Media Release

Radisson Hotel Opts for Penetron’s Integral Waterproofing Solution

Chile

The newest hotel in the global Radisson network – the Radisson Petra Concepción – officially welcomed the first guests in May 2019. PENETRON ADMIX was chosen to replace a membrane waterproofing solution – saving the project owners time and money.

Nestled five kilometers (3 miles) north of downtown Concepción in South Central Chile, the Radisson Petra Concepción Hotel is located close to the slopes of the Termas de Chillán ski resort and the old coal mine caves at El Chiflón del Diablo. The 127-room hotel is just minutes from Carriel Sur International Airport and offers amenities (fitness center, swimming pool, bar and restaurant) that appeal to both business people and tourists.

During the planning phase of the project, Penetron Chile met with the Radisson Hotel Group managers, the construction company, and Society Petreos, the ready-mix supplier. Originally, an asphalt membrane was specified to waterproof the foundation structures of the hotel. However, Domingo Lema and his team showed how concrete treated with PENETRON ADMIX as an integral waterproofing solution would require no installation and have virtually no maintenance requirements.

“Once our team was able to present the evidence from similar projects that successfully replaced conventional membrane solutions elsewhere in Chile, the Concepción stakeholders quickly understood the advantages and selected the Penetron System,” explains Domingo Lema, Managing Director of Penetron Chile. 

Initial excavations at the site began at the beginning of 2018, immediately revealing the high groundwater levels characteristic for Concepción and the surrounding area. Society Petreos mixed PENETRON ADMIX into the concrete that was used to construct the walls and foundation slabs (an area of about 1,200 m2) of the hotel.

Easily mixed in during batching and unaffected by climatic conditions, PENETRON ADMIX becomes an integral part of the concrete matrix. The non-soluble crystalline network that forms throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete permanently seal the microcracks and capillaries against the penetration of water or chemicals. This protects concrete – and the underlying steel reinforcing bars – from deterioration for the life of the concrete. 

“As with many projects that first specified a membrane system, PENETRON ADMIX proved to be a much more efficient and lower cost alternative for the Radisson project,” says Domingo Lema. “In the long term, the owners will save money that would otherwise be needed for the repair and maintenance of the building.”

 

The retaining walls and foundation slabs of the Radisson Hotel were protected against the high groundwater levels typical for the region with PENETRON ADMIX.

Waterproofing concrete in Concepción: The retaining walls and foundation slabs of the Radisson Hotel were protected against the high groundwater levels typical for the region with PENETRON ADMIX.


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