Project Profile

Integral Crystalline Waterproofing used after constant delamination of traffic membranes in parking structure

In order to prevent water damage and preserve the integrity of concrete structures, it is essential to use a proven waterproofing system for your foundation to avoid costly problems in the years to come. Whether your foundation needs to be damp-proof or fully waterproofed against hydrostatic pressure, Integral Crystalline Waterproofing (ICW) is changing the way concrete structures around the world are repaired and waterproofed, providing a quick and cost-saving alternative to traditional membranes. While conventional waterproofing involves applying a coating or membrane to the concrete surface, ICW permanently seals concrete by plugging its natural pores and capillaries and blocking the movement of water. It also reacts with incoming water to self-seal the cracks that inevitably develop in concrete, protecting structures against the water and contaminants that can weaken or destroy concrete and corrode steel reinforcement.

Project Background

The Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Centre is the largest full-service hospital in Clackamas County with over 14,000 patient admissions a year. In building the first phase of a three-storey, 700 space above-grade parking garage, the project team applied a traffic membrane to waterproof the exposed concrete decks to protect the reinforcing steel and post tensioning cables used in the suspended slabs. However, the application process proved to be difficult and costly as areas of the traffic deck coating kept delaminating – challenges with the coating system had to be addressed several times before it was considered satisfactory. When faced with protecting the exposed decks on the second phase of the garage, the project team sought a faster, reliable and more cost-efficient solution that would not involve the potential for areas of unexplained delamination.

Selecting the right waterproofing solution

The project team had a wide range of waterproofing systems to choose from, including:

• Self-adhering, rubberized asphalt sheet membranes or barriers.

• Liquid membranes that are applied by spray, roller or trowel.
• Cementitious products that are mixed with water and brush-applied.
• Built up systems, where layers of hot asphalt are alternated with perforated felt layers to form a physical barrier.
• Sodium bentonite, a clay material that is applied in panels to the outside of a structure and works by absorbing water and swelling to fill the cracks and voids in concrete.
• Integral crystalline waterproofing (ICW) systems, which create a chemical reaction within concrete that causes crystals to form and grow, filling the spaces between concrete particles and permanently blocking water. Providing long-term protection against water damage, reduced maintenance cost and peace of mind.

Advantages of ICW Systems After considering each option, the project team selected an integral crystalline waterproofing system because it offered a number of key advantages over other alternatives such as:

• Shaves weeks off the construction schedule by allowing for early backfilling and eliminating the time required to apply a membrane system.

• Easy to apply and reduces potential for human error.
• Will not deteriorate in dry, hot weather.
• Impervious to physical damage and deterioration.
• Effective against hydrostatic pressure – up to 140m of head pressure.
• Can be applied in damp/wet conditions.
• Self-seals hairline cracks.

Because it eliminates the need for external membranes, the Krystol® Concrete Waterproofing system is ideal for both below-grade and above-grade parking structures, elevator pits, water containment tanks and blind wall applications. The system is easy to install and significantly less expensive than other conventional waterproofing systems, especially in the case of the Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Centre. And unlike waterproofing membranes that are often damaged during backfilling, Krystol® lasts the lifetime of the structure, reducing the need for future maintenance and repairs.

Solution

The project team turned to the Krystol® Concrete Waterproofing System, a worldwide leader in crystalline waterproofing technology. The protective traffic membrane system they had originally implemented on the exposed parking decks on the first half of the garage was costly, labour intensive and vulnerable to human error. But by utilizing Kryton to protect the exposed concrete decks on phase two of the garage, the team would not only have the world’s leading crystalline waterproofing technology to protect the structure, but they would also save a substantial amount of time and money (KIM cost was less than $1.50 per square foot) over installing a traditional traffic membrane system. The Krystol system is an integral, permanent part of the concrete and allows the owner to save the life cycle costs that are included with the eventual reapplication of a traditional membrane system.

The Krystol® Concrete Waterproofing System at the Kaiser Medical Center included 1828.80 metres (2000 yds) of Krystol® Internal Membrane HS (KIM-HS), an admixture suitable for new concrete construction.