Showing posts with label Joints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joints. Show all posts

Sunday, August 16, 2020

MSI Process for Waterstops

Waterstop has a singular purpose: To prevent the passage of fluids across and along concrete joints. Waterstop does all of its work at the joint. Because concrete joints are frequently open and subject to hydrostatic loads, waterstop has the most critical role in fluid-proofing a concrete structure. A pinhole or imperfection in a vapor barrier will have little to no noticeable effect. Still, even the slightest defect in the waterstop product or its installation can be truly catastrophic to the fluid-tight integrity of the building envelope. For this reason, a great deal of care must go into what I call the MSI Process: Manufacturing, Selection, and Installation.


Waterstop MSI Process

  1. Waterstop MANUFACTURING, history, and types of products commercially available. The manufactured waterstop must be of the highest quality from a manufacturer offering specification, detailing, and installation assistance.
  2. Waterstop product SELECTION is the second most important consideration. Profiles are available for myriad applications and conditions. The designer must choose correctly, preferably with manufacturer consultation.
  3. Waterstop INSTALLATION. Most waterstop failures occur because the material incorrectly installed.

Sunday, June 02, 2013

Concrete Joints Defined

Contraction Joints - Used to divide large pours of concrete into smaller structural units, contraction joints create a man-made plane of weakness to regulate and control (another name for a contraction joint is a control joint) the location of a crack formed by moisture loss of concrete. Without this formed contraction joint, the concrete would freely crack in unexpected and unattractive locations.

Construction Joints - an interruption of the concrete pour 30 minutes or greater creates a construction joint.

Expansion Joints - Designed to negate the compressive forces from abutting concrete structures that may occur as a result of expansion, loads, or differential movement from settlement. Expansion joints require an actual gap between the concrete pours, which is frequently filled with a compressible joint filler material such as foam, rubber, cork, or cane fiber board.