Stormwater revamp in Port Shepstone

Mapelastic product is a two-component, flexible cementitious mortar designed specifically for waterproofing balconies, terraces, bathrooms and swimming pools; while Mapelastic Foundation is a two-component, flexible cementitious mortar for waterproofing concrete surfaces subject to negative and positive hydraulic lift.

The most flexible solution in the Mapelastic series is Mapelastic Smart. This is a two-component, high-flexibility cementitious mortar, with crack-bridging above 2 mm when reinforced with Mapenet 150 or Mapetex Sel.

Mapenet 150 is an alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh (in compliance with the ETAG 004 guide) for reinforcing protective waterproofing layers, anti-fracture membranes and thermal insulation systems; while Mapetex Sel is a macro-holed, non-woven polypropylene fabric for reinforcing waterproofing membranes.

Highly corrosive environments

The tougher the environment, the more robust the solution, with Mapei fielding specialist protective epoxy coatings that include Duresil EB. This is a two-component, anti-acid epoxy paint modified with hydro-carbide resin for protecting concrete and steel surfaces, like rebar reinforcement.

“A step up from this is Mapecoat I 24, a two-component epoxy paint for anti-acid coatings on concrete surfaces. This chemical-resistant coating is ideal for wastewater treatment environments, including digester and clarifier refurbishment projects,” Pretorius continues.

Alongside coatings, allied products for total plant structural rehabilitation include repair mortars, non-shrink grouts and microconcretes.

BIM and life-cycle costing

From a Fourth Industrial Revolution perspective, Mapei is responding to the life-cycle management tools defined within the building information modelling (BIM) environment, specifically in terms of current and future maintenance cost projections. The requirement for asset owners to establish and routinely update asset management databases is a core part of that BIM process.

“Our role is to recommend product specifications and cost estimations in near real time for interim and total refurbishment applications using specified Mapei products,” Pretorius explains.

Training Academy

As part of its value-added services, Mapei established a Training Academy at its Germiston facility in Gauteng to support trades, contractors, as well as designers and specifiers. These courses are free and open to all interested parties.

“The pressures on the construction sector in recent years – further exacerbated by Covid-19 – have led to industry contraction and skills losses in specialist areas like concrete protection and refurbishment. A global player in this field, we are helping to empower and restore the balance,” says Pretorius. Course examples include the design and detailing of waterproofing joints, as well as best-inclass installation techniques.

“Across the board, all concrete asset classes need attention to remain structurally sound, whether it’s a marine quay wall, a bridge pier or a dam wall. The most sustainable approach is to adopt a systematic life-cycle programme that maximises asset life, keeping structures safe and fully functional for decades,” Pretorius concludes.

Rocla’s unique Beany Block system, which is specifically designed to enhance roadway drainage, has been installed in the recent upgrades to Nelson Mandela Drive in Port Shepstone’s CBD.

Comments Pieter Bodenstein, managing director of Margate Construction, which was appointed to complete the Nelson Mandela Drive upgrades: “The Beany Block system is easy to install and offers an uplifting finish to the roadway. The system has been applied to both sides of the roadway. It is a very presentable and neat system, and we will be utilising the Beany Block throughout the project, which is due to be completed in February 2023.”

The Beany Block is a substitute for kerbs, stormwater pipework (channel equivalent to and replacing 250-300 mm diameter pipes), kerb inlets and parts of footways. The system also reduces contractual claims, as damaged services are less likely to occur when compared to conventional drainage since excavations involved in the installation of the system are shallow.

A strong and functional system

The system itself consists of a series of base blocks of standard channel section and top blocks of inverted channel section with an opening in one side face, collecting water horizontally into the channel section. When laid end to end, they form kerb and/or surface water drainage units strong enough to withstand normal traffic loading.

“We have supplied in excess of 1 000 of each standard top and base blocks, as well as mountable units for driveway access and special blocks that transition between standard and mountable to the Nelson Mandela Drive project,” says Ritesh Singh, sales consultant for Rocla, who is based in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. (Rocla is part of the IS Group, which also includes Technicrete.)

Applications for the Beany Block are wide ranging and include: scenarios where high inlet capacity is required; wide carriageways; as a division between vehicle and pedestrian/bicycle lanes with drainage from both sides; parking areas, taxi ranks and bus depots, wash bays and vehicle service areas; median islands; industrial areas; plus drainage around buildings and walkways.

When laid end to end, the Beany Block system forms kerb and/or surface water drainage units strong enough to withstand normal traffic loading

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