Data Centers Built on Unstable Clay-Rich Soils Risk Failure, Where Even Minor Soil Expansion Can Damage Structures and IT Gear. Catastrophic Failures Can be Avoided With Low-Cost Solutions.

VoidForm Products, LLC, a leading national manufacturer of products that protect concrete structures from damage caused by soil expansion, today issued a cautionary warning to engineers who specify foundations and buildings that will house the 3,000+ new or existing AI, processing, and storage data centers being built so rapidly at large scale.

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The dirt about data center construction. Today's data centers can be at risk when built on unstable or substandard soil. This infographic explains the risks and their costs. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The pressing problem engineers must solve is how to protect the data center buildings (and the ultra-sensitive equipment within them) from ground movement that results from the shrink-swell action originating from clay-rich soils.

The potential damage cannot be underestimated. Expansive soils or expansive clay can exert pressure (up to 30,000 pounds/sf) with even minor changes in moisture and temperature. The American Society of Civil Engineers states that U.S. expansive soils cause an estimated $2.3 billion each year in damage to buildings and infrastructure, surpassing the combined damage caused by earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. (Link to this USGS soil map to zoom in on states: link.)

What is equally remarkable is how a simple low-cost solution can mitigate the expansive soil problem, thereby safeguarding the data centers. VoidForm offers products focused on “forming voids” for concrete walls, slabs, and piers, as well as below-grade utility isolation. VoidForm’s products provide temporary support during concrete placement. Once the concrete is self-supporting, these forms provide a cavity where soil can expand, preventing the transfer of uplift pressures into the structural slab or beam above. See projects of void forms in use.

About VoidForm Products

VoidForm Products is a leading national manufacturer of products designed to protect concrete structures from damage caused by expansive, corrosive, and seismic soil conditions. Founded in 1980, the Company's products have protected millions of square feet through their use in a broad range of applications, including industrial, commercial, residential, and municipal infrastructure. VoidForm is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Visit https://voidform.com/

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