Recreational Facilities

Swimming Pools/Aquatic Centers
World Wide

While pools and aquatic centers provide users with opportunities for fun, relaxation and recreation, they present designers, builders and owners with unique waterproofing challenges. A waterproofing failure at a pool or aquatic centre can result in structural damage, water loss, contamination and service interruption.

To provide long lasting waterproofing protection, many pool and aquatic centre project teams are choosing Kryton's Krystol TM Concrete Waterproofing System in place of conventional external waterproofing membrane systems. Based on Kryton International's proprietary Krystol TM technology that turns concrete into a permanent waterproof barrier, the Krystol TM system includes:

• Krystol TM Internal Membrane (KIM TM ), an admixture for new concrete construction
• Krystol TM T1/T2, a surface-applied system for repairing & waterproofing existing concrete structures, and
• The Krystol TM Waterstop System to protect and waterproof concrete construction joints.

When added to a concrete mixture or applied to existing concrete, Krystol TM creates a chemical reaction that causes needle-like crystals to grow, filling the spaces between concrete particles and permanently blocking the movement of water in all directions. If small cracks later form in the concrete, incoming water causes additional crystals to grow, self-sealing the cracks and stopping the migration of water.

In addition to lasting protection against water leakage, water loss and contamination, the KrystolTM system offers many advantages over conventional waterproofing membranes. The KIM TM admixture improves the performance, durability and wet properties of shotcrete and helps to reduce shrinkage, cracking and rebounding. Because it can be added directly to the concrete mix, KIM TM eliminates the labor and material costs of applying traditional external membranes and provides maximum design flexibility for uniquely shaped pools and water features.

By stopping the ingress of water that can delaminate plaster, tile and epoxy or urethane coatings, the Krystol TM system extends the life of pool coatings and tile and provides proven protection against steel reinforcement corrosion. And since it's NSF-approved for potable water, there's no risk of contamination.

By blocking leaks and seepage, Krystol TM helps conserve water as well as the energy and chemicals needed to heat and treat pools and aquatic features. And because it reacts with the presence of water to self-seal hairline cracks, the Krystol TM system reduces maintenance and repair costs over the life of the structure.

Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, British Columbia
With a competition-size pool and a 7,500 square foot freeform leisure pool and play lagoon, this aquatic centre holds more than three million litres (660,000 gallons) of water and contains enough concrete to build a 15-story apartment building. Instead of a surface applied membrane system, the architect specified KIM TM because it would render the concrete waterproof, protect reinforcing steel from corrosion and automatically seal hairline cracks. Although ten weeks of blasting put the project behind schedule, the use of KIM TM instead of external membranes helped the project to finish on time and slightly under budget

Richmond Aquatic Centre, British Columbia
The facility's 57-meter competitive pool has an 18 ft. dive tank that is 10 ft. below the water table. Because of the proximity to the ocean and major river system, the high water table created concern, as the strong hydrostatic pressure would delaminate the pool finish. KIM TM was used in the deep end of the pool and holds back tidal deltas up to 15 feet deep. Where KIM TM was not used leaking occurred and the KrystolTM Waterstop System was then used where the original PVC waterstop system failed.

Hyatt and Sheraton Hotel Aquatic Centres: Calgary, Alberta
Since the pool and spa areas of these hotels are situated above guest rooms, high-performance, permanent waterproofing was required to protect the hotels and their visitors. The builders used KIM TM and the Krystol TM Waterstop System in the construction of the pools and spas, saving time and money while providing permanent, reliable waterproofing.

Residential Swimming Pool: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
This pool's owners needed a waterproofing system that would stop severe, ongoing leakage created by tremendous hydrostatic pressure. After several failed attempts, they used the Krystol TM T1/T2 System to treat and repair all concrete cracks. Including new cracks that formed due to hydrostatic pressure once the existing cracks were fixed. Within 12 days, all leakage was stopped and to date, no further cracking or leakage has occurred.

Residential Swimming Pool, Vancouver, B.C.
The owners of this pool experienced ongoing cracking and water loss due to unstable ground and the many underwater rivers and arteries in the area. During heavy rains, ground water seeped into the pool, filling it with silt. In dry periods, the pool lost 1-2 inches of water per day. The 20' x 40' pool had more than 80 lineal feet of cracks, which allowed groundwater to seep into the pool even while it sat empty. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to repair the pool, the owners used the Krystol TM T1/T2 System. Since this latest round of repairs was completed, the pool has not lost any water during operation and there has been no inward seepage of ground water or silt.

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