Wolverhampton geotech firm celebrates 'major milestone' after highways accreditation

The Wolverhampton-based company has become the UK’s first geopolymer solutions provider to receive Highways Authorities Product Approval Scheme (HAPAS) certification, awarded for meeting the highest standards for use in UK highways construction projects. 

HAPAS certification is awarded to products and technologies that have demonstrated high-quality standards to benefit UK highway construction. 

Issued by the BBA (British Board of Agrément), the certificate verifies Geobear’s ground improvement technology for use as a solution to subsidence. The firm's injected geopolymer treatment fills voids in the soil, improving the ground, structures above it and their foundations.

The technology provides a non-invasive solution to subsidence, suitable for all kinds of infrastructural projects, such as railways and highways. The company says that unlike traditional solutions that require heavy machinery and excavations, the geopolymer can be injected using small steel tubes and monitored with laser levels.

According to the British Geological Survey, subsidence is one of the most damaging geohazards to Britain today — estimated to have cost the economy £3 billion in mitigation efforts and repair.

“The HAPAS certification is a major achievement for Geobear,” said Geobear’s UK managing director Simon Hughes. 

“We want to ensure that our clients are receiving a quality solution and being the first in our sector to receive this accreditation means that we can deliver to this important standard. This will enable us to develop further into UK markets where we are eager to grow, including infrastructure.”

Established in 1998, the BBA set up the HAPAS scheme to accelerate the UK’s approval process for innovative products used on highway related projects. The certification is offered to businesses from various product sectors. This is the first time it has been awarded to a company using geopolymer technology to improve the ground.