About – Underground Pods

Each pod Comes with a
20 Year Warranty

Guaranteed

About Us

Underground Pods was founded by Darren Wilks. Darren has over 35 years experience in the construction industry, specialising in basement and underground structures, for the past 25 years.

The concept of the underground pods came about in 2017. Since then, the company has researched the product and materials in-depth. We strongly believe in supplying an eco-friendly, renewable, cost effective, modern, water- tight living space.

We are based in the heart of Yorkshire and all our pods are manufactured in gods own county.

100% recyclable

Each underground pod is 100% recyclable.

100% fire retardant

Each Underground Pod is 100% fire retardant for your safety.

100% made in the UK

Each Basement Pod is developed and made in Yorkshire, UK.

About Our Basement Pods

Strength

When comparing the strength of two very different materials such as plastic and metal, we compare them using a strength-to-weight ratio. This means that their strength is determined by their mass, the use of the material, and the resistance.

Historically, metal was always seen as the superior material when it comes to strength and this is for good reason – metal is an incredibly strong material. However, recently plastic has been gaining recognition in this category. Plastic is a much lighter material and can be extremely strong for the intended use comparing pound to pound.

Flame retardant plastic additives are compounds added to plastics and other materials to inhibit, suppress or delay combustion. These compounds are useful in impending burning in the ignition phase of the fire. They do not prevent charring or melting nor do they increase the heat resistance of a material

Plastic vs Metal

Plastic versus metal is an age-old debate that we’re sure you have heard over the years – both materials are great and have fantastic individual uses, but which material is better?

Plastic is far less likely to fall prey to things like rusting and oxidation when compared to metal fabrication. Plastic has a very low melting point and is highly malleable compared to the fabrication of other materials. As such, plastic can easily be formed into both basic and more complex shapes with little to no effort.

Though the results of plastic fabrication greatly depend on the unique characteristics of the type of plastic used (acrylic, Plexiglas, nylon, etc.), the process itself has many advantages, which include:

Ease of forming: Due to its low melting point and high malleability compared to other materials, plastic can be formed into basic and complex geometries with relative ease.
Reduced finishing: Unlike most metals, plastics can be coloured prior to fabrication, eliminating the need for certain post-treatment processes, such as painting.
Faster production: Plastic fabrication often involves quick cycle times and fast turnover rates.
Lighter weight: Plastics typically weigh less than metals of comparable dimensions.
Chemical resistance: Plastics are generally less susceptible to damage from chemicals or chemical reactions, such as oxidation or rusting, than metals.

The Process

Hot gas welding is a fabrication process for thermoplastic materials. The process, invented in the mid 20 th century, uses a stream of heated gas, usually air, to heat and melt both the thermoplastic substrate material and the thermoplastic welding rod. The substrate and the rod fuse to produce a weld to ensure welding takes place, adequate temperature and pressure must be applied to the rod, along with the use of the correct welding speed and gun position.

Welding parameters
There are four main welding parameters in the hot gas welding process:

temperature
pressure
welding speed
and gun position

The process is all manual so it is imperative, that we ensure all of our fabricators, are qualified and trained to a high level. We have a strict process, of checking each stage to guarantee that all four parameters, are correct and controlled. Temperature is the most important of the four parameters since the temperature at the interface between the rod and the substrate is not only controlled by the setting on the gun, but also by the gun travel speed and the gun position with respect to the substrate.

Typically, the temperature for welding is set between 80 and 100°C above the melting point of the material being welded. The gun travel speed is normally between 0.1 and 0.3m/min, again, depending upon the material being welded.

The welding pressure is applied via the toe of the welding nozzle and is achieved by holding the welding gun grip firmly and pushing down into the weld. For round nozzle welding, pressure is applied manually from the welding rod.

Plastic welding is an art form in itself. Hot air plastic welding and extrusion welding is a technique used to join thermoplastics and composites. The process involves using a welding machine, which heats and melts a plastic filler material, while simultaneously heating the base material to be welded. The pressurised molten filler plastic is extruded from the machine, onto the surface of the base material. The two molten plastics (the filler and the base material) are allowed to cool, to form a permanent bond.

Each pod Comes with a20 Year Warranty