Waterproofed with PENETRON ADMIX: The concrete retaining wall was cast against the rock face of the construction site to prevent groundwater from flooding the building site excavation.
By choosing the Penetron System, Skanska and Ceco Concrete Construction were able to stay on schedule by avoiding the complications of a membrane system installation and waterproofing the concrete at the same time as the concrete placement.
EAST SETAUKET, N.Y. (PRWEB) October 28, 2021
In October 2021, the first family moved into their new home at the Sixth South apartment complex in Nashville, Tennessee, a much-needed addition to the booming downtown district. The Penetron System was specified to protect the below-grade concrete structures of the residential complex against water ingress.
The Sixth South apartments are situated on the south side of Nashville’s popular SoBro district, less than two blocks from the renowned Music City Center. The residential complex comprises 299 apartments housed in a 12-story main building, each with views of downtown Nashville. The rental units are available in studio and 1-2-bedroom layouts (570-3,500 ft2). There is also a central parking garage for 300-350 cars, and 5,400 ft2 of commercial space on the ground floor below the rental units. Amenities include a clubroom, fitness center, game room, pet spa, yoga studio, bike garage, outdoor grills and fire pits, and a saltwater pool with an adjacent lounge area.
Structurally, post-tensioned concrete was used for the elevated parking slabs and residential tower elements. The project specifications indicated the need for a waterproofing solution for the below-grade retaining walls of the Sixth South basement structure.
Maximizing the Building Footprint
“While the construction site was being excavated, a large amount of rain and ground water began to leak through the rock face and into the footing excavation,” says Christopher Chen, Director of The Penetron Group. “Because the tight layout made installation of a traditional membrane system impossible due to the lack of working space behind the retaining wall, Penetron was asked to provide a durable waterproofing solution to waterproof the concrete retaining wall that was cast up against the excavated rock face.”
Due to property line constraints at the site, Ceco Concrete Construction, the concrete subcontractor, proposed casting the concrete retaining wall against the rock face at the property line, as water leaking from the rock face was flooding the building pit. Nashville Ready Mix subsequently provided PENETRON ADMIX-treated lean fill to plug up the rock face leaks and for under the foundation footers. PENEBAR SW waterstop strips were installed to seal all resulting construction joints. As part of a “belt and suspenders” approach, Skanska, the general contractor, also waterproofed the remaining below-grade concrete walls with a combination of PENETRON, a topical crystalline waterproofing material, and PENECRETE MORTAR, a crystalline waterproofing repair grout. This approach maximized the building square footage available to Southeast Venture, the project developer.
Permanently Impermeable
Once applied to a prepared concrete surface, the proprietary chemicals in Penetron crystalline products react in a catalytic reaction to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete. This formation permanently self-heals and seals micro-cracks, pores, and capillaries against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction, resulting in impermeable concrete. The non-soluble crystalline formation generated by Penetron becomes an integral part of the concrete matrix for the service life of the concrete.
“By choosing the Penetron System, Skanska and Ceco Concrete Construction were able to stay on schedule by avoiding the complications of a membrane system installation and waterproofing the concrete at the same time as the concrete placement.”
The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels.
For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com, or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
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