When confronted with a complex construction project on an oceanfront site that was completed December 2017, a South African builder opted for PENETRON ADMIX to ensure a durable – and impermeable – underground concrete structure. The crystalline admixture becomes an integral part of the matrix for the life of the concrete.
“The building project, now the KwaZulu-Natal branch office of EY (formerly Ernst & Young), was developed specifically to meet the requirements of EY by the owners, the United African Marine Insurance Company,” explains Clive Leader, Managing Director of PENETRON South Africa. “The project encompassed two phases of construction to add a new garage and expand the existing below-ground structure.”
Adding a two-floor underground parking garage to an existing building is a complex undertaking that demands precise planning, substantial construction expertise and – because of the marine environment in this part of South Africa – an absolutely reliable waterproofing solution.
As defined by the American Concrete Institute (ACI), permeability-reducing concrete admixtures (PRAHs) can provide comprehensive protection against concrete deterioration caused by chemical attack and corrosion from chloride penetration (i.e. seawater), even under high hydrostatic pressure.
As a recognized PRAH, the PENETRON ADMIX crystalline admixture can significantly increase concrete durability and service life. The active ingredients in PENETRON ADMIX form a catalytic reaction with moisture in fresh concrete to generate a permanent crystalline formation throughout the concrete. These crystals permanently seal microcracks, pores and capillaries in the concrete matrix against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction, even under hostile environmental conditions.
Easily mixed in during batching and unaffected by climatic conditions, PENETRON ADMIX was added to just over 400 m3 of the concrete mix to become an integral part of the concrete matrix; it also enhances the compressive strength of concrete and provides ‘self-healing’ capabilities for cracks during the life of the concrete.
“Thanks to a successful and productive relationship with Rubro Building Contractors, where PENETRON products were successfully applied to a number of challenging situations, PENETRON ADMIX was specified to treat the concrete for this project in KwaZulu-Natal,” adds Mr. Leader.
PENETRON inside: The KwaZulu-Natal branch office of EY (formerly Ernst & Young) features an expanded underground garage – permanently waterproofed with PENETRON ADMIX.
Crystalline solution: Adding a two-floor underground parking garage demands precise planning, expertise and – due to the marine location – PENETRON ADMIX for a reliable waterproofing solution.
