Pegasus Tower 'Flying High' Again With Sika

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Nov 17, 2004

Pegasus Tower, a communications structure in BT Adastral Park, Ipswich, has recently been externally refurbished using Sika materials.

Built circa.

1975, the uncoated concrete tower had originally been cast with low cover to the reinforcing steel, allowing water ingress.

This had resulted in carbonation and deterioration of the concrete with cracking and spalling.

Sika concrete repair systems and coatings were specified to bring the tower back to its former glory.

Specialist contractors Stonecare Ltd were appointed to carry out the refurbishment work.

Defective concrete was removed and repairs completed using the Sika Monotop concrete repair system.

To protect against further concrete failures and stabilise the structure, Sika FerroGard 903 corrosion inhibitor was applied.

FerroGard 903 penetrates the concrete and forms a protective barrier around the reinforcement steel.

This application not only significantly increases the life of structure, but also reduces the number of repairs that need to be completed.

A slurry coat of Sika Icoment 530 was then applied by brush, with the brush marks left on the surface to replicate the original 'board finish' of the concrete panels.

BBA approved Icoment 530 is a cementitious cosmetic mortar for levelling, repairing minor defects and filling blow holes and shrinkage cracks.

A final coating of SikaGard 680S was applied in a grey colour to match the nearby colours and to be consistent with Adastral Parks high-tech image.

SikaGard 680S is an anti-carbonation protective concrete coating giving extra protection to the structure.

It has excellent resistance to water, frosts, carbonation and UV degradation.

It is a one-component system, available in any colour, and has a life expectancy of 15 years to first maintenance.

Following refurbishment of Pegasus Tower, the striking new BT Globe logo was added to replace the old BT Piper logos.

The main contractor was Acclaim Contracts and the project managers were Ingleton Wood who were working on behalf of Telereal and BT Property Partners.