A Mapei watertight concrete & membrane system has been used to create a protective boundary at Chartist Garden Village, Gwent – a development of 123 new homes by Lovell Partnerships, for Pobl Group. The warrantied waterproofing system was designed by Phil Hewitt Associates in consultation with the Mapei Specification Manager, Mapei Technical Department and Grays (Consulting Engineers) Limited. Works were carried out by W.D. Lewis Groundworks.

Situated adjacent to Sir Harold Finch Memorial Park in the village of Pontllanfraith, the meticulously-designed Chartist Garden Village is located on the site of former council offices. The Mapei specification incorporated waterproofing of a foundation slab and precast L shaped retaining wall, spanning over 70m in length and 3.5m high. The retaining wall was designed to retain earth on the sloping site whilst protecting the new development from the ingress of groundwater.

In consultation with Mapei’s technical team, a warrantied design including a complete system of Mapei products was put together for Lovell Partnerships by Phil Hewitt Associates. Site support was then provided throughout the project by Mapei’s Admixture, Waterproofing and Technical Department teams.

The comprehensive specification included Idrostop, a hydrophilic expanding waterbar, 70m3 of watertight concrete using Idrocrete KR1000– a powder admixture made from special hydrophilic components which reduces the permeability of hardened concrete - and Mapeband TPE flexible sealing and waterproofing tape to seal movement joints.

Mortar, drainage, primer and membrane products included Planitop Smooth & Repair R4 – a rapid-setting, shrinkage compensated, thixotropic, fibre-reinforced, cementitious mortar, Polyfond Kit Drain protection and drainage system, Mapethene Primer solvent-free bitumen primer and Mapethene LTself-adhesive bitumen waterproofing membrane.

For more information about Mapei systems and applications, please contact: info@mapei.co.uk or visit www.mapei.co.uk