ACS Services
ACS offers a comprehensive array of leak remediation using injection and grouting techniques, concrete restoration, corrosion resistant coating/lining applications and general construction services.
Polyurethane Crack Injection for Leak Remediation
Polyurethane crack injection uses water reactive polyurethane resin to provide permanent seepage control in concrete structures. The polyurethane resin is pressure injected into cracks or voids and upon contact with the water reacts and sets into a foam or gel within the matrix of the structure, thus providing a permanent waterstop. Dependent on the repair, different types of polyurethanes can be selected. Flexible polyurethane is used in cracks that will be subjected to movement while rigid polyurethane is used to waterproof voids and honeycombs. Considerable water flows can be stopped using polyurethane injection with the use of accelerators and high water reactive resins. The use of injecta-tube is becoming more and more popular in the civil construction field. The use of the injecta tube enables the injection of construction joints with polyurethane or epoxy without conventional drill holes. The perforated injecta-tube is cast into the construction joint and delivery of the resin is completed at predetermined intervals throughout the joint. Repairs to potable water tanks is a reality with the use of NSF approved polyurethane resins for contact with potable water. Some typical areas where Advanced Concrete Solutions has successfully completed the above repairs include tunnels, mines, dams, tanks, pits, manholes, foundations, soils and pipe penetrations.
Epoxy Crack Injection/Grouting
Epoxy injection is used when structural bonding of cracks and fissures in concrete is desired. High strength epoxy resin is pressure injected into these areas and left to cure where it bonds back both faces of the crack. The crack is now deemed one and the epoxy injected area stronger than original. Typically epoxy injection is used on concrete structures where items such as beams, columns, walls or slabs are cracked and deemed structurally deficient. Epoxy injection is considered a structural repair and is typically not well suited for waterproofing applications.
Concrete Restoration and Repairs
Concrete over its service life can be subjected to various cycles that can result in serious damage to its integrity. Cracks can form due to vibration, thermal shock, settlement, over loading and impact. Concrete surfaces can be damaged from abrasion, chemical attack and freeze thaw. These factors over time cause the concrete to breakdown and weaken. When left untreated serious safety hazards can arise such as structural deficiencies, spalled and falling concrete, uneven floors and trip hazards. Advanced Concrete Solutions can offer site specific repairs to conform to customer needs. The use of specialty repair materials such as epoxies, vinyl esters and polymer modified grouts greatly reduces downtime while the use of these materials also enhances properties such as bond strength, compressive strength, impact resistance, chemical resistance and abrasion resistance.
Chemical and Cement Grouting
The term "grouting" refers to the filling of voids using stable materials. These voids can be filled with either cement based grouts or chemical based grouts such as polyurethane. Cement grouts typically used are portland cement based. Admixtures can be added to give cement grouts certain characteristics that modify properties such as fluidity, wash out and final cure. Cement grouts can be used to fill voids below slabs where the base has sunk, reinforce existing base materials and block walls in concrete structures. Chemicals grouts are used when typical portland cement grouts are not a viable option. Polyurethane chemical grouts can be used to prevent infiltration of groundwater when encountering high water flows. They provide high reaction times to the water present and do not wash out. These grouts can be used to repair leaks in tunnels, manholes, walls and slabs where overtime high water flows have washed out the soils. Chemical grouting will fill any voids and mitigate any water leaks at the same time. Advanced Concrete Solutions has also used sodium silicate grouting to unstable sandy soils to reinstate load bearing to slabs and excavation areas.
Epoxy Floor Systems
Concrete floors in general terms can "take a beating" throughout their service life. They can be subjected to severe abuse such as mechanical and chemical attack, then break down and create safety hazards, health hazards or even structural hazards. Advanced Concrete Solutions is well versed in the application of thin film coatings, trowel applied mortars and broadcast floor systems. These systems can be engineered to meet client constraints to minimize downtime with the use of epoxy, vinyl ester, polyurethane and methacrylate based materials.
Chemical Resistant Coatings and Linings for Tanks, Pits and Secondary Containment
Concrete and steel surfaces exposed to acids and caustics are subjected to severe abuse. Over time, the concrete is attacked by the chemicals and when left untreated the concrete corrodes and the chemicals penetrate the concrete and can enter the ground below becoming an environmental concern. Steel surfaces need corrosion protection also. When exposed to harsh chemicals and moisture they begin to corrode and rust. If this corrosion is left to continue the steel will begin to weaken and lose its strength. Advanced Concrete Solutions has completed various corrosion protection and chemical resistant lining/coating applications. These applications range from thin film protective coating systems to heavy duty mortar/fibreglass reinforced lining systems. Chemical resistance can be specifically engineered on a project by project basis with the use of epoxy, polyester or vinyl ester based resin systems. Typical application areas include secondary containment, process sumps, trenches, pits, steel beams and steel decking.
General Construction
Advanced Concrete Solutions from time to time is asked to perform "general construction" projects. Some projects successfully completed include trench and pit installation, building levelling, demolition, scaffold erection and general contracting.