Removal of condemnation threat to the building.
• Restoration of structural integrity to engineering standards.

The project demonstrated the effectiveness of polyurethane void fill as a rapid response solution for critical structural emergencies, successfully averting potential building failure while providing a long-term stabilization solution.

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