PVC Water Stopper Seals

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PVC Waterstops also known as Water Bars or Water-stopper seals are flexible plastic strips which provide a physical barrier to Water at concrete joints, mostly in basements, Water retaining structures like Water tanks, Swimming pools, structural foundations & other below ground level constructions.  A typical waterstop has two identical half’s on both side of a central bulb. These additional extensions are provided with the aim of increasing path length for water entering behind the edge of waterstop. 

Compounding of Water Stops:

Waterstoppers are manufactured from anti-ageing customized plastic compound with PVC as a base polymer along with processing oil and plasticizers.

Features:

• High Elasticity & Tensile Strength, 
• Immune to Corrosion, 
• Excellent weather resistant, 
• Unaffected by acids, alkalis, metals salts and other mild chemicals, 
• Lower water absorption, 
• Withstand high Hydrostatic pressure, 
• Can bear shocks of heavy turbines, Earth quakes, Floods.

Applications:  

PVC Waterstops acts as sealants at RCC Masonry joints & prevent any seepage of water in or out though construction joints.

Waterstops withstand expansion or contraction movement at joints and take care of any deflection or displacement arising due to change in temperature, differential settlement of foundation, Geo disturbances causing Seismic forces like earth quack, thus eliminating danger of cracks.

Selection criteria:

Selection depends upon the hydro-static pressure of safe passage of seepage water where substantial expansion/contraction of joint takes place.

• The overall width of the water stop should not be greater than the thickness of the concrete.
• The distance from the face of the concrete to the waterstop must not be less than half the width of the watestop.
• The width of the water stop must be at-least 6 times the largest aggregate used for satisfactory compaction.

 Types :

1. Ribbed Type- multipurpose design, used where differential settlement of poured concrete is expected and a firm grip in concrete is desired.
2. Dumbbell Type- Dumbbell type waterstops is suggested for these sites, where little or no movements is expected.
3. Kicker (Surface) Type: these are externally placed and are use where embedded types cannot be used due to interference of steel reinforcement.

Waterstop installation procedure:

Water Stopper are tied to steel frame works through small eyelet by means of thin wires (same being depicted in the adjacent figure), certain metal clamps meant to grip the water stop seal and keep it in proper position are also available with suppliers.

Firstly one half of the waterstop is embedded in the concrete leaving the second half extended. Second half is also embedded leaving the center bulb free for expansion and contraction movements.

Area of Application:

• Public Utilities : Bridges, Road Embankments, Tunnels, Water Tanks, Swimming Pools, Water Filtration plants, Sewage Plants, Dams, Canals, Aqueducts, Reservoirs, Irrigation Projects Cooling Towers.
• Building: Basements, Foundations Slabs, Masonry Joints, Terraces, Retaining Walls, Overhead & Underground Water Tanks, Skyscraper.
• Industries: Chemical Plants, Fertilizer Steel, Waste Treatment Plants, Thermal & Hydro Power Stations, Atomic Reactors, Shipyards & Docks.

Precautions taken during water stop installation

• They are vulnerable to get damaged during pouring of concrete.
• Compaction of concrete around waterbar should be taken care otherwise it can dislocate & could lead to a risk of honeycomb formation which may lead to leakage through waterbar itself rather than through joint.