Waterstops or waterbars are premanufactured joint filler used to prevent the transmission of water through the construction joint. Waterstops are mainly used for the waterproofing of below-grade concrete structures like tunnels, water treatment facilities, parking structures, water reservoirs, sewage treatment facilities, and marine structures.
The basic features and types of waterstops used in construction are explained briefly in the article.
Waterstops for Construction Joint
Waterstops are highly demanded in locations where the construction joints are common:
- The transition area between the horizontal and vertical concrete components.
- Long length wall areas, where two or more formwork is required for casting
- Situations when concrete placement is paused or stopped for some reason
- Where a change in design form is required for the design elements.
The construction joint is also referred to as cold joints which occur when the before placed concrete cures earlier than the adjacent one. These are the most likely areas which can result in water ingress. In most of the cases, the construction joint is not actually formed. But, a construction joint, like the control joint is introduced in order to facilitate the shrinkage caused due to large displacements.
Read more: Waterstops for Waterproofing of Construction Joints
