Leak Sealing Solutions with Sika Injection Systems

LEAKING CONCRETE STRUCTURES BELOW GROUND such as basements and civil engineering structures can have a greatly reduced service life due to steel corrosion and concrete damage, in addition to any reduced functionality and use. In order to avoid the expensive costs of repairs to the structure, or to water damaged interior finishing’s, furnishings, or other goods, plus the costs of any operational downtime, these leaks can often be securely sealed and waterproofed by injection. Sika provides an extensive range of injection systems for all types of leak sealing applications in concrete, masonry, and natural stone structures. These can be used at any time, including during the initial construction works, or later to extend the service life during any subsequent refurbishment, according to the specific project’s requirements. Sika injection systems can not only close, flexibly bridge, seal and make leaking structures watertight for the long term, some can also be used to increase or restore structural integrity and load-bearing capacity, thereby providing complete and durable maintenance solutions. Sika's high-performance injection materials are also fully compatible with Sika’s complete EngineeredWaterproofing range and they can be used for the repair and sealing of cracks, voids, joints, hoses, and compartment systems in many different structures. As a prerequisite, all of Sika’s injection products are also fully tested and conform to all of the relevant global standards.

Successful Waterproofing with Sika Injection Systems

There are three primary success factors involved in ensuring the effectiveness and durability of injection works. It is essential that the right combination of injection materials, injection equipment and injection method must be selected and this is whatSika’s extensive technical and practical experience provides:

Successful Injection with Sika Solutions Graphic

INJECTION MATERIAL
The selection of the right injection material and indeed the right specific injection product for the defined project requirements is the first key factor for success. This especially means the material viscosity, flexibility and behavior in contact with water that can all significantly influence the effectiveness of the injection.

INJECTION EQUIPMENT
Appropriate equipment for the selected injection material, including for the correct preparation, mixing and delivery of the material is the second key success factor. This means everything from the initial dosage and mixing, through delivery from a suitable pump, to use of the right packers/ports/connectors.

INJECTION METHOD / APPLICATION
Thirdly, the correct injection method and application techniques must be used by trained, competent and experienced contractors, in order to ensure the success and provide complete and permanent leak sealing solutions.

ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES OF SIKA

COMPLETE SIKA SOLUTIONS
Sika is a "full range" supplier, meaning that Sika not only has the full range of alternative injection technologies and materials, but we are also the world's leading supplier of engineered waterproofing, concrete repair, and protection solutions in order to prevent or seal and waterproof any type of leak in your structure - from the basement to roof.

SIKA INJECTION SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL STANDARDS
Sika's injection solutions are tested and approved to the leading global standards to provide safe and reliable injection solutions. 

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE 
Sika provides advice and support from the design office through to completion of the injection and any associated works on the side. This expert technical advice and practical assistance are to help ensure the selection and installation of the right injection materials, equipment, met, and application methods. 

TRAINING
We understand that, on many projects, it's preferable to use an experienced Specialist Contractor for injection works to seal any leaks that occur. On others, for different practical and logistic reasons, it will be better to train teams from the main contractor to do the work. This is why Sika provides unrivaled technical and practical training both on- and off-site, to help ensure that both the engineering staff and the site operatives fully understand the requirements and procedures - all supported with Sika's detailed documentation included Method Statements and Quality Control checklists. 

LOCAL SIKA PRESENCE
All around the world, there are experienced Sika professionals to provide technical support exactly where it is required - in your office or onsite. 

INJECTION MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES & SIKA INJECTION PRODUCTS

Polyurethane Foam Resins
Polyurethane foam resin for injection sealing

Polyurethane foaming resins are designed to expand with water to temporarily block the passage of water through the crack or void. Their fast expansive reaction with water forms a tough and flexible/elastic foam. For permanent waterproofing, these polyurethane foaming resins are re-injected with a suitable acrylate injection resin.

SikaFix® HH+
A hydrophobic polyurethane foam grout that, when used with the accelerator, is designed to stop water infiltration and fill voids outside structure or joint and cracks in concrete structures. It may also be used in applications with high pressure flowing water.

SikaFix® HH Hydrophilic
A nonflammable hydrophilic polyurethane foaming resin designed to form a flexible gasket or plug joints and cracks in concrete from water infiltration. When it comes in contact with water, the grout expands quickly and cures to a tough, flexible, adhesive, closed-cell foam that is essentially unaffected by mildly corrosive environments.

Acrylate Resins
Acrylate resin for injection sealing

Acrylate resins are hydrophilic, very flexible, and used for non-structural injections of cracks, joints, and voids, including for injection hose systems, compartment systems, and area (e.g., Grid and Curtain) injection works. For application, Acrylate resins have an extremely low viscosity (similar to water) and therefore have ideal penetration abilities. Their reaction (hardening) time is also adjustable, which allows flexibility in adaptation of the injection material to the prevailing conditions on site (e.g., temperature and injection distance, etc.). Acrylate resin based materials seal and waterproof leaks through their hydrophilic swelling behavior in contact with water. The injection equipment is also easily cleaned with water.

Sika® Injection-307
A 3-part polyacrylic elastic injection resin with a very low viscosity. Unique steel passivation properties provide active corrosion protection. It can be injected with either a 1-or 2-component injection pump and is mainly used as a re-injectable leak sealing resin system for SikaFuko® hoses and around damaged membrane/compartment systems. The reaction time is adjustable between 10 and 50 minutes.

Sika® Injection-215
A very low-viscosity, elastic and quick-setting polyacrylic resin-based injection gel. The reaction time is adjustable between 2 and 15 minutes. Due to this fast reaction time, it is only injected with a 2-component pump. It is primarily used in crack sealing and curtain wall injections.

Sika® Injection-304
An ultra-low viscosity, elastic, and very quick settling polyacrylic resin based injection gel. The reaction time is adjustable between 40 seconds and 4 minutes. Due to this fast reaction time, Sika® Injection-304 is only injected with a two-component pump and it is generally used for sealing and waterproofing areas of damage or leaks with high water ingress, including under hydrostatic pressure.

Sika® Injection-310 US
An easy-to-use 1-component, powder-based acrylate-based resin for permanent watertight sealing.

SELECTION OF SIKA INJECTION MATERIALS

PROBLEM

REQUIREMENTS

Leaking Crack/Penetrations Dry and/or containing water

Injection for waterproofing leaking cracks 3d rendering
  • Waterproofing cracks and around penetrations of width> 0.2mm with hydrostatic pressure
  •  Waterproofing cracks and around penetrations of width> 0.2 mm without hydrostatic pressure (dry, damp, or wet surface)
  • Force transfer across dry cracks of width > 0.3mm

Leaking Expansion Joints (movement) and Construction/Daywork Joints (non-moving)

Injection for waterproofing leaking expansion joint 3d rendering
  • Waterproofing construction joints with and without hydrostatic pressure
  • Waterproofing joints where the original joint sealing/waterproofing system is damaged or was not properly installed

Leaking Membrane Compartment Systems

Injection for waterproofing leaking sheet membrane 3d rendering
  • Waterproofing damaged and leaking sheet membrane compartment systems

Leaking Wall

Injection for waterproofing leaking walls and kicker areas 3d rendering
  • Grid Injection
    (Into the surface for larger areas, e.g. honeycombing or poor concrete compaction, etc.)
  • Curtain Injection
    (e.g., Behind the structure or element to seal leaks due to multiple tie bar holes or other multiple minor defects/leaks)
CRITERIA   SUITABLE SIKA INJECTIONPRDUCTS
  • Fast and stable foaming and expansion, for temporary sealing, plus very low viscosity and long-term flexibility for permanent sealing and waterproofing.
 
  • SikaFix® HH+ (for temporary sealing) followed by:
  • Sika® Injection-307 /-310 US (for permanent flexible sealing)
  • Very low viscosity and long-term flexibility for permanent sealing.
 
  • Sika® Injection-215 (for permanent flexible sealing)
  • Sika® Injection-307 (for permanent flexible sealing)
  • Fast and stable foaming and expansion for temporary sealing, plus very low viscosity and long-term flexibility for permanent sealing and waterproofing.
 
  • Sika® Injection 215/-304 (for permanent flexible sealing)
  • Sika® Injection 307/-310 US (permanent flexible sealing)
  • Pre-installed SikaFuko® injection hose system in construction joints or as a back-up system on waterstops: Very low viscosity long term flexibility, long pot-life for optimum penetration, re-injectable for permanent sealing.
 
  • Sika® Injection-307 (for permanent flexible sealing in reinforced concrete)
  • Sika® Injection-310 US (for permanent flexible sealing) 
  • Damaged expansion sections of waterstops: Very low viscosity, long term flexibility, long pot-life for optimum penetration, re-injectable for permanent sealing.
 
  • Sika® Injection-307 (for permanent flexible sealing in reinforced concrete)
  • Sika® Injection-215/-304 (for permanent flexible sealing) 
  • Low viscosity, tough-elastic, very easy to use, re-injectable for permanent sealing. 
 
  • Sika® Injection-310 US (for permanent flexible sealing)
  • Very low viscosity, flexible, designed for permanent sealing (in wet areas)
 
  • Sika® Injection-307 (optional patch repairs with Sikadur®-31 CF)
  • Sika® Injection-215/-304 (optional patch repairs with Sikadur®-31 CF
  • Extremely low viscosity, highly flexible, adjustable reaction time, designed for permanent sealing
 
  • Sika® Injection-215

THE CRACK INJECTION PROCESS

CRACKS IN CONCRETE STRUCTURES can be caused as the result of excessive load or stress on the structure by internal or external forces (e.g. ground movement). Leaking cracks need to be closed and sealed to secure the water tightness and durability of the structure.

SEQUENCE OF APPLICATIONS

1.  Drill holes for the packer alternating at a 45° angle to the concrete surface as shown in the picture.

Ø of drill hole = Ø of packer +2mm

2. Install the mechanical packers. Tighten the mechanical packets so that they can withstand the maximum injection pressure.

3.  Fix the non-return valve on the first packer and start the injection process.

4. When the injection material flows out of the second packer during the injection process, fix the non-return valve on to this as quickly as possible. Stop injection at the first packer and continue at the second packer.

5. Repeat this procedure from packer to packer. 

6. If necessary, e.g., after injection of PU-foaming resins, a secondary injection procedure is carried out to ensure the crack is completely filled and sealed with an acrylate injection material.

GENERAL INFORMATION TYPICAL SIKA PRODUCT  
  • On vertical elements, always start from the bottom and work upwards
  • Slow, low pressure injection is more effective than rapid, high pressure injection
  • For detailed information, please refer to the Sika Method Statement for Crack Injection (Waterproofing)

Sika® Injection-101 (temporary)

Sika® Injection-307/-310 US (permanent)
 

 

JOINT INJECTION WITH SikaFuko® INJECTION HOSE SYSTEM

SikaFuko® INJECTION HOSE SYSTEM is used on its own for construction joint sealing, or as a backup system in combination with waterstops. Installation is done during the concreting phases of the project.

SEQUENCE OF APPLICATIONS

1. Locate the start and end of injection hose in the affected construction joint,e.g., in junction boxes.

2. Connect the pump to the injection hose system, e.g., through Sika® Packer tong.

3. Begin injecting the SikaFuko® hose until the material flows out of the opposite end.

4. Close the opposite end and start injecting again until material is seeping out along the length of the joint.

5. When using re-injectable materials, the SikaFuko®hose can be flushed clean with water, which is also removed by vacuum. The SikaFuko® hose is then ready for future reinjection if required.

GENERAL INFORMATION TYPICAL SIKA PRODUCT  
  • SikaFuko® Systems must be installed before concreting the construction joint
  • Documenting the location of the junction boxes and run of the hoses is important
  • For detailed information, please refer to the Sika Method Statement for SikaFuko®
  • On vertical elements, always start injection from the bottom and work upwards
  • Slow, low pressure injection is more effective than rapid, high pressure injection
  • Sika® Injection-307
  • Sika® Injection-310 US
 

THE CURTAIN INJECTION PROCESS

BASEMENTS CAN DEVELOP LEAKS over large sections of their whole area for many reasons including inadequate concrete mix design, placing, or compaction, in addition to ground movement and rising water tables, etc. These larger areas can be sealed by curtain injection behind the concrete structure.

SEQUENCE OF APPLICATIONS

1. Drill holes for the mechanical packers through the leaking building component at a spacing of 30 - 50 cm, as shown in the picture.

2. Install the mechanical packers. Tighten the mechanical packets so that they can withstand the maximum injection pressures.

3. Fix the button head (non-return)fittings on the first packer and start the injection process at the lowest row of drill holes.

4. When the injection material flows out of the second packer during the injection process, fix the non-return valve on it as quickly as possible. Stop injection at the first packer and continue at the second packer.

5. Continue the injection procedure from packer to packer.

Injection for waterproofing leaking walls and kicker areas 3d rendering
GENERAL INFORMATION TYPICAL SIKA PRODUCT  
  • On vertical elements, start injection from the bottom and work upwards
  • Slow, low pressure injection is more effective than rapid, high pressure injection
  • Detailed recording of the material flow in and out of each packer is important
  • Test injection is recommended to define the best spacing for the packers
  • Sika® Injection-215
  • Sika® Injection-304 (high water ingress)
 
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