Vancouver, B.C. – An innovative concrete waterstop application is changing the way concrete construction joints are waterproofed. Known as the “Krystol Waterstop System™,” the application replaces conventional waterstop barriers, saving construction time and costs while providing two lines of defense to protect construction joints. A worldwide patent for the application is currently pending.
“When it comes to waterproofing, the joints between concrete pours are particularly vulnerable,” said Leo Connell, Marketing Director for Kryton International. “Traditionally, construction joints are sealed using PVC waterstops, bentonite strips or swellable urethane. However, these systems are difficult to install and can easily become dislodged or damaged during concrete pours, leaving joints susceptible to leakage. More than just a physical barrier, the Krystol Waterstop System is based on Kryton’s proprietary Krystol™ technology, which eliminates many of the challenges associated with joint design and waterproofing.”
The Krystol Waterstop System uses two cementitious, reactive, crystalline-based products: Krystol Waterstop Grout™ and Krystol Waterstop Treatment™. A 5-cm wide, 3-cm (2″ x 1 ¼”) high triangle-shaped strip of Krystol Waterstop Grout is created along the edge of a concrete slab or wall at the site where a new wall is to be poured. Once the grout has cured, Krystol Waterstop Treatment is applied and the concrete wall can be poured as normal.
Both products contain Krystol, an integral crystalline waterproofing compound that is proven to waterproof concrete from the inside out, replacing conventional external membranes and waterstop systems. When mixed with or applied to concrete, Krystol chemicals react with water and unhydrated cement to form microscopic crystals that seal the spaces between concrete particles and permanently block water penetration from all directions. In addition, a second line of defense is created when the Krystol Waterstop Grout hardens to achieve a high-strength physical barrier.
The Krystol Waterstop System offers a number of benefits over conventional barrier systems:
One of the first projects to utilize the Krystol Waterstop System in Vancouver is the Carey Theological College on the campus of the University of British Columbia.
“The Krystol Waterstop System was specified by the project’s architect and building envelope consultants,” says Ken Hrynyk, Project Superintendent, Dominion Fairmile Construction, builders of the college. “We hadn’t worked with the application before, but we’ve used it in every concrete pour in this structure. We’ve found it much easier and quicker to apply than normal barrier systems and we don’t have the worry of barriers moving or being damaged during pours, which we’ve often experienced in other projects.”
Hrynyk says it takes a fraction of the time to prepare a joint using this system compared to a traditional physical barrier system. “It’s saving us a lot of time, which of course translates into cost savings.”
For more information about the Krystol Waterstop System visit www.kryton.com or call 604-324-8280 or 1-800-267-8280.
About Kryton International:
Kryton International Inc. specializes in developing, manufacturing and distributing specialty products for the waterproofing, repair and protection of concrete structures. The company’s products have been used in construction projects worldwide including parking structures, foundations and basements, water/wastewater treatment facilities, swimming pools and aquatic centres, subways and pipelines, bridges and dams. Founded in 1973, Kryton distributes in 40 countries with various offices and manufacturing facilities around the world.
