DavidBallGroup

Self-Compacting Concrete for Underground Art Gallery Winner of the Concrete Society's CONSTRUCT 200 Award

PUDLO Waterproof Admixtures Protect Private Collection in Award Winning Contract

In an imaginative design by architects, Franklin Associates, for a private underground art gallery in London, the specification of the self-compacting, waterproof-concrete mix used in the structure was critical to the demanding environmental conditions required for the valuable works of art that are to be housed there.

With finished internal dimensions of 10 metres long by 8 metres wide by 3.2 metres high, the gallery extends from the basement of a classically elegant Kensington town house into an excavated garden area beyond. Apart from a fully glazed wall in the sunken section of the garden, the post-tensioned roof, floor and three remaining walls have been constructed with self-compacting, waterproof concrete using admixtures supplied by David Ball Group plc. As a result the gallery has the distinction of being the first structure of its kind in which this system has been wholly employed.

Supplied to contractors, Woolton Construction, by Tarmac Topmix Technical Department in conjunction with admixture specialists from the David Ball Group who provided advice and all necessary systems and coatings from their PUDLO range of products. The technically advanced admixtures were a significant factor in the recognition given to the contract by the Concrete Society with its Construct 2000 Award for success now upgrades the material from 'development' to 'industry-ready' status.

A combination of the established David Ball Group products, PUDLO SCC, hDB Waterstop and PUDLO CWP was used to achieve the required result PUDLO SCC is a modifying agent that improves both the strength and durability of concrete and through improved compaction, reduces pore saturation whilst its sister product, hDB Waterstop provides complete water resistance and excellent resistance to the passage of Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Radon. The third element, PUDLO CWP. is an integral waterproofing admixture that is specially formulated to protect against water ingress and aggressive chemicals and to withstand hydrostatic pressure. Other PUDLO products - Instalastic, Instaset and Instacem Primer Latex - were also used in the gallery and in the general refurbishment of the house.

According to Woolton Construction Project Manager, Ron Griggs, the use of self-compacting waterproof concrete is about to increase - particularly in London. He says:

"With the limited space available above ground for new build and the improvement of existing properties anything that helps development below street level is welcome. On this prestigious job. in such a close and demanding working environment, everything has gone to plan. By using self-compacting concrete, which allows the material to flow freely under its own weight without segregation, we were able to work quietly, quickly and efficiently without any undue disturbance to the residents oi this peaceful London square."

But the confined spaces of London and other major UK cities are not the only places where the use of the material is gathering momentum, Japan has said that by the end of 2003 over 50% of its contracts will be using self-compacting concrete. Keen to develop this potential the David Ball Group has established strong outlets for its range of admixtures throughout the Far East and Middle east and is sending large regular shipments to these and other parts of the world.