EXPANDED CLAY IN GREEN APPLICATIONS
The growth of our cities and the loss of open spaces have led to a considerable deterioration of living conditions. In many areas, we can learn from the mistakes of the past and plan large green areas in residential, commercial and industrial complexes, designed to improve living and working conditions.
The use of rooftops as gardens has meant that additional green areas can be provided in property developments. Areas that were not previously used can be made useful and agreeable. The result is a direct improvement of the places where we live and work and consequently an increase of our wellbeing. Expanded clay in green applications comes in many forms: from the everyday horticultural use in flower pots over green roofs to landscaping large domains or the construction of (large) sport fields.
GREEN ROOFS
Expanded clay helps to make green dreams come true, by drawing on many years’ experience in the creation of roof gardens and “greening” of the urban environment. A roof garden creates green space and provides insulation for homes, commercial and public buildings and other structures, making it cooler on the inside in summer, warmer during the winter months. In addition to improved insulation, other valuable benefits include naturally enhanced visual impact and a significant reduction in environmental noise.
There are two main types of roof gardens: the intensive and the extensive roof garden. The intensive roof garden can be compared with a “classic” garden on the ground floor, allowing the growth of permanent planting, shrubs and even trees. The extensive roof garden is different. It is a thin lightweight substrate allowing the protective growth of succulents, moss and herbs on elevated roof structures.
LANDSCAPING
Thanks to its bearing capacity, high internal friction angle and unlimited lifespan, expanded clay is the most efficient foundation material available to use in landscaping. It improves stability, reduces settlement, allows load compensation, supplies durable drainage, is easy to use and respects the environment. On top of this, it allows you to improve the aesthetic appearance of your terrain in a very effective way.
SPORTS AND LEISURE
Environmental compatibility, high permeability and total drainage capacity, makes expanded clay the optimum aggregate to realize perfect draining layers over concrete structures, sky garden and sport fields. The thickness of expanded clay protects the structure and the rain proof materials from severe thermal range, recreates an optimum habitat for green vegetation and offers a long reserve of water and air for plants and grass. Different layers of expanded clay, geotextile and natural soil may realize a good and durable cover green system.
WATER MANAGEMENT
Water is an essential part of life. But it has been proven to be problematic to control and manage efficiently without the associated risks. Buffer and filtration basins created using expanded clay aggregates retain the water and slow down drainage. A multitude of opportunities opens when choosing expanded clay as part of your water management solution. The benefits of the expanded clay aggregates are mainly due to its hollow cavities: 45% between pellets and 43% inside them. In addition, our product is also an economical one. Rapid processing with tankers, full use of excavation, flexible design, unlimited life span and reusability of the product make expanded clay the most cost-effective solution for water buffer and filtration basins.
HORTICULTURE AND AGRICULTURE
The porous micro-surface texture and interior porous structure of expanded clay resist clogging and provides superior aeration that promotes growth of delicate, fine root systems. A healthy soil profile can be difficult to maintain. Since most soils consist of solid particles, water and air, it is necessary to maintain a careful balance of these elements to establish a healthy root system. Generally, a good soil profile is approximately 25% water, 25% air and 50% solid particulate matter. However, when soils are compacted an imbalance occurs. Solid particles are pressed together, and water and air are squeezed out. Blending expanded clay with your soil mix easily and economically restores and maintains this delicate balance. As other advantage, the soil weight will be reduced by this lightweight soil mix, therefore it is opportunities offered for reduced dead load of grass or landscapes area on the floors and obviously, earthquake load of structure. As a result, expanded clay has a great capacity for absorbing and storing water. As the soil dries this stored water migrates back to the soil helping to maintain optimum moisture levels.
