Waterproofing for healthy structures by Sunanda Global (Part 1)

Waterproofing Practices – An Introduction

“No material is itself durable or non-durable; it is the interaction of the material with its in-service environment that determines its durability,” – says a well-known concrete technologist Larry Masters. Thus, concerning concrete, durability will depend on the concrete’s nature (impermeability) and the aggressiveness of the in-service environment. The three essential steps that ensure adequate durability of concrete in-service are:

• Compliance with current standards of good practice during construction.
• Using new and improved materials and innovative construction systems designed for increased durability at competitive costs.
• Provision of protection to the existing undamaged structures against adverse environments.

However, despite all the precautions, several other factors can affect the durability of concrete. Though innumerable to list out, these factors can be mainly grouped under four principle categories viz:

• Construction practices,
• Design,
• Material characteristics, and
• Exposure conditions.

The appropriate knowledge or lack of the same regarding these four categories leads to distress and defects in the concrete structures, which is often the initiation point of the deterioration in the health of the concrete structure.

In the Indian context, these four parameters caused havoc later in the century. Thus, it becomes our paramount responsibility to introspect, evaluate and rectify the blunders and march confidently toward the future with healthy waterproof structures.

The defects and the structural distress are manifested in several ways, but generally observed manifestations are dampness and leakages. There are several independent reasons for leakages in the structures; well-thought-out methods to waterproof a structure can give long-lasting rewards. Thus, it is a well-identified aspect of durability to offer good waterproofing for healthy structures.

In this context, Sunanda Global, the Best waterproofing company, applies near-perfect waterproofing solutions, leveraging advancements in material science to ensure optimal durability for healthy structures.

Click below to read the next part of the article.

Waterproofing of the structure 

About the author

Dr. S. K. Manjrekar (Ph.D. Bombay University – 1977), Dr. S. K. Manjrekar is Chairman and Managing Director of a well-known construction chemicals company in India – M/s. Sunanda Speciality Coatings Pvt. Ltd., for the last 40 years. Operations in UAE, Oman, Nepal, Tanzania, and the USA.

He is actively working on several technical and administrative committees of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) in the USA.

He teaches ACI concrete field testing courses to engineers in India as a ‘Train the Trainer’ initiative.

He has published more than 200 papers in various national and international journals.

He has given over 100 keynote lectures on concrete, corrosion prevention, waterproofing, nanomaterials, etc.

Lectured extensively internationally in Countries – United Kingdom – London, Leeds University, United States of America – Pittsburgh, Malaysia, Oman, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Romania, Hong Kong – Hong Kong University, and many more as an invited keynote speaker.

He is the guest editor of International journals in the UK, USA, and Mexico.

Ishita Manjrekar