January 2003

RIW has introduced the latest product to its innovative portfolio. RIW Waterstop is a sodium bentonite based material, designed to stop water infiltration through insitu concrete construction joints.

RIW Bentonite Hydrophillic Waterstop comprises sodium bentonite, which can replace passive PVC/Rubber type waterbars thereby eliminating the requirement for special pieces and seam welding. It swells when in contact with water forming an impermeable barrier and pressure seal within the concrete joint, thus preventing water migration over or along the joint.

The key to RIW Waterstop is that it is manufactured with 75% bentonite content which provides superior expansion to seal and fill voids and cracks within the concrete where there is a minimum of 75mm cover to all sides. It is available in lightweight, flexible coils that can be easily installed in hot or cold weather conditions by a single worker. Applications include both vertical and horizontal non-moving concrete construction joints, new to existing concrete construction, irregular surfaces and as a puddle flange around through-wall service penetrations.

RIW Waterstop requires RIW mesh to secure it to concrete or metal surfaces and when fully protected and subjected to normal service conditions, will provide an effective barrier to the transmission of liquid water in construction joints, for the life of the building in which it has been incorporated.

The product has been subjected to rigorous independent testing to over 70m of hydrostatic water pressure, under both continuous immersion and wet/dry cycling. It has also been awarded British Board of Agrement Certificate No. 02/3953 covering its use as a waterbar in reinforced concrete construction joints.

The RIW technical department is available to advise on individual projects and to prepare or assist in the preparation of specifications and drawings. A list of experienced applicators of RIW materials are available from RIW Ltd’s offices.