Construction World March 2018

PROJECTS & CONTRACTS

SILO REHAB at Caledon Breweries a.b.e Construction Chemicals supplied a wide range of waterproofing and concrete repair products for the refurbishment of dozens of grain silos at SAB Miller breweries in Caledon, Western Cape. a.b.e. is part of the Chryso Southern Africa Group.

membrane is treated with serigraph talc, which prevents problems when unrolling the product. The lower face is covered with a sacrificial polyethylene film and the roll is then embossed. “The embossing assists in the rapid burn-off of the polyethylene film in the torching operation and allows good vapour diffusion.” a.b.e. silvakote bituminous aluminium protective coating, as well as a.b.e. super laykold and a.b.e. superlaycryl were applied as additional waterproofing to a total area of almost 3 000 m 2 . For the concrete repair part of the project, a.b.e. supplied epidermix 344, durarep FR, epidermix 389, Dow Corning 888, and durabond GP: • a.b.e. epidermix 344 is a two component, solvent free, polysulphide modified epoxy adhesive. It can bond fresh (plastic) concrete to existing concrete, plaster or brickwork and provide a damp-proof barrier in the concrete matrix; • a.b.e. durarep FR is a polymer modified, fibre-reinforced structural repair mortar which is chloride free, ready-to-use, and non-shrinking; • a.b.e. epidermix 389, used for the sealing of the concrete cracks, is a two component, low viscosity modified epoxy crack injection compound; • Dow Corning 888 silicone sealant was used for the sealing of joints totalling about 140 m in length. Dow Corning 888 – widely used to seal joints on highways – can seal transverse contraction and expansion joints, longitudinal, centre line as well as shoulder joints in concrete; and • a.b.e.’s durabond GP was used as a primer/bonding medium for the concrete repairs. Dalton specified the product packages for both the waterproofing and concrete repair work and trained Vertical Logic, who are now approved a.b.e. applicators. The Cape Town-based company provides rope access services to industries for work in areas where it is not practical to use traditional methods of access such as scaffolding or hoists. a.b.e. Construction Chemicals will this year provide a.b.e. silocoat elasto- meric cementitious coating for the second phase of the silo complex refurbishment at the breweries. The coating has been designed to be easily mixed on-site using a slow speed drill and paddle, and when applied to the silos’ substrate forms an elastomeric impermeable membrane. 

S teff Dalton, a.b.e. Technical Sales Consultant, says for the waterproofing of the 56 silos, a.b.e.’s Index Fidia P thick non-woven polyester reinforced membrane was applied to the silo walls in 4 mm thick- ness by torch-on fusion by the applicators, Vertical Logic, who had to access the 34 m high silos via rope access.

“Index Fidia P membrane is manufactured from a compound of distilled bitumen and polymers. After mixing, the polymers are evenly dispersed throughout the matrix and provides the product with excellent stability and durability at both high and low tempera- tures,” Dalton states. He says the upper face of Index Fidia P’s

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2018