Guildford Rail Station Car Park

Adding Life to Concrete – How MARKHAM applied hydrogel waterproofing systems to a new multi-storey car park structure at the Guildford Rail Station in Guildford, England.

The Guildford rail station car park presented a significant waterproofing challenge for this new 8-level multi-storey structure. Located in Guildford, England, this Network Rail facility required robust concrete protection against water ingress, de-icing salts, and heavy vehicular traffic. MARKHAM’s AQURON hydrogel waterproofing systems, specifically designed for car parks and transportation infrastructure, provided a comprehensive solution across all levels of the Guildford rail station car park, treating 14,660m² of concrete decking with zero maintenance requirements.

OBJECTIVE

Reinforced concrete decks exposed to atmospheric conditions and vehicular traffic require robust protection against water and chloride ingress. The primary need for this structure was a durable waterproofing solution that protected the concrete at all eight levels of this structure from environmental damage, accommodating winter de-icing slats and requiring minimum maintenance to ensure the decks remain functional through all seasons for many years to come.

SOLUTION

MARKHAM was able to assist with a holistic three-part system. On Deck Levels 1 & 8, the concrete itself was made waterproof by including AQURON 300 admixture in the mix design and AQURON 2000 spray applied treatment. All electrical and drainage penetrations in the decks, and the edge kerb upstands on the decks were sealed with CONQOR 47B delayed swell waterstop gasket.

On Deck Levels 2 – 7, a slightly reduced specification was used with the full scope of works proceeding with the exception of the inclusion of the AQURON 300 admixture. This was deemed adequate due to the intermediate Deck Levels reduced level of exposure to weather conditions.

RESULTS

The inclusion of AQURON 300 in the concrete at mixing stage and the treatment of the concrete with AQURON 2000 the day after placement meant that the waterproofing process was going on concurrently with the pour schedule. This removed the delays typically encountered with the application of a multi-coat membrane system.

Sealing all penetrations and kerb upstands using CONQOR 47B meant that MARKHAM’s waterproofing solution was contiguous across the whole of the eight deck areas of this structure.

As the waterproofing solution is included right through the full depth of the concrete topping, this means that it is in place for the lifespan of the concrete and will not require any reapplication or ongoing maintenance. Both AQURON 300 and AQURON 2000 are fully compatible with any form of line marking / road signage meaning that there was no adverse effect / change required to the marking out process for these eight deck levels.

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*Cover image courtesy of Network Rail.