Fabricated Geomembrane Institute

During a trip through the Midwest, Kent Metzger, Market Manager for Intertape Polymer Group and FGI Treasurer, stopped in Urbana to visit the FGI at the University of Illinois (see attached photograph). During the visit, Tim Stark introduced Kent to several graduate students and discussed the FGI website, potential new members, FGI budget, and new presentations for the FGI short course. Tim gave Kent a tour of the geosynthetics lab, the FGI Office, and the Crane Bay area where large scale structures and construction materials projects are being conducted. During the visit Kent and Tim also discussed current and future FGI activities to promote the use of fabricated geomembranes, presentation of the FGI budget during the monthly teleconference, and future research activities on fabricated geomembrane.

Tim welcomes all FGI members to visit the University of Illinois which is located about 130 miles south of Chicago along I-57. If desired, Tim can arrange for the visitor to give a presentation to and meet with Civil Engineering students. Tim hopes to visit the facilities of all FGI members in the near future to better understand each member’s business and how the FGI can provide additional benefit to them but also encourages them to visit the University of Illinois. The FGI is an exciting advancement in the geomembrane industry that allows focus on all geomembranes that can be factory fabricated.

Media Contact:
Laurie Honnigford
FGI Representative
+1-651-554-1895
laurie@honnigford.com

Guideline for Subgrade Preparation for Fabricated Geomembranes is Published
by FGI

(St. Paul, Minn., July 10, 2010) The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has produced a new guideline entitled Subgrade Requirements for Fabricated Geomembranes. This guideline details the proper preparation of the subgrade for the installation of all fabricated geomembranes. This document is written such that these guidelines can be picked up by an engineer or specifier and put into a specification for subgrade condition and requirements. Color pictures of both acceptable and unacceptable subgrade preparations and protrusions are provided to give the user a visual depiction of what is described in the text.

The subgrade requirements for preventing water pressure build-up below the liner are addressed in this guideline. This is an important consideration in preventing the geomembrane from being lifted off the subgrade by ground water or gas build up. This document can be found here and is available for use by the industry.

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute is housed at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign. Dr. Timothy D. Stark is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an expertise in Geotechnical Engineering. Dr. Stark has been teaching, researching, and consulting on geosynthetics, stability of manmade slopes, and design of waste containment facilities for more than 15 years. For more information on the FGI, contact Dr. Stark at +1 217-333-3929 or geomembrane@illinois.edu.