Car Park Environments can be transformed with seamless decking systems
Flowcrete's new Deckshield range delivers watertight protection for car-park structures and is one of the only systems of its kind to be certified to the stringent American Standards Testing specification ASTM C957.
Ian Dawson, Global Marketing Manager, Flowcrete Group Limited, says that the repackaged Deckshield range will help building owners transform their car-parking facilities in line with current requirements. “The car park is often the first point of call for a visitor. First impressions count and corporate image and safety are key considerations.”
The use of the various Deckshield systems on the internal structure of the car park helps enhance visual appearance, improves light reflectivity, enables traffic movement to be regulated and ongoing structural maintenance to be kept to an absolute minimum, says Dawson. “As well as creating a safer and more pleasant ambience, the light reflective properties of Deckshield help reduce electricity consumption, delivering significant cost savings for property owners,” he adds. The profiled anti-skid surface helps to minimise tyre squeal and reduce noise pollution.
Building owners are also concerned with protecting car-park structures from damage caused by a series of unique conditions. Constant traffic movement creates structural movement and long-term substrate deterioration. Also often fully exposed to the elements, car park structures have to contend with any number of harsh conditions.
These include high temperatures, extreme sunlight, UV exposure, low temperatures, freezing and thawing, high levels of rain and extreme temperature fluctuation. All of these, in isolation or in combination with airborne water, salts and chemicals can damage the fabric of the structure. The resulting dynamic stresses will inevitably lead to the early onset of corrosion, cracking of the host concrete and potential structural failure.
Left uncoated, the substrate concrete will be worn smooth, creating a skid hazard. This is often exaggerated by the presence of water or air borne particles and attack from spillage of anti-freeze, battery acid, AC fluid, diesel, petrol and oil.
“Deckshield helps protect against this kind of damage. Its hard-wearing, waterproof, crack-bridging properties have been proven in some of the harshest conditions around the world,” says Dawson. These include the fluctuating temperatures of Northern Europe, the severe heat of the Middle East, the tropical humidity of Asia, the extreme conditions in Australasia and the demanding Hong Kong market.
The new streamlined range includes specific formulations for multi-storey internal decks, exposed decks, internal and external ramps and soffits. The system is also applicable for use in stairways and walkways where high levels of pedestrian traffic are encountered. Offering elastomeric protection with high chemical and abrasion resistance, the solvent-free formulation eliminates harmful volatile organic compounds being released to atmosphere and unpleasant smells during application.
Since first being launched 12 years ago, some five million square metres of Deckshield have been installed around the world. Projects have been completed at some of the world’s leading international airports - Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Heathrow - as well as at major retail and commercial developments throughout the UK, Asia and Australasia.
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