Concrete International – November 2006
Pioneered by ABE Enterprises of Atlanta, GA, the “ABE wall” is a shoring wall built from the top down. By combining the steps typically involved in building a shoring wall, it generates significant savings in time and construction costs. Because it doesn’t leave room outside the wall for installing conventional waterproofing membranes, the ABE wall requires an innovative waterproofing solution.
When an ABE wall was recently built as part of a new below-grade parkade at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, GA, Kryton International’s Krystol concrete waterproofing system was used. Based on Kryton’s proprietary crystalline technology, the Krystol system transforms porous concrete into a permanent, waterproof barrier, eliminating the need for external membrane systems. When added to concrete, it causes millions of tiny crystals to grow, filling the spaces between concrete particles and permanently blocking the movement of water and waterborne contaminants. If cracks form in concrete, Krystol reacts with incoming water to grow additional crystals, self-sealing the cracks and eliminating the need for costly repairs.
