The Fujian Mansion tower soars 28-stories in the heart of Tianjin’s lively business district.

As seen in Krystol Magazine Vol. 16|1 “Feature Story”

Tianjin is a major city in the north of China. In terms of urban population Tianjin is the fourth largest city in China after Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. The city is a hot bed of advanced industry and financial activity with over 250 Fortune 500 companies with office space there. In order to accommodate the growing economy, developer Tianjin Central Asia Real Estate Development Company Limited brought together a dream team to construct a new 28-story office tower.

The building was designed by the Tianjin Architecture Design Institute, part of the Tianjin TiFen Industrial Park Investment (Group) known for their dedication to high quality properties. The China Railway Construction Group (CRCC) was brought on board as the contractor.

The CRCC is the world’s sixth largest construction contractor and has worked on high profile projects such as the 1.8 billion USD contract for part of the metro in Mecca, Saudi Arabia as well CRCC recently won the bid to build the new football stadium for F.C. Internazionale Milano in Italy valued at 325 million USD.

Initially the CRCC did not use any concrete waterproofing during construction of the building. The construction team quickly experienced water ingress of up to a meter deep in the second floor of the parking. The contractor brought in more than ten different waterproofing companies to repair and waterproof the below grade areas, but each time it failed and water again entered the parking area. Frustrated, the contractor tried one more company –Tianjin Hongba Waterproofing Material Co. Ltd, the local Kryton distributor. Hongba Waterproofing was able to successfully repair the area and prevent further water ingress.

Thanks to Kryton’s concrete repair products the two levels of below grade parking are dusty dry for the building’s high-end occupants.

Hongba Waterproofing recommended that CRCC use Kryton’s Krystol Crack Repair System for the project. Using integral crystalline waterproofing technology, Kryton’s system transforms cracked and leaking concrete into a permanent water-resistant barrier. When applied to cracks, joints and concrete surfaces, the proprietary Krystol technology reacts and grows millions of needle-shaped crystals. These unique crystals grow deep into the concrete to fill and block the capillary pores and micro-cracks and stop the migration of water through the concrete. Since the technology becomes an integral, permanent part of the concrete itself, its effectiveness as a waterproof barrier is not contingent on its ability to form and maintain a coating or membrane on the surface of the concrete. This means that it can never be punctured, damaged or worn away and will last the lifetime of the concrete.

The Krystol Crack Repair System consists of three products: rapid-setting Krystol Plug which stops any flowing water; the active integral crystalline product Krystol T1, which provides the permanent waterproofing; and a strong, waterproof, non-shrink grout called Krystol Bari-Cote to cap off and finish the repair. Tianjin Hongba used the Krystol Crack Repair System to repair the cracks in the walls and slabs in the two levels of below grade parking. They then used Krystol Bari-Cote to waterproof the joints in the below grade areas.

The application team also employed Kryton’s surface-applied cementitious slurry coat system – Krystol T1 & T2. This two step, brush-applied system waterproofs and protects existing concrete by drawing crystalline chemicals into the structure that block passageways for water ingress. Krystol T1 contains a high concentration of crystalline chemicals and is the first coat of the system. Krystol T2 provides a second dose of crystalline chemicals and serves to protect and fortify the initial application of T1 as the treatments penetrate the concrete. As the cementitious surface treatment cures, the chemicals are absorbed into the concrete creating a water tight structure. After that, damage or deterioration of the surface-applied slurry will not impact the system’s waterproofing abilities. Hongba Waterproofing coated the slabs and walls with Krystol T1 and Krystol T2.

In total, 12 tons of Kryton concrete waterproofing products were used to waterproof the two levels of below grade parking, the elevator pit, electrical room and water reservoir. Since Hongba Waterproofing’s work, the below grade areas have remained dusty dry and the construction team has maintained their reputation for high quality construction.