Media

Kryton Buildmat CO. Pvt. Ltd. – Project Case Study for Cyrstalline waterproofing

Media » News March 13, 2006

Masterbuilder – March 2006

Concrete waterproofing products from Kryton Buildmat Co. Pvt. Ltd. have a unique crystal forming property that provides long-term protection for building and other structures by waterproofing concrete from inside out.

 KRYTON BUILDMAT CO. Pvt. Ltd. wholly subsidiary of Kryton Holding Inc. (KHI) Canada is manufacturing and supplying concreting waterproofing products based on the latest crystalline technology. These products (Admixture or Surface Applied System) have a unique Crystal Formingproperty that provides long-term protection for building and other structures by waterproofing concrete from inside out. The high-growth component of the product reacts with water and unhydrated cement particles in concrete to form millions of needle – like crystals. These crystals grow and migrate through the concrete to fill in hair-thin pores and microscopic voids that would otherwise serve as passage for harmful moisture.

Above Left: Odlins building before construction. Above Right: An artist rendering of the Odlins building.

Case Study
Challenge: Wellington (New Zealand’s capital) is situated alongside Wellington Harbour and is home to many museums, theatres and arts festivals and is a leading center for creative industries, such as film and computer technology. It is also the new location for the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX), which is situated inside the historic Odlins building in the business district’s waterfront.

Originally built on reclaimed land (allowing the railway to be extended in 1893) in 1907, the Odlins building was home for C & A Odlin Timber and Hardware Co. It was once situated right next to the water and among the interiors impressive features are two huge timber trusses spanning the widtb of the attic floor. In 2001, plans began to retrofit one floor of apartments, four floors of office space, a ground floor retail area and a basement car park inside the heritage four – storey building.

The biggest challenge faced by both the contractors (LT McGuinness) and architects / engineers (Athfield Architects, Dunning Thornton) was that the Odlins building was older, bigger, wetter and more rotten then most. ” ……. there has been a lot of interest to see what we do to keep the heritage elements, and also modernize it ..” says McGuinness.

Structural work and repair began on the building in January 2004, and once framework to support the building was complete, work on the basement began. Contractors were literally swimming since the basement was submerged under 1.5m of water. An additional challenge to this was because construction was below seal level and required meticulous planning in dealing with tides.

TOP: The biggest challenge faced by both the contractors … was that the Odlins building was older, bigger, wetter and more rotten than most. MIDDLE: Contractors were literally swimming since the basement was submerged under 1.5m of water. BOTTOM: Before picture of the Odlins building.

Solution

To ensure the building’s new parking garage would remain leak-free, LT McGuinness needed a concrete waterproofing solution that would provide a watertight resistance to hydrostatic pressure and could also protect against ingression of tidal pressure. McGuinness looked to Fraser Brown & Stratmore Limited for a crystalline waterproofing solution. Technical Sales Manager, Jeremy Mallender recommended Kryton’s Krystol waterproofing system.

Kryton’s Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) was used because of it’s resistance to both tidal waters and hydrostatic pressure from any direction. Tests have shown that ” Krystolized” concrete can hold back hydrostatic pressure with up to 140 meters /460 feet of water head pressure.

When added to concrete mix or applied to existing concrete, Krystol creates a chemical reaction that causes needle – like crystals to grow, filling the spaces between concrete particles and permanently blocking the movement of water in all directions. If small cracks later form, incoming water causes additional crystals to grow, selfsealing the cracks and stopping the movement of water through the concrete. The Krystol crack repair system (Krystol TI/T2) was also used to stop leaks in areas of the basement where KIM had not been used.

Six months have passed since the Odlins building’s completion in June 2005. Today it remains an historical and iconic reminder of the past, resurrected and leak -free.
“Krytsol Internal Membrane (KIM) was used because of its resistance to both tidal waters and hydrostatic pressure from any direction.