Product description
ActiTex - is a modern hydroinsulating mat. As a result of contact with water, the bentonite contained in it activates and causes the mat to swell (approx. 0.5-1.0 cm). The thick bentonite gel produced in this process precisely seals the structure by creating the so-called brown bath and by penetrating all scratches and cracks formed in the micro structure.
Application in isolation:
Structure of the ActiTex mat
Production process of ActiTex:
Advantages of ActiTex mats:
NOTES
ActiTex mats - assembly guidelines
The base of the ActiTex and ActiTex C mats can be a concrete base, stabilized ground base, compacted soil or a layer of compacted aggregate. The ground base or the aggregate layer should be levelled and compacted. In the case of compacted aggregate substrates, aggregate of various grain sizes and a maximum grain size of less than 18 mm should be used. The base may be damp or even wet. There should be no steps greater than 5 mm. Unevenness is levelled with the use of cement mortar or bentonite filler.
Under the foundation slab, ActiTex / Actitex C mats should be laid in strips as shown in the diagram. Adjacent stripes are overlapped with min. 10 cm. Overlaps of ends of stripes should be shifted to each other by at least 30 cm. In order to protect against spreading or contamination of overlaps during reinforcement and concrete works, it is recommended to nail the mat to the substrate along laps with nails and washers or sew laps with a special stapler. The distance between nails or staples is 40-50 cm. If the slab is made in stages, the ActiTex / Actitex C mat from the earlier stage should extend at least 30 cm beyond the edge of the already poured slab. This will allow the overlap to be made and the correct connection to the insulation under the next section of the slab.
When passing under the expansion joint, it is recommended to lay an additional strip of the Actitex mat with a width of min. 80 cm (40 cm on both sides of the expansion joint). The mat, which is the basic insulation, should extend beyond the already made element for min. 60 cm. The ActiTex / Actitex C mat does not seal expansion joints. The ActiStop tape should be installed in all construction joints while concreting
For safety reasons, external PVC-P tapes are often used in addition to the ActiStop tape.
The ActiTex / Actitex C mat should not be placed directly on piles. The ActiTex / Actitex C mat should be properly cut to fit the pile shape exactly. After laying the ActiTex / Actitex C mat, the place of its contact with the pile is covered with bentonite putty. Put a triangular ring around the pile using putty, the length of triangle leg should be at least 5 cm. On top of the pile, a continuous strip of ActiStop tape should be laid around the protruding reinforcement. In the case of ribbed foundation slabs, the mat covers the entire rib. This is done by lining the ActiTex / Actitex C inside the rib formwork, before inserting the reinforcement into it. From the ActiTex / Actitex C mat, at least 30 cm of the allowance should be led out, which will allow for its subsequent connection with the main insulation of the slab. In the case of the lack of pressure water, the procedure is similar to that for the previously described pile caps.
When installing the ActiTex / Actitex C mat, cut out the shape of the passing wire in it, and after laying it, cover the point of contact around the entire circumference of the pipe or cable with a bentonite putty. Putty should reach on the cable and ActiTex / Actitex C by about 4 cm. In order to protect the sealing made in this way, it is recommended to lay an additional mat of 80 x 80 cm (the size applies to pipes with a diameter up to 400 mm). A hole corresponding to the shape of the passing wire should be cut in the patch. Where the a group of closely spaced cables passes through the board, it may not be practical to cut holes for each of the holes in ActiTex / Actitex C. It is then more advantageous to adjust the cut-out to the outer contour of the group of cables, and cover the space between them with a layer of bentonite at least 1 cm thick. Finish the whole with a thick layer of bentonite putty. For additional sealing, it is recommended to wrap the installation cables with ActiStop bentonite expanding tape.
Lift shaft bottoms and other such deepest elements of the structure should be particularly carefully covered with the ActiTex / Actitex C mat from the ground side, ensuring continuity of insulation and uninterrupted connection with the basic horizontal insulation. In cases where the walls of the the lift shaft bottom trench are sufficiently stable, ActiTex / Actitex C mats can be placed directly on the ground. However, when walls collapse or may collapse, they should be retained with the boarding and the ActiTex / Actitex C mats should be placed on the retaining wall so created. A brick wall or properly poured concrete elements can also be used as a base. ActiTex / Actitex C mats can also be mounted to the internal surface of the outer formwork of the wall. In any case, the mat should be led out to the horizontal surface in order to properly ensuring the continuity of it with the basic insulation of the slab. The allowance width should be at least 30 cm. The ActiStop tape should be fit in all construction joints while concreting. In the event of water pressure, external PVC-P tapes are often used in addition to the ActiStop tape.
After the ActiTex / Actitex C mat horizontal assembly has reached the outer contour of the slab, the mat should be folded over its formwork. Then trim, leaving at least 30 cm of the allowance. After removing the formwork, remaining allowances will be used for continuous connection with the vertical insulation. The width of such an overlap should not be less than 10 cm. It is also permissible to cut the ActiTex / Actitex C mats led to the vertical surface flush with the upper edge of the slab. In such a situation, in order to make the insulation continuous, the vertical wall insulation to be laid should overlap with the previously made one, creating an overlap of min. 30 cm. If the horizontal insulation rolled up onto the formwork is damaged or the insulation in the bottom corner of the slab is damaged, make a groove in the base along the edge of the slab and fill it with bentonite. The size of the groove should be min. 10 x 10 cm. The lower edge of the vertical insulation of the ActiTex / Actitex C mat is embedded in the prepared groove filled with bentonite. In corners, ActiTex / Actitex C should adhere exactly to the base and the formwork surface. It cannot be stretched or stand out. Cut the mat in the internal and external corners to match the shape of the corner. Cover the places of cuts with a bentonite putty. If it is possible, arrange patches in these places, fixing them with putty, nails or staples. The dimensions of the patch should be such that it passes beyond the cut at least 20 cm in each direction. If the mat is not turned over the board formwork, it can be led out horizontally under the formwork, leaving at least 30 cm of the allowance. In such a situation, pay special attention to protecting the mat against damage. The mat will then be attached to the vertical surface as described in the section on insulating vertical surfaces. The mat is attached to the formwork by suspending it with a wire or nailing it. After removing the formwork, fill with putty places of fastening and, if necessary, fix the patches. ActiStop bentonite tape should be installed around the perimeter of joints between the slab and walls. It is allowed to use an additional external PVC-P sealing tape.
Each time before installing the ActiTex / Actitex C insulation, make sure that the surface of the diaphragm wall within and outside the lock, to which the bottom plate will be added, has no scratches or cracks that could be penetrated by water. If such a situation occurs, these places should be sealed first. The above remark also applies to construction joints between successive sections of the diaphragm wall. The horizontal and vertical surfaces of the lock should be carefully cleaned. If there are repairs to the diaphragm wall surface within the lock, their quality should be checked. In case of poor adhesion of the repair mortar, remove it. The ActiTex / Actitex C mat is placed on the previously prepared base according to rules described earlier. Its edge should be introduced inside the lock, preferably in such a way that the ActiTex / Actitex C overlaps the reinforcement (such a solution in most cases requires the consent of the designer). In such a situation, it will be necessary to notching the insulation. The end of the mat should be thoroughly filled with bentonite putty. A putty layer should be placed on the edge of the mat and extended onto the vertical surface of the lock to a height of about 5 cm. The reinforcing bars should also be processed with putty. The ActiStop tape must be installed within the lock area. With a board thickness up to 40 cm, one web of the tape is installed. If the board is thicker, two bands should be installed. The tape should be attached with a mesh.
The use of construction techniques described in this chapter allows for the erection of objects with external dimensions almost equal to the boundaries of the building plot. The ActiTex / Actitex C mat is the most effective method of waterproofing a building, when the permanent foundation trench casings also act as the formwork of the structure. These are Berliner walls, sheet pile walls, diaphragm walls, drilled pile walls, etc. In individual cases, refer to the relevant sections of this chapter for information on base preparation and detailed installation instructions. As in the case of permanent trench supports, the mat is installed to insulate the underground parts of "infill" buildings. Adjacent stripes of the ActiTex / Actitex C mat are laid with an overlap at least 10 cm and attached to the housing with nails or pegs. It is necessary to nail the mat at least at the vertical and top edges. Spacing of fastening elements approx. 30 cm. Overlaps in a given direction (horizontal and vertical) should be shifted to each other by at least 30 cm.Overlaps should be made in such a way that they do not spread apart during concreting. ActiTex / Actitex C installed on vertical surfaces should overlap with the mat coming out from under the slab. The width of the overlap at the connection of the vertical insulation to be laid with allowances released led out the horizontal insulation must not be less than 10 cm. In order to pass through the ActiTex / Actitex C insulation penetrating installation cables and heads of anchor rods, appropriate cuts should be made in ActiTex / Actitex C. After the exact fit of the ActiTex / Actitex C, the contact point should be filled with bentonite putty, completely filling the free spaces between the penetrating element and the cut mat. If a compact group of conductors is passed over, it is not appropriate to cut holes for the individual conductors in the ActiTex / Actitex C. In such a case, a cut should be made corresponding to the outer contour of this group of cables, and the space between them should be covered with a layer of bentonite putty with a thickness of min. 2 cm reaching on each pipe. For additional sealing, it is recommended to wrap the installation conductors with the ActiStop bentonite tape. In the place where the heads of the anchor rods penetrate the mat, an "x" shaped incision should be made. Then, heads of the anchor rods must be covered with a layer of bentonite putty, not less than 2 cm thick and reaching the ActiTex / Actitex C at least 5 cm. A patch cut from a separate piece of the ActiTex / Actitex C mat is put on the putty head of the anchor rod, the overlaps of the ActiTex / Actitex C mat should not be smaller than 20 cm. Overlaps and all incisions should be filled thoroughly. Laying the ActiTex / Actitex C mat should be completed at the ground surface in accordance with guidelines.
The distance between logs must not exceed 2.5 cm. In cases where they are wider, they should be filled with cement mortar. If groundwater leaks through the casing, before installing the ActiTex / Actitex C mat, cover the formwork with 0.15 mm PE film or install ActiTex / Actitex C. On surfaces with very large log spacing (5-10 cm), for example, polyethylene drainage mats should be installed (the mat type should be approved by the manufacturer), and then ActiTex / Actitex C should be installed on them.The drainage mat should be permanently attached to the formwork with nails. Instead of drainage mats, you can install chipboard or make a sheathing of boards. Install an impregnated chipboard or plank sheathing on surfaces with very large log spacing. Depressions along edges of flanges of I-girders and the log casing should be softened by filling them with a bentonite putty.
All sheet pile locks and heads of anchor rods should be covered with a bentonite putty (approx. 2 cm). If the seepage of water through locks of sheet piles is significant, inject the soil to stop the flow of water. ActiTex / Actitex C is applied to the wall surface in the manner of routes of concavities and convexities, and successively fastened to the sheet piles using shot-in pins with large washers. The ActiTex / Actitex C mat can also be laid onto sheet piles with plywood sheathing. When choosing this variant, the formwork is attached to ridges of sheet piles, which will be the base for laying the ActiTex / Actitex C mat. Leaks in the made sheathing should be filled with cement mortar or bentonite putty.
Due to the significant unevenness of the surface of such a casing, it is most often covered with a sprayed concrete layer. Shotcrete, as the base of the ActiTex / Actitex C mat, can also be applied directly to the vertical walls of the trench, if the type of soil allows it. In any case, the ActiTex / Actitex C mats must adhere to the base over the entire surface: it is unacceptable, for example, to attach it in the convex places of the base and stretch it over the recesses. As in other cases, also here: the more evenly prepared the base, the more efficient and simpler the installation of the ActiTex / Actitex C mat.
The mat is installed by nailing to the formwork. The mat should be installed with allowances (along the bottom and one of the side edges) for overlaps in order to make the insulation continuous. Then the formwork board is transported to the installation site. During concreting and curing concrete, the mat is joined with the structure. After removing the formwork, the mat is installed. It is necessary to check overlaps. To protect against their spreading, the loose mat strips should be nailed to the structure, and the places of nailing should be filled with bentonite putty. Holes in the mat, cover patches of the ActiTex / Actitex C mats fastened to the structure by nailing. If the top edge of the mat remains loose, it should be fastened and properly finished.
In order to remove damage to the ActiTex / Actitex C mat caused by its installation, reinforcement and concrete works, etc. (e.g. tears, cuts in the mat in the corners, fixing points and transitions of formwork joining elements), clean and cover the facings with bentonite putty. Then, lay patches fixing them with putty, nails or staples. The size of the patch should be such that it goes beyond the damaged area at least 20 cm in each direction.
