Wrong choice of floor insulation for a car park

[Mr_P]

Note to self, never whinge about my cold concrete garage floor ever again.

A number of vehicles crumpled after polystyrene insulation under the floor appeared to swell, forcing them into the concrete ceiling above.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37600533

 

[Beau]

Haha just looking at that report. First thing that comes to mind is them saying the polystyrene expanded 2 feet. Errmmm did it not just float?

Edit. Clearly not the only one to think this as they have edited the report to say "float or swell"

 

[RobinBHM]

Im trying to understand why some 5 layers of polystryene insulation would be needed in an underground car park.......

It might seem dramatic that the cars have got crushed, but its likely they would have been flooded if they stayed on the floor anyway. A bit of touch up paint, they'll be good as new.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

I think the polystyrene may have originally been used to fill a "void" created at the construction stage due to a difference in level between the "road" and the parking spaces. As the water flooded in, it would seep into the "void" causing the polystyrene to float.

Note that a (say) 600mm layer of polystyrene in a parking space 2,5m x 4m would have a positive buoyancy of around 6 tons - more than enough to raise a car parked on top together with a few inches of surface material.

Why it was designed like this is a matter of speculation but can only assume that originally filling the "void" with polystyrene was quicker and cheaper than cement!!.

 

[morturn]

Polystyrene is used for filling voids when there is a need not to increase weight. I have also seen it used in road building across unstable land.

 

[rafezetter]

Anyone else notice the NAME of the housing association that owns the car park? Talk about apt, you couldn't make it up.

 

[Brentingby]

On the brightside, at least those cars aren't full of water and filth.