Watertight solution for riverside retail development

A range of Sika’s waterproofing solutions have helped form part of a new £120 million Bond Street retail development on the banks of the River Chelmer in Chelmsford.

The 120,000 square foot development will include major retailers, riverfront restaurants, a cinema complex and a 275 space basement car park.

Due to its location close to the river, the water table on the site was high. As a result, a waterproofing solution was needed to overcome the threat of water ingress into the building’s basement car park and service areas.

Sika provided a dual waterproofing system which incorporated more than 7,000m2 of its Sikaproof A12 membrane system along with 4,500m3 of Sika Watertight Concrete.

SikaProof A

SikaProof A’s membrane surface is embossed with a grid pattern, containing an integrated sealant and thin layer of fleece which forms a mechanical bond to the concrete when it dries.

The integrated sealant bonds tightly with the surface of the concrete to form mini watertight compartments. This means that even if the membrane is damaged or pierced, moisture or pressured water cannot spread between the membrane and concrete structure, as it is contained within the grid square.

Watertight Concrete

Sika Watertight Concrete has been developed for below ground and basement construction that prevents water from migrating through the concrete.

Sika admixtures work within the concrete to reduce the water to cement ratio, increasing the density of the mix and minimising the size, volume and continuity of the concrete’s pores and filling the remaining pores.

To complete the system, construction joints were sealed with both the Sika Tricosal Metal Waterbar and the SikaSwell jointing system. This consists of join sealing profiles which expand on contact with water, sealing any voids between adjoining concrete slabs.

Thanks to the application of the Sika Waterproofing system, the development achieved outstanding levels of watertightness with minimal risk ahead of its scheduled opening this year.

Sika Limited
Watchmead
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire
AL7 1BQ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1707 394444

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