Unanimous Verdict: PENETRON Technology for Justice Center
Constructing a provincial courthouse with a below-ground three-floor concrete basement and parking garage at a site with a high-water table can be done with PENETRON ADMIX, an integral crystalline admixture, added to the concrete mix. The Justice Center in Rancagua, Chile, opened November 2018, is proof of a lasting solution.
EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., Nov. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Constructing a provincial courthouse with a below-ground three-floor concrete basement and parking garage at a site with a high-water table can be done with PENETRON ADMIX, an integral crystalline admixture, added to the concrete mix. The Justice Center in Rancagua, Chile, opened November 2018, is proof of a lasting solution.
Rancagua, a city of 230,000, is the capital of the Cachapoal Province in Chile, 87 km (54 miles) south of the country's capital of Santiago. The new Rancagua Justice Center now houses three courts and the Court of Appeals. The 21 billion peso (US$31.4 million) complex features seven levels and three below-ground floors (14,000 m2), including a two-story parking garage. Pedestrian walkways and green areas link the various courts, completing the modernist design.
"The Justice Center construction site had a high-water table and Penetron Chile was asked by the builder, Besalco-Dragados Consortium, for a solution for the extensive underground structures," explains Domingo Lema, General Manager of Penetron Chile. "Given the depth of the foundation, a solution was needed to secure a waterproof concrete structure, even with the high hydrostatic pressure at the site."
The project managers at Besalco had initially considered a competitor's concrete waterproofing admixture. The Penetron Chile team recommended a review of the performance differences between this product and the Penetron admixture. Besalco, having successfully used PENETRON ADMIX at a recent at El Remanso and other projects in Santiago, was also familiar with the level of support that penetron could provide.
"When the performance of the Penetron product was evaluated, it turned out to be the optimal choice for the project," notes Domingo Lema.
Petreos (HOLCIM Chile) mixed PENETRON ADMIX directly into the concrete during batching. Over 2,300 m3 (3,010 cubic yards) of concrete were treated with PENETRON ADMIX and applied to the foundation walls, foundation slabs, and all concrete structures exposed to the high humidity and the high water table encountered at the construction site.
Increasing the ability of concrete to resist the ingress of water or any type of moisture to prevent or minimize damage can directly influence its durability. The active ingredients in PENETRON ADMIX generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete that permanently seals microcracks, pores and capillaries against the penetration of water or moisture from any direction. This protects concrete from deterioration, even under harsh environmental conditions.
"Penetron's crystalline technology keeps water from penetrating into the concrete matrix, even under high hydrostatic pressure," adds Jozef van Beeck, International Sales & Marketing Director of Penetron. "Using PENETRON ADMIX for the new concrete structures like the Rancagua Justice Center can also significantly reduce future maintenance costs."
The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels.
For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com, or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
SOURCE The Penetron Group
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