Staying Ahead of the Curve
The dome doubled the water storage capacity in a rural area in Eastern Idaho, from 500,000 to 1,000,000 gallons of water. The stored water is intended to help firefighters battle wildfires throughout the region. ESI served as a subcontractor on this Dome Technology project, providing expert reinforcing services.
The self-perform team helped develop and fine-tune the post-tension cable design to accommodate the considerable water pressure without sacrificing storage space, thereby minimizing the need for a thicker shotcrete application.
During construction, the project team came up with innovative ways to maintain curved forms and install cabling. They inflated material inside the dome using large fans to maintain the dome shape as a form. Then, they shot 1.5 inches of insulation inside, followed by layering in shotcrete and rebar to reinforce the structure’s strength. Finally, the team rigged up a custom work platform using man baskets, forklifts, and a crane. Operators carefully moved the mechanism up and down the curved structure to install reinforcing throughout.