ECOPODE™ practical aspects

1. Formwork

• Two symmetrical fibre glass shells specially sculpted to obtain the rock-like appearance, backed by a steel spider frame 
• Sculpted bottom plates required
• Quick bolting system for assembly and stripping of the two shells
• Wheels reduce the use of handling equipment

2. Concrete strength specifications

The compression values given below are those for cylinders. 
The following relation should be used to determine equivalent values for cubes: Fck Cylinder = 0.8 x Fck Cube (ref. BS 1881)

ECOPODE™	Units ≤ 4 m³	5 m³≤ Units ≤ 10 m³
Minimum strength for form stripping Fck Cyl	6 MPa	7 MPa
Minimum strength for handling  the units Fck Cyl	15 MPa	20 MPa
Minimum strength for placing the units Fck Cyl	25 MPa	30 MPa

3. Casting

Minimun area required to store one formwork 2H² 
where H = ECOPODE™ unit height

Typical daily standard production rate: 1 unit per mould

4. Handling and storing

• Forklifting is effective for handling small to medium size units
• Large units are handled by sling
• Units can be stored one on top of the other or nested on one or more levels, provided that ground conditions are suitable

Minimum area required to store 10 units on one level : 7.1H²
where H = ECOPODE™ unit height

5. Fast placement

Principle: each unit is placed in a random attitude to obtain the specified packing density, using GPS.  The positioning principle is based on a predetermined grid aimed at achieving optimum keying of the units, with the theoretical grid shown on the placement drawings and allowing reliable QA/QC procedures.

Placement rates (using cable cranes) - Monthly average

The grid spacings will match those of the smooth skin ACCROPODE™ II unit underneath.

Higher rates can be obtained using a tailored method