PVC WATERSTOP -

DESIGN GUIDE

SUGGESTED MASTER SPECIFICATION

SECTION 03 15 13 WATERSTOPS
PART 1 GENERAL
1.01 SECTION INCLUDES
A. Basic Use: PVC waterstops are designed for use in concrete joints subjected to hydrostatic pressure.
Embedded in concrete, waterstops span the joint, forming a continuous, watertight diaphragm that
prevents the passage of fluid. Non-metallic waterstops for use in concrete joints subjected to chlorinated
water, seawater, and many waterborne chemicals.
B. In concrete structures, waterstops must be designed to accommodate joint expansion, contraction and
other lateral and transverse movements. In addition to accommodating expected movements, the
waterstop material must also be compatible with liquids or chemicals contained in the structure.
C. Typical concrete structures requiring waterstops include: water and waste water treatment plants,
reservoirs, locks, dams, canals, aqueducts, tunnels, storage tanks, foundations or any concrete structure
where liquids are to be contained or controlled.
1.02 WATERSTOP SELECTION GUIDELINES
A. PVC Waterstop meet or exceed the performance required in the most stringent specifications, including the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers CRD-C-572-74.
B. The industry standard PVC Waterstop is manufactured from virgin materials, specially compounded to be
tough, flexible, resilient, weather-resistant, unaffected by low temperatures or constant immersion in
water and resistant to many chemicals. The product is easy to install and splice and can accommodate joint
movements while preventing water from seeping through the joint.
1.03 DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING
A. PVC ARCTIC GRADE WATERSTOPS (-58°F/-50°C) are specially formulated to retain its physical properties
and performance in excessively cold environments.

PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.01 TYPE OF CONCRETE JOINTS
A. Contraction Joints are designed planes of weakness to control the location of cracks due to drying
shrinkage of concrete.
B. Expansion or Isolation Joints separate or isolate abutting con-crete structures (walls, slabs, foot-ings,
columns), protecting them from compressive stresses that may be developed by thermal expansion,
settlement, creep, live load deflec¬tions, drying shrinkage or crush. Differential movement at these joints
can be both lateral and transverse.
C. Construction Joints are determined by interruptions in the placement of concrete.

2.02 WATERSTOP DESIGNS FOR NON-WORKING JOINTS

Ribbed Flat – Use where negligible or no movement is expected. Ribbed shapes

provide a more watertight seal than dumbbell.

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Dumbell – Use where negligible or no

movement is expected.

Ladyrinth - Split form bulkhead not required.

Use in vertical joints where little or no
differential movement is expected. Horizontal
joints may be difficult to form properly. Quality splicing is difficult at intersections
and changes in direction.

Base Seal - Use at joints of slab-on-grade or walls that will be back-filled. This design is easy to form and ensures
accurate functional placement.

Split - Eliminates split formwork in long straight runs. Do not use where design of the forms or location of reinforcing
prohibits opening of the split flange. Quality splicing is extremely difficult and
intersections are not possible.

2.03 WATERSTOP DESIGNS FOR MOVING JOINTS

Ribbed with Center Bulb - The most versatile design available. The center bulb
accommodates lateral, transverse and shear movement. Larger center bulbs
accommodate greater movement without significantly stressing the material.
Ribbed shapes provide a more watertight seal than dumbbell.

Dumbbell With Center Bulb – Accommodates

transverse, lateral and shear movements.
Larger center bulbs accommodate greater movement.

Tear Web - Use Where Large Movements Are Expected. Tear Web Keeps Concrete Out
Of The Bulb During Concrete Placement. Upon Joint Movement, The Thin Tear Web
Ruptures Allowing Substantial Mechanical Deformation Of Center Bulb Without
Stressing The Material.

PART 3 EXECUTION
3.01 PVC WATERSTOP DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:
A. Waterstop failures are rarely the result of a ruptured waterstop due to hydrostatic pressure. Typically,
a 3/8” thick PVC waterstop in a joint width of 1/2” can be calculated to have a safety factor of 17 when
subject to 200 ft. of head pressure. Failures are more commonly the result of fluid migration around
the waterstop as shown.

Fluid

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DESIGN GUIDE

B. Fluid Migration - This type of failure can only be predicted by testing and is affected by the following
factors:
1. Improper profile selection
2. Joint gap with waterstop in tension
3. Quality of waterstop installation and splices
4. Quality of concrete placement
C. Testing for this failure can be conducted using the following apparatus:
Based on test results for fluid migration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends use of the conservative guidelines
below for waterstop size selection.

Additional factors must be considered beyond fluid migration when selecting a waterstop. These factors include the thickness
of the concrete, location of reinforcement and mix design. Follow the parameters shown below.

a=largest aggregate size w not less than 6a+j b=reinforcement x not

less than 2a w not greater than t y not less than .5(w-j) d=differential
movement ID=inside diameter of ID≥d (conservative) centerbulb

A. FINAL SELECTION IS MADE AFTER THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED:

1. Type of concrete joint

2. Direction and magnitude of movement
3. Waterstop location in the joint
4. Waterstop design and size

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B. Sika St. Louis offers the world’s largest selection of waterstops. Sizes range from 4 to 12 inches in width
and from 1/8 to 1/2 inch in thickness. Contact Sika St. Louis for assistance in selecting the appropriate
profile or to request a supplement illustrating the majority of profiles available.
C. FACTORY MADE FITTINGS: Sika Greenstreak PVC waterstop are made to be easily spliced in the field with a
thermostatically controlled heating iron. However, experience has shown that field welded mitered
intersections are seldom done correctly. For this reason, it is highly recommended that fittings be
fabricated at Sika St. Louis, leaving only straight butt splices for the field.
D. Ells, Tees and Crosses are available in vertical and flat styles for all profiles with the exception of some A-
symmetrical shapes.
E. ANCHORING: Waterstops should be properly positioned prior to concrete placement. Grommets, pre-
punched holes (factory applied), or hog rings (installed by others) are applied to the outermost edge of the
waterstop provide the installer a convenient and economical means of wire tying the waterstop to adjacent
reinforcement. This procedure should be required for all PVC waterstop installations.
END OF SECTION

For More Information Contact

Sika Corporation - US
Sika - St. Louis Sales Office
201 Polito Avenue
3400 Tree Court Industrial Blvd.
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071
63122, St. Louis, MO
United States
United States
Usa.Sika.com
www.USA.Sika.com
Phone: 1-800-325-9504
Fax: 800-551-5145
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