Waterstop Keycup® in Action

Keycup® is a multi-function, reusable concrete accessory that securely holds waterstop in place while simultaneously creating a keyed construction joint. Typical applications include:

• Slab on grade
• Wall joints
• Lumber replacement
• Labor saver

Learn more at www.keycupform.com

 

 

JP Specialties, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high-performance waterstop and concrete joint sealing solutions, serving the construction industry since 1954. Headquartered in Murrieta, California, we are renowned for our Earth Shield® line of chemical-resistant waterstops, which are trusted worldwide in critical applications such as water and wastewater treatment plants, chemical containment structures, fuel storage facilities, and ozone contactor systems.  

Our Products

We offer a comprehensive range of waterstop products designed to ensure fluid-tight concrete joints:

• TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate) Waterstops: Provide superior chemical resistance and flexibility, suitable for aggressive environments.
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Waterstops: Cost-effective solutions for general-purpose applications.
• Stainless Steel and Carbon Steel Waterstops: Ideal for high-temperature and corrosive environments.
• Hydrophilic and Mastic Waterstops: Designed for non-moving joints, these swell upon contact with water to ensure a tight seal.
• Specialty Fittings and Installation Tools: Including patented waterstop welding equipment (U.S. Patent No. 4,867,835).

Technical Leadership

Our commitment to engineering excellence is demonstrated by our active participation in multiple American Concrete Institute (ACI) committees. We were the first waterstop manufacturer to achieve NSF/ANSI 61 certification, ensuring our products are safe for potable water applications. Our founder, David Poole, authored The Little Book of Waterstop, a widely recognized industry guide.   

Contractor Support and Free Services

We provide extensive support to contractors and project teams, including:

• Complete plan takeoffs and waterstop mapping.
• 3D isometric waterstop details for every fitting.
• Fast jobsite delivery.
• Exclusive waterstop site pickup and recycling services.
• Waterstop welding certification courses for installers.
• Accredited continuing education webinars and seminars for engineers and architects.

Sustainability Commitment

We are dedicated to environmental responsibility, operating paperlessly, sourcing raw materials responsibly, and recycling water during extrusion processes. Our take-back program ensures Earth Shield® products are properly recycled, minimizing our ecological footprint .  

For more information, visit our website at www.jpspecialties.com or contact us at 800-821-3859 or 951-763-7077. 

 

"You Can't Stop Waterstop"

My green BMW X5 M Competition proudly displays the license plate “H2OSTOP,” a nod to the innovative “waterstop” technology from www.jpspecialties.com.

Thermoplastic Waterstops

Thermoplastic waterstops are essential components in concrete joints, designed to provide a watertight seal and prevent the passage of fluids through the joint. These products are particularly critical in areas such as water treatment plants, reservoirs, tunnels, and other structures where water or other fluids must be contained within or excluded from the concrete.

Thermoplastic waterstops are typically made from robust, flexible materials such as PVC, which possess excellent water resistance and durability. They are engineered to accommodate movement and settlement within concrete joints, helping to maintain the integrity of the structure over time while ensuring effective performance in diverse environmental conditions.

When installing thermoplastic waterstops, it's crucial to consider factors such as joint design, movement capability, and compatibility with the concrete and surrounding materials. The goal is to ensure a secure, long-lasting seal that effectively prevents the passage of liquids.

One advantage of thermoplastic waterstops is their ability to be heat-welded at the joints, creating seamless, continuous barriers against water infiltration. This welding process provides a reliable and durable connection, eliminating the risk of leakage through the joints.

Engineers rely on thermoplastic waterstops to meet stringent performance requirements and regulations, providing peace of mind that critical structures will remain watertight and secure over their operational lifespan. By selecting the appropriate waterstop design and installation methods, engineers can effectively manage the challenges associated with concrete joint sealing, contributing to the long-term success of their projects.

 

Earth Shield® TPV (thermoplastic vulcanizate) (aka TPE-R) Waterstop is the world's leading chemical-resistant waterstop, with renowned physical properties and broad-spectrum resistance to hazmat, deleterious fluids, and concentrated ozone. NSF 61 certified and GreenSpec listed. Earth Shield® Thermoplastic Vulcanizate Waterstop (TPV) (aka TPE-R), by J P Specialties, dramatically expands the scope of conventional waterstop by offering unmatched chemical resistance to a broad spectrum of aggressive chemicals, solvents, and hot petroleum oils. EPA-compliant waterstop profiles are available for new construction and retrofit, and the necessary tools and accessories for proper installation.

Waterstop Tortuous Fluid Flow Path

You can quantify the effectiveness of a waterstop by calculating its fluid flow path. The fluid flow path is measured from the waterstop hydraulic side to the dry side. Ribbed waterstop profiles are much more effective than the traditional dumbbell varieties. The series of fins (or ribs) substantially exaggerates the fluid flow path from the hydraulic side to the dry side compared to the older standard dumbbell profiles (see the illustration below).

What is Thermoplastic Elastomer Rubber? TPER, TPO, and TPV?

Understanding the difference between TPER and TPV is the key to writing more robust specifications for chemical-resistant waterstop. The key is in the crosslinking of the rubber phase. Polymers are chemical compounds formed by multiple structural units called monomers.

In the laboratory, forming polymers from monomers is called polymerization and is often so complex that it has to be initiated or sustained by heat, pressure, or a catalyst. Synthetic polymers produce plastics, synthetic fibers, and synthetic rubber.

Polymers come in different forms and have certain qualities (strength, elasticity, resistance to solvents, and temperature extremes), achieved through vulcanization, where individual polymer molecules form crosslinks.

The vulcanization of polymers leads to springy rubber molecules that can become locked together to a greater or lesser extent. These molecules form rubber or elastomers. The end material is stronger, much more durable, and more resistant to chemicals.

 

ELASTOMERS

Elastomers are amorphous polymers, the result of crosslinking rubber molecules through vulcanization.


An elastomer can exist in two states:

• Uncured elastomers are a gelatinous mass with the consistency of chewing gum in its natural state.

• Cured elastomers (i.e., vulcanized elastomers) are rubber-like materials that can be stretched to twice their original length. Thanks to their crosslinks, they return to most of their original length when released.

 

PLASTICS

Plastic or thermoplastic polymers consist of long polymer molecules that are not linked to each other, i.e.; they have no crosslinks. They can generally go through many melt/freeze cycles without suffering chemical change.


Thermoplastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, acrylics, nylons, and polyurethanes.


Fundamental differences exist between thermoplastic polymers and thermoset rubber. Thermoset rubber generally demonstrates a better elastic behavior and a better memory than a thermoplastic material. They are also better suited to high-temperature applications. Thermoset rubber is not easily recyclable like thermoplastic, which can be melted and reshaped.

 

THERMOSET RUBBER

Thermoset rubber refers to a range of elastomers that vulcanize to a more robust form through the addition of energy (heat or irradiation). The added power and catalysts cause the molecular chains to link into a rigid, 3D structure. However, once vulcanized, they cannot be melted and reshaped.

Important thermosets include phenolics, urea, melamine, epoxies, polyesters, silicones, rubbers, and polyurethanes.

 

THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS (TPER)

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPERs) are a diverse family of rubber-like compound materials that combine the functional performance and properties of conventional thermoset rubbers with the processability of plastics. TPERs permit the fabrication of rubber-like products with the ability to be reshaped or reformed with the application of heat.

 

THERMOPLASTIC VULCANIZATES (TPV)

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) belong to the thermoplastic elastomer (TPER) family. TPVs are chemically crosslinked rubber within a thermoplastic polymer phase.

The level of vulcanization (partial versus full) has an impact on the properties of the TPV. A fully vulcanized TPV demonstrates improved performance than a partially or non-vulcanized one (thermoplastic polyolefin or TPO).

TPVs have outstanding properties, including excellent elastic recovery, high-temperature resistance, and chemical resistance.

A TPV molecule — Crosslinked rubber phase encased in a thermoplastic matrix.

 

Waterstop Overlay Art

 

Waterstops for Environmental Compliance of Liquid Tight Concrete Structures

Waterstops for Environmental Compliance of Liquid Tight Concrete Structures is a targeted course of instruction and professional development for engineering firms engaged in the design of chemical, industrial, and environmental projects such as secondary containment of hazardous waste, industrial wastewater, ozone contactors, and others. The course is technical in nature and describes waterstops role in fluid-proofing concrete joints, chemical resistant polymers and steels, and state and federal regulations of compliance. 

Earth Day 2021

 

All material copyright 2021

 J P Specialties, Inc. is pleased to showcase the above photograph, which illustrates a successful waterstop repair with our custom "V-Iron" waterstop splicing tool. The V-Iron provides the waterstop installer with an efficient means to repair and replace damaged, forgotten, or misplaced waterstop cast-in-situ concrete. The product has male and female points at 45°, which allows for a miter cut transition, maintaining ribs and centerbulb continuity.

We manufacture a complete line of waterstop installation and repair tools. Click here to learn more.

Ozone Resistant TPV Waterstops

Modern water treatment facilities, particularly ozone contactor structures, have utilized Earth Shield® waterstop for over 20 years. Earth Shield® thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) waterstop is immune to the corrosive effects of concentrated ozone. Our TPV polymer waterstop is suitable for ozone exposures up to 600 pphm (parts per hundred million). 

Independent ozone resistance testing (ASTM D 1171) has been performed on our product under direct contact, side-stream, off-gas, and finished water conditions. There was only a slight deviation from the control sample and negligible loss of physical properties.

JP Specialties, Inc. has been in the waterstop business since 1954. We offer a complete system — CAD drawings, shop-made fittings, waterstop welding equipment, and more.

Lead-free and NSF 372 Certified Waterstops

Lead is a metal used in the plumbing and waterworks industry. Lead can dissolve into the water supply from drinking water system components it contacts (pipes, fittings, waterstops, et al.). The maximum lead content in drinking water system components is 0.25%, as defined by the NSF 372 Standard.

Earth Shield® polyvinyl chloride waterstops are certified to NSF/ANSI 372 and conform with the lead content requirements for the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act. 

Earth Shield® Waterstop is Lead-free per NSF 372

In business continuously since 1954, J P Specialties, Inc. has been manufacturing the Earth Shield® line of waterstops for over 20 years. We provide technical support for a complete range of waterstops and waterstop accessories. Our waterstop products (PVC, TPV, stainless steel, and MCR strip-applied) have the best physical properties in the industry, and more importantly, we provide unmatched service and technical support. 

At the engineering level, our technical leaders are officers in multiple ACI committees. We were the first waterstop company to get NSF 61 certification. Our owner has written the leading professional resource book used in the construction industry (The Little Book of Waterstop by David Poole). Our popular accredited seminar (worth one-hour CEU credit) is presented nationally, internationally, and on-line to over 200 engineering and owner offices with many thousands of attendees. 

We also provide contractors with aggressive pricing, extensive inventories, and factory fabrications for both standard and custom waterstop fittings. J P Specialties also offers on-site and on-line waterstop welding schools and certifies attendees for the proper welding of waterstops.  

J P Specialties, Inc. strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability and believes that a successful future for our business and the customers we serve depends on the sustainability of the environment, communities, and economies in which we operate.

As a responsible corporate citizen, we bear a responsibility to consider the impacts of our actions and how they affect the environment both directly in terms of our own operations, and indirectly through our purchasing decisions, the products and services we offer to our customers, and the business opportunities we pursue.

We are committed to minimizing the impact of our operations on the environment and to demonstrating leadership by integrating environmental considerations into all our business practices. 

#environment #concrete #sustainability 

Earth Shield® Waterstop Installed on and Around Pilecaps.

Earth Shield® Corner Seal Waterstop (part no. JP215) provides an effective watertight seal between the pilecaps, ground beams, floor slabs, and walls in liquid retaining and liquid excluding structures.

How to Weld Waterstop — PVC and TPV

Video demonstrates the proper welding techniques for welding PVC and TPV waterstops. Full link here.

Hydrophilic Waterstops

 

The term hydrophilic means “water-loving.” A good example is a sponge that absorbs water (or other polar fluid) and swells. At their most basic level, hydrophilic waterstops absorb moisture, grow in size, and seal the concrete construction joint.

Hydrophilic waterstops sell in rolls or strips. The profile is usually a small rectangle or trapezoidal shape, with 3/4” x 1” being somewhat standard. These strips are adhered to existing concrete using an adhesive or primer, or alternately concrete nails at 12” on-center spacing. This adhesion is essential, as only three sides of the waterstop get exposed to fresh concrete. If the waterstop displaces during the concrete pour, it can quickly lose most of its effectiveness. 

Commercially available for several decades, hydrophilic waterstops have long track records, albeit not always positive. Take great care at the specification level to ensure your project meets this range of product’s relatively narrow application scope.

Hydrophilic Waterstops — The “Pros”

The most significant advantage of hydrophilic waterstops is their ease of installation — the products get glued in place at the cold joint, and concrete is then cast on top of them (the second pour). The installation efficiency of this class of products makes them a favorite amongst contractors in the field.

Another “pro” is their relatively low cost. At the time of publication, a “typical” sodium bentonite-based waterstop is approximately $2.00 per linear foot, and a “typical” chemical-modified chloroprene rubber waterstop is $6.00 per linear foot. When combined with the low labor cost, strip-applied hydrophilic waterstops are time and money savers.

Hydrophilic Waterstops — The “Cons”

To read the manufacturer’s product literature, you would think they are indeed the perfect waterstop product. Cheap and easy to install, high head pressure-resistant, and low material cost. These products are not the panacea the manufacturers claim, and the essential information concerning their use is often not published. For instance, a leading manufacturer of hydrophilic waterstop states the following minimum requirements on their datasheet:

1. 8-inch thick concrete or greater
2. A double row of reinforcing steel
3. 3,000 psi concrete or greater
4. 3 inches of concrete coverage on all sides of the waterstop (minimum)
5. Non-moving construction joints only

These requirements seriously limit the project designer. Few concrete projects consist of just construction joints, and eight-inch thick concrete is rare in residential and light commercial construction. The first four prevent the hydrophilic reaction (waterstop swelling in the presence of water) from cracking or blowing out the concrete. The leading manufacturer of bentonite-based waterstops includes 75% sodium bentonite into the manufacture of their product. This high bentonite concentration allows the product to rapidly swell when exposed to water and quickly seal the joint. However, this high concentration of bentonite can also create problems such as concrete cracking or even the potential of blown-out joints due to the internal pressure of the rapidly expanding waterstop and the low tensile strength of uncured concrete.

Another limitation is the product’s inability to swell as intended in fluids other than water. All of the commercially available hydrophilic waterstop products have published data for swell ratios; however, this data is for potable water (often distilled) and saltwater. Since the products need to swell to seal the concrete joint, a designer for a non-water facility (such as secondary containment of petroleum products) can not specify hydrophilic waterstops with confidence as they will not swell as intended and may deteriorate. The American Concrete Institute recommends against using hydrophilic waterstops for fluids other than water (ACI 350.2R-04).

Hydrophilic Waterstops — Butyl/Bentonite

The first hydrophilic waterstops sold commercially were a mixture of clay and rubber. Sodium bentonite clay is the hydrophilic component of the product. Butyl rubber serves as the cohesive, tacky base. 

Bentonite-based hydrophilic waterstops are susceptible to product disintegration over the long term, especially when the moisture or saturation conditions are cyclical. The continual expansion/shrinkage/re-expansion causes the products to break down, and the bentonite migrates from the butyl rubber, leaving a smaller, cracked, non-expandable product.

Waterstop products containing less bentonite are less likely to break, blow out the concrete joint, and are less likely to break down over time from bentonite migration. However, they also swell slower and less volumetrically. Reduced bentonite waterstops should not be used in saltwater as their hydrophilic reaction is limited.

Sodium bentonite-based hydrophilic waterstops are still commercially available today. However, their use has diminished by the advent of chemically modified chloroprene waterstops that provide the required hydrophilic expansion with water, without the degradation and breakdown of the natural clay product.

Hydrophilic Waterstops — Modified Chloroprene Rubber (MCR)

Not all hydrophilic waterstops use bentonite clay as their hydrophilic agent. Modified chloroprene rubber waterstop is 100% rubber and contains no bentonite. MCR waterstops are chemically modified to swell in water*, but not to the point of disintegration, eliminating the wet/dry cycling problem that affects the bentonite-based waterstops. MCR waterstop holds up much better over time. Other product features make chemically modified chloroprene waterstops the right choice for a variety of applications. However, this class of hydrophilic waterstop also suffers from many of the same weaknesses as the more inexpensive bentonite-based waterstop products — Namely, the inability to swell in fluids other than water, slow swell time, and the lack of expansion and contraction joint functionality.

* All of the commercially available hydrophilic waterstop products have published data for swell ratios; however, this data is for potable water (often distilled).

Contact David Poole for Waterstop Assistance

 Need assistance with waterstop specification or installation? I'm here to help.

Waterstop plays a critical role in the integrity of concrete structures. Waterstop provides a fluid-tight diaphragm when embedded in, and running through concrete joints. Earth Shield® Thermoplastic Vulcanizate Waterstop (TPV) (aka TPE-R), by J P Specialties dramatically expands the scope of conventional waterstop by offering unmatched chemical resistance to a broad spectrum of aggressive chemicals, solvents, and hot petroleum oils. Manufactured NSF 61 certified, EPA-compliant waterstop profiles are available for new construction and retrofit, as well as the necessary tools and accessories for proper installation.