Gulf Construction Online - Sterling solution for beachfront job

Waterproofing

At Al Zeina ... Stirling Lloyd’s Integritank waterproofing membrane being spray applied.

Sterling solution for beachfront job

Stirling Lloyd’s reputation in the region has earned it yet another project from a satisfied customer – this time for a prestigious mixed-use development at Abu Dhabi’s Al Raha Beach project, which needed a watertight solution.

01 November 2011

HIGH-quality waterproofing materials from Stirling Lloyd continue to play an important role in protecting the infrastructure of new commercial developments across Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The latest example is the luxurious neighbourhood of Al Zeina, the ‘strategic gateway’ to the Al Raha Beach Development, where the company’s Integritank waterproofing membrane has again reinforced its reputation throughout the region.

The Al Zeina district, which consists of seven precincts, is a community-focused, mixed-use development that comprises luxury residential accommodation alongside boat moorings, retail outlets and waterside cafes and restaurants. The residential properties include apartments and penthouses built to various heights to maximise the impressive seafront views, and a range of townhouses and villas, some with private courtyards, recreation pools and gardens and others that open out directly onto the 500-m-long private beach.

The extensive detailing throughout the site’s podium deck, including an intricate array of planters, pods, water features, upstands and steps, created their own waterproofing issues. “The fact that these areas are located directly over car-parks and the high-value residential properties themselves, compounded the application challenge,” a spokesman for Stirling Lloyd points out.

A trusted and 100 per cent effective waterproofing system was, therefore, required and consultant engineer, Pell Frischmann specified the use of Integritank throughout the developments podium decks.

This methyl methacrylate (MMA) resin-based structural waterproofing membrane from Stirling Lloyd offered simple, airless spray liquid application and enabled these areas to be quickly, effectively and seamlessly protected with no vulnerable seams, he says.

The spokesman comments: “The Al Zeina project saw Stirling Lloyd renew its relationship with Aldar Properties, with whom it had worked on the nearby Southern Tunnel Crossing last year. This project also involved the application of Integritank, but to 49,000 sq m of the 1.2-km-long, 40-m-wide tunnel, which connects Al Raha Beach to Yas Island, one of the region’s major visitor attractions and home to the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix race circuit.”

The initial contract on the Al Zeina project involved some 80,000 sq m of Integritank. Prior to the application of the waterproofing system, the substrate was prepared and tensile adhesion tests undertaken. “These confirmed that the Integritank system would easily achieve the required bond strength to the substrate of 0.3 MPa, with the system giving bond strengths in excess of 1 MPa. These strong bonds are important if a waterproofing system is to provide a long, effective service life and prevents any water ingress tracking below the membrane,” he explains.

The substrate was then primed and the Integritank spray applied in two coats of contrasting yellow and grey colours to provide a visual on-site quality control method regarding membrane thickness, with wet film thickness tests carried out throughout the application to verify that the required minimum thickness of 1 mm per coat was being applied.

The Al Zeina development ...an artist’s impression.

Each coat always cured in under an hour, aiding contract progression. Once the membrane’s second coat had cured, the system was electrically tested to confirm its integrity. At this stage, a full inspection was undertaken with all areas being further tested to verify the extensive detailing was watertight.

“Despite the potential problems that could be created by Abu Dhabi’s highly aggressive climate, there could be no risk of water ingress or surface corrosion on such a luxurious, high-specification development as Al Zeina. Fortunately, the selection of Stirling Lloyd’s Integritank membrane ensured that the client Aldar, the main contractor Laing O’Rourke and the scheme’s residents could all be confident they had an effective structural waterproofing system that would last for many years to come,” the spokesman states.

“The quality of the product and its performance on site impressed so much that the system was subsequently chosen to waterproof the 210,000 sq m of balconies and roofs and keep watertight the 200,000 sq m of swimming pools throughout the development – contracts that have recently been concluded to the satisfaction of all parties,” he adds.

The UK-based Stirling Lloyd specialises in the development, manufacture and application of high-performance waterproofing and structural protection membranes and systems. Its products are used extensively on global projects ranging from road and rail bridge decks and tunnels to commercial building developments, car-parks and highway maintenance applications.