Posted on 13/8/19 in Products
As the name suggests, Swellable Waterbars expand when they come into contact with water, sealing construction joints and movement joints.
Waterbars are positioned in the centre of the construction joint, so that, should water begin to enter the joint and reach the centre, the waterbar swells on contact forming a seal against the concrete, preventing further ingress by the water.
Especially useful in basement waterproofing and other concrete basement structures, waterbars are also suitable for use in both vertical and horizontal joints in precast concrete wall panel systems, shield-driven tunnels such as subways, water supply and sewage systems, tunnels, cable lying etc. and within concrete rafts or slabs
The Wykamol range includes three types of waterbar, all designed for ease of application to suit every project, requirement and budget:
SwellSeal, an extruded rubber compound used to seal joints on many poured-in-place and below ground precast concrete applications. SwellSeal produces a water-tight seal when under conditions of confinement as it moulds itself to the surrounding surfaces. On contact with water it is capable of swelling up to 4 times its own volume, even filling gaps which are uneven in size. This means SwellSeal can be used without the need for any high-compression force. Its streamline thickness, at only 7 mm, makes it ideal for detailining around those hard-to-seal areas, such as pipework.
SwellMAX Waterstop is a Bentonite water-stop tape, designed to prevent water ingress through non-movement joints in reinforced concrete structures. SwellMAX is activated by the alkaline in fresh concrete, reacts with water and swells to prevent water ingress through the joints.
SwellMAX Plus is designed to prevent water ingress through non-movement joints in reinforced concrete structures. Also Bentonite based, SwellMAX Plus has a unique protection coating that prevents premature swelling of the tape for up to 3 days. If accidentally exposed to moisture while on site, and not in situ, waterbars begin to swell and are wasted, so this special feature can be a vital cost saver.
The inclusion of Bentonite adds the extremely valuable feature that SwellMAX and SwellMAX Plus are self-healing. If damaged in situ, once water comes into contact with them, any gap or crack heals itself, retaining the products’ integrity.
Both products are independently tested to up to 7 bars of water pressure and approved for use in contact with potable water.
Indefinite swelling and shrinking process continues for decades after installation, with swelling capacity of up to 500%.
For full technical and operational information, read our Specification sheets:
Or call us on +44 (0) 845 400 6666 to speak to one of our waterproofing experts.
