Waterproof

A key issue effecting car park environments is water ingress. During an influx of wet weather, large amounts of rainfall can cause water to seep through the joints and cracks of bare concrete, releasing lime and other corrosive contaminants.

These corrosive substances can fall onto vehicles below, causing substantial paintwork damage. Should this happen then it can lead to costly legal and insurance difficulties for the facility’s owner.

Not only can it cause costly legal headaches but it can affect the integrity of the car park structure. Commercial concrete slabs feature steel reinforcements, which will quickly rust if they come into contact with salt and water. Once the rust starts the steel can expand up to five times its previous size, causing concrete spalling. The first signs of concrete spalling are concrete staining followed by the disintegration of the concrete itself.    

Once this has happened the integrity of the structure is compromised and a serious hazard has been created. In the worst case scenario this could lead to patches of concrete coming loose and falling away, which is not only a risk to both people and property but which can lead to negligence claims being made against the car park’s owner or operator.

To create a safe and secure environment for vehicles a robust and waterproof deck coating which is certified to meet AS 4654.1:2012 should be installed to prevent water ingress from occurring in the first place.