Case Study Overview

Site Flood defence dam
Location Scotland
Repair Type Gap repair
Defect Gaps between concrete slabs in section of flood defence wall

Repair Products

Sylmasta AB Original Epoxy Putty

Case Study PDF

Case Study Details

A valley in Scotland at the confluence of three rivers had been flooding for over a century, affecting homes and business in three towns and the railway line connecting them.

With climate change making flooding a more regular occurrence, a multimillion pound flood defence project was commissioned. This involved the construction of a large earth storage dam and concrete flood defence walls.

The state-of-the-art dam was designed to retain water from the rivers when levels were high, reducing the risk of flooding in the towns downstream whilst leaving flow unaffected at other times.

Alongside the dam, flood defence walls were built to protect the railway line and the residential estates closest to the river which had suffered the most from water damage over the past 25 years.

Not long after the project finished and one section of the defence walls began leaking. It was made up of concrete slabs sealed together by a grout compound. This compound was now being washed out by floodwater, causing large gaps to appear between the slabs.

A civil engineering company were called in to inspect the problem and formulate a repair. After consultation with Sylmasta, it was decided the gaps in the flood defence wall should undergo repair using AB Original Epoxy Putty.

AB Original is a ceramic-filled, high-strength epoxy putty with an extended work time and excellent underwater and wet surface adhesion.

The engineering company were confident in the suitability of AB Original having seen a previous case study where the Environment Agency sealed a large crack in a wall between a river and a trout farm.

45kg of AB Original Epoxy Putty were delivered to site in 200g sticks. Supplying the putty in sticks formatted to the correct mix ratio removed the need to measure out separate components of resin and hardener from tubs, speeding up the repair.

Each stick was mixed by hand until it turned a uniform colour. Whilst still soft, the putty was pushed into the gaps between slabs. The two-hour work time of AB Original meant the engineers making the repair could take their time mixing and carefully applying the putty without the threat of premature curing.

Once cured, AB Original formed a rock-hard material and a watertight seal much more effective than the original grout compound. With its wet surface properties, the putty easily bonded to the saturated concrete.

Gaps had also appeared between slabs making up a floor, which was now underwater because of the flooding. AB Original cured below the water line, sealing the floor in the same manner as the wall.

Such a straightforward repair ensured the construction of the flood defence wall being completed with an ineffective sealing compound did not cause long-term issues.

AB Original allowed the problem to be remedied quickly and easily, avoiding a costly rebuild or significant reinforcement of the structure within only a few years of completion of the project.

The putty is now playing a small part in protecting homes, businesses and transport infrastructure in the valley against flooding.

Products Used

AB Original Epoxy Putty Stick
Super-strength epoxy putty effective on wet surfaces which permanently seals gaps

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