Search using the fields below to find a project.
Planning to transform the area around Elmbridge Way and Hollybridge Way into the largest urban community in Richmond, the Onni Group started off with an ambitious design for a structure known as the Ora. This design called for three splendid towers that would be between 11 and 14 stories high and would house 323 residential units alongside 62,000 ft2 of retail space. At this stature, these structures would be perfectly situated to take full advantage of the natural light and mountain views. They would also be in the perfect area for easy access to the nearby waterfront.
However, for the structure to last a long time, it would need to be both durable and watertight. Like any other development in Richmond, it would need these qualities to contend with the area’s high water table. That meant the Onni Group would also need to protect the structure’s below grade section from any potential flooding.
Furthermore, the Onni Group wanted to use shotcrete as the application method for the project’s structural exterior walls, which meant an external waterproofing membrane was not an option as the shotcrete could tear or puncture it. To complicate matters further, the project also couldn’t include a drain board, under-slab drainage, or sumps. It would also be completely tanked with water above its base slab by 8 ft at all times that would be subject to the Pacific Ocean’s tidal levels. To keep their innovative project alive then, the group would need a waterproofing solution that was just as innovative.
The Onni Group decided that their best bet in dealing with the area’s hydrostatic pressure and the inherent risks associated with combining the application of shotcrete and external waterproofing membranes was to waterproof the concrete with Kryton’s KIM admixture. As a result, they used KIM to waterproof the one-and-a-half-meter- (five-foot-) thick raft slab that they needed to keep the Ora building anchored. They also used it to fully tank the structure’s one-level below grade area.
This allowed them to completely eliminate the need for external waterproofing membranes and avoid the risks they posed. In return, they were able to benefit from KIM, which is the only permeability-reducing admixture for hydrostatic conditions and a recommended solution for concrete that is subject to constant hydrostatic pressure.
For extra protection, the Onni Group also applied Kryton’s Krystol Waterstop System to the external below grade walls and the Leak Repair System to areas with defective concrete. Combined with KIM, this complete Kryton system would ensure that the Ora project would remain durable and watertight for the life of its structure.
Living up to this feature, the Ora is currently home to satisfied residents who experience dry living conditions despite the high water table in Richmond.
Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM) is a hydrophilic crystalline admixture used to create permanently waterproof concrete.
Krystol T1 is a surface applied crystalline slurry treatment that transforms new or existing concrete into a permanent waterproofing barrier.
As part of the Krystol Leak Repair System, Krystol Plug is a rapid-setting hydraulic cement product that when mixed with water is used to stop flowing water and repair leaking cracks, holes and joints in concrete.
As part of the Krystol Leak Repair System, Krystol Repair Grout is a crystalline concrete waterproofing product that stops the flow of water to permanently repair leaking cracks, holes and joints in concrete, and can also be used to resurface and waterproof defective, damaged or deteriorating concrete. The grout employs advanced fiber technology and shrinkage controlling additives to prevent cracking.
The Krystol Waterstop System is used to permanently waterproof concrete construction joints, pipe penetrations, tie holes and control joints. The Krystol Waterstop System works where other waterstops routinely fail. Kryton is the only integral waterproofing company that offers fully integrated concrete waterproofing solutions. [more_toggle title="How…
