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After years of scientific research, a new generation of waterproofing products are being introduced to the Middle East construction industry, but are they necessary for buildings surrounded by desert?
The Gulf waters – calming and clear or destructive and dangerous? Most people would think the former words would best describe the sea that surrounds the region, but when it comes to construction, this may not be the case.
It is easy to assume that buildings here do not need protection from water absorption and corrosion due to lack of rain, when in fact, this part of the world is one of the biggest markets for waterproofing products. If we dig a hole a few metres deep, especially in cities near the ocean, then we will find water and it is this fact that can put foundations and ultimately a whole structure at risk of deteriorating.
Paints, coatings and membranes have been tried and tested over the years, but many of these products are used for roofs and walls where water will simply slide off the surface – not the type of product needed to protect a building against high water pressures underground.
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“Despite the fact that this a country characterised by lack of rain, buildings will face some cracking after they have been constructed,” explains Universal Paints and Chemicals factory manger Mohammad Nayef. “This will eventually lead to water leakage, especially in high rise buildings, which often have underground parking.”
Kryton is another company that specialises is waterproofing for concrete structures. It manufactures a technology called Krystol, which blends in with the material rather than coating it, and chemical a reaction takes place.
Krystol reacts with un-hydrated cement particles in the concrete to form millions of needle-like crystals. These crystals grow to fill the naturally occurring pores and voids in concrete, which according to Kryton’s vice president Kevin Yuers, permanently blocks the pathways for water.
“If new cracks form due to settling or shrinkage, incoming water triggers the crystallisation process and additional
crystals begin to grow. These fill the cracks and ensure that the structure’s waterproofing barrier is maintained and protected,” he explains.
So, water pressure can cause corrosion and cracks in a building, but in addition to this, the particles that water carry, such as ferrous materials or even traces of calcium in the water, can also attack the rebar of a structure and cause it to deteriorate.
Hycrete is a company that has come up with a liquid that is designed to repel water and other contaminants that could attack the rebar.
“The Hycrete forms a long-chain hydrocarbon, which plugs all capillary pores and mechanically attaches itself to the sides to become part of the structure to prevent water from entering,” says Hycrete vice president of international sales Peter Condy “We allow less than 1% absorption into the concrete.”
To demonstrate how this works in further detail, the company recently built a concrete tank filled with 108,000 litres of water, on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
Continued on page 2
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