PROTECTING BUILDINGS FROM HUMIDITY AND RAIN
The tropical–hot and humid climate in South East Asia might affect the facades or even the stability and safety of the buildings. With Evonik’s PROTECTOSIL®, it can help to make the buildings last much longer by providing protections from weather, oil and dirt ingress. Most importantly, it helps lower the maintenance costs.
According to the ASHRAE Humidity Standards, the recommended humidity level for buildings is under 60 percent. However for tropical countries, particularly Thailand, the humidity level can be hovering around 90 percent during its summer time. Buildings in the country especially those located by the seaside will have to withstand the effects of high humidity. The formation of moss and algae on the facades of the buildings might cause structural damage, the penetration of water and dissolved salts from the seawater might also lead to cracks and spalling.
Bridges that built across the seawater are especially threatened by corrosion, the steels will turn rusty when water and salt penetrate into the concrete, which could rapidly undermine the bridge’s stability. To increase the service life of the bridge, the Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge in Thailand had decided to use Evonik’s PROTECTOSIL® from the beginning of its construction. PROTECTOSIL® is a unique building protection material that provide protection to the pillars against rain and seawater.
The protection’s main element is a waterproof impregnation with PROTECTOSIL® BHN, after applying this specific product onto the bridge’s concrete barriers, it will penetrate deeply into the concrete, where it forms a colorless, water-vapor-permeable seal and can effectively prevent water intrusion as well as corrosion into structural elements of the buildings. Acting like a breathable waterproof jacket, this specialty chemical provides protection and creates a dry and healthy climate inside. Besides that, it can also provide abrasion and UV protection which makes it a perfect solution for outdoor concrete located at high traffic areas like the Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge, where more than 46,800 vehicles are expected to cross over in a daily basis.
Besides protecting the bridge structurally, a separate product, PROTECTOSIL® SC CONCENTRATE has also been applied to keep the surfaces of the bridge clean. Dirt, mold, algae and moss can be removed easily without any residue from PROTECTOSIL®-treated surfaces. Now with PROTECTOSIL® BHN and PROTECTOSIL® SC CONCENTRATE being applied onto the Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge, the beauty of the bridge is maintained, at the same time, helps to provide a more durable bridge with less structural risks like corrosion. Most importantly, safeguards investment by lowering the repair maintenance costs.