Concrete Repair Programme at Kent University Library

Key Features: Full Stage Repair Programme

Background

Proten Services carried out concrete repair works to Templeman Library; an imposing building serving as the main library on the University of Kent’s Canterbury Campus.

The building, a large cast in-situ concrete framed structure built in the 1960’s, has a range of exposed and non-coated sections of concrete together with large areas of brick façade under a series of flat roofs. It was these concrete facades which were showing advanced signs of distress with cracking and spaling evident.

Works Carried Out

Proten Services provided a complete repair programme as follows:

Stage 1: Preparation

• Pressure wash of exposed brickwork to all elevations.

Stage 2: Ring Beams Clean and Test

• Pressure wash of all concrete ring beam surfaces to enable a full visual inspection to be undertaken.
• Full hammer test to all ring beams to establish spaling.
• Cover meter survey to establish depth of the steel reinforcement.
• Carbonation tests to determine depth of carbonation.
• Chloride test to confirm presence or otherwise of chlorides.

Stage 3: Condition Report

• Correlation of data to provide detailed report on the condition and life expectancy of concrete ring beams and the required specification for works.

Stage 4: Repairs To Defects Identified Following RingBeam Cleaning and Tests

• Diamond cut to suitable size and shape repairs to the defective areas.
• Break out and removal of all defective concrete to a sound alkaline using suitable mechanical means.
• Full exposure of corroding reinforcement.
• Cleaning and preparation of reinforcement with abrasive brushes to achieve a bright metal finish.
• Coating of exposed reinforcement with two coats of Sikatop Armatec 110 Epocem primer.
• Dampening of areas due for repairs and hand application of Sika Monotop 610.
• Finish with wet on wet trowel to make flush and blend in with existing concrete.

Stage 5: Application of Protective Coating

• Application of two coats of Safeguard 680 S Clear to all exposed ring beams.