The elevator pits are like the concrete boxes that sit at the bottom of the shaft below the elevator cars and are a simple structural system but they can be highly susceptible to water intrusion, which can directly affect the structural and mechanical integrity of the elevator system. Below are the following elevator pit waterproofing methods that are used based on their reliability, accessibility, and long-term durability. Particular emphasis is put on crystalline waterproofing and it is applied as a long-term solution in new construction.

Water Ingress in Elevator Pit
In the following, we will examine the advantages of crystalline technology and compare it with other methods for the waterproofing of elevator pits for both new constructions and for the repair and maintenance of the existing structures.

Inside the Elevator
Whether you are constructing a low-rise or high-rise building, vertical mobility is a critical component in the modern-day structure. This was first invented by Archimedes. In the year 1832, Burton and Horton introduced the ascending room and Elisha Otis and they first installed a commercial safety elevator in New York in the year 1874.

Waterproofing Techniques
Typically, the elevator pits are waterproofed by applying a membrane, then coating or bentonite-based blankets under the slab and then on the exterior of the pit walls. These act as barriers on the surface of the concrete in order to prevent the penetration of water.

Crystalline Advantage
Unlike the traditional barrier systems, the crystalline waterproofing technology, which has been used successfully been used for many years, can be installed as an admixture in concrete at the batch plant or can be applied as a surface treatment to either the interior or exterior of the structure.

Integral crystalline technology is manufactured in the form of a dry powder compound consisting of mainly Portland cement, very fine-treated silica sand, and a unique blend of proprietary chemicals. The proprietary chemicals react with the by-products of cement hydration and then combine within the concrete matrix to produce the non-soluble crystalline formation that will fill and plugs up the capillary tracts and fine shrinkage cracks in the concrete. This specific formulation is produced for application either as a coating material, concrete admixture, or dry shake product.

When cement particle hydrates, the reaction between water and the cement causes it to become a hard, solid rocklike mass. The reaction also generates chemical by-products that lie dormant on the concrete. The Crystalline technology adds another set of chemicals to the mixture.

Field Verification
More important than laboratory testing, Crystalline technology has proven its effectiveness in its field, and for the last 45 years up to now, it is the best waterproofing and protection of concrete structures.

Crystalline waterproofing technology is a proven and effective method of waterproofing concrete structures ranging from water treatment plants to deep foundations and this applies equally to elevator lift pits. When used as a coating it is a cheaper method than other systems, not subject to physical deterioration, and can resist extreme hydrostatic pressures. Unlike a membrane, it does not require the surface to be smoothed and leveled prior to coating the application. There are no laps or seams, no special detail is needed at corners and edges and it does even not require protection during backfilling.

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