The SNOLAB is an expansion of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory located on the 6800 ft. level of Vale-INCO’s Creighton Mine in Lively ON. SNOLAB is an underground scientific research facility that has been utilized by leading scientists from around the world. It is considered Canada’s leading edge facility for the study of astroparticle physics. The lab, excavated to provide a vast area for research, has added an additional 53,000 ft3. to the existing underground facility. Funding has been provided through various levels of the Canadian Government.
The construction products chosen to build this facility had to meet strict engineering standards. Hatch Engineering of Sudbury, ON, in consultation with J.S. Redpath Limited, specified KING PC S6 UG35 to pour the 32,000 ft3 of concrete floors. PC-S6 UG35 was supplied in bulk tote bags, with all components pre-blended so that only water needed to be added at the work site. The material was mixed using a KING CCM 200 E Continuous Mixer and elevated from the mixer exit to the pump hopper with a KING WME 100 E Wet-Mix Elevator.
The continuous mixer and the elevator were developed to convert pre-blended dry shotcrete/concrete materials to pumpable, plastic shotcrete/concrete and supplied by KING’s Minequip Division. The material has then placed using an Allentown Powercreter 20 concrete pump, also supplied by Minequip. Utilizing this system the J.S. Redpath crews were able to consistently feed, mix and place 120 bags of 1000 KG. bulk bags in a ten hour shift. The maximum output in one shift was 175 bulk bags.
KING Technical Staff were present through much of the concrete placement to assist with the equipment operation and provide technical support. J.S. Redpath crews were pleased with the support and Hatch engineers were pleased with the consistent test results obtained through the project’s QC program.