The San Antonio Abad 292 residential development in México City was inaugurated in April 2020 by Quiero Casa. PENETRON ADMIX provided a robust NSF-61-approved waterproofing solution to protect the below-grade water tanks from leaks or potential contamination from groundwater.
Located near the Historic Center of México City on one of the main avenues of the D.F., the San Antonio Abad 292 development offers quick access to transportation, schools, shopping and business areas. The project comprises 86 apartments, ranging in size from 54-64 m2 (600-705 square feet).
“A developer and general contractor specializing in residential projects in and around México City, Quiero Casa has been a strong advocate of Penetron technology as a durable waterproofing solution for their numerous developments in and around México City,” says Alejandro Muciño, the Managing Director of Penetron Mexico.
Dealing with a Difficult Geology
Similar to many housing developments within México City, San Antonio Abad 292 features below-grade water reservoirs or cisterns that supply drinking water to the apartments. The San Antonio Abad complex has an 80,000-liter drinking water tank, as well as a 12,500-liter stormwater tank and a 30,000-liter cistern for rainwater storage.
“Because of the area’s high-water table and difficult soil geology, the water tanks and cisterns of the San Antonio Abad 292 project demanded a robust waterproofing solution to keep water in the tanks and also protect the tank structures from the outside groundwater seeping into the tanks,” adds Alejandro Muciño. “The waterproofing solution for the drinking water tanks also required a completely non-toxic – and durable – waterproofing treatment.”
Looking for an Alternative to a Membrane Solution
The project engineers at Quiero Casa questioned the traditional method of applying an exterior topical coating combined with a membrane system to protect below-grade concrete structures. Because applying a coating and then installing a membrane wasn’t the most efficient solution in terms of time and costs, Penetron’s integral crystalline technology was specified.
PENETRON crystalline materials are NSF-61-certified (i.e. suitable for potable water applications), and completely non-toxic (no VOCs). Once added to the mix, PENETRON ADMIX becomes an integral part of the concrete matrix and performs consistently during the life of the concrete. CEMEX supplied the ready-mix concrete directly to the construction site, where PENETRON ADMIX was easily added by a Quiero Casa engineer. PENEBAR SW swellable waterstop strips were installed to permanently seal the resulting construction joints and a combination of PENETRON and PENECRETE MORTAR was used to fill the tie-holes in the concrete.
The Penetron System provides a complete solution, ensuring waterproof and durable water tanks with no need for future maintenance.
Built to hold water: The San Antonio Abad 292 complex in México City has a drinking water tank, a stormwater tank and a cistern for rainwater – all waterproofed with PENETRON ADMIX.
Water is safe to drink: The PENETRON-ADMIX-treated concrete used for the drinking water and rainwater tanks of the San Antonio Abad 292 apartments is non-toxic and NSF-61 certified.
