Mapei Waterproofing and Tiling System Specified at Farringdon Community Academy Pool

Plunkett Tiling has recently completed a swimming pool project at Sunderland’s Farringdon Community Academy, using a Mapei waterproofing and tiling system. The project included the pool surround, showers and changing areas and featured Verona tiles and products from Mapei’s Ceramic and Waterproofing Lines. The leisure centre forms part of a £35 million construction project delivered by BAM UK & Ireland.

Designed by Ryder Architecture, the new Farringdon Community Academy project includes a new three-storey main teaching block to the south of the existing site and the new indoor pool complex to the north. The £6 million pool facility will be a shared community hub, for use by the Academy, the local community and other schools in the city.

It includes a new 20-metre by 8.5-metre indoor swimming pool and bright, contemporary showers and changing rooms. It was officially opened by two-time Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington.

Surface Preparation and Waterproofing

During the surface preparation phase of the project, Plunkett Tiling installed floors with a screed containing Mapei Topcem – a special, fast-drying hydraulic binder.

Two waterproofers were then applied: Mapelastic Turbo to floors – a quick-drying elastic cementitious waterproofing mortar, incorporating alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh, Mapenet 150 – and, to walls, Mapelastic AquaDefense – a one-component rapid-drying liquid membrane which forms an elastic membrane.

Mapeband Easy waterproofing elastic joints were also used to add additional protection to internal and external corners.

Tile Installation

The tile installation included 200 x 200 mm wall tiles and 300 x 300 mm floor tiles, supplied by Verona Group*. All designs were fixed using two Mapei cementitious adhesives – Adesilex P9 and Keraquick S1.

The installation was completed with two Mapei grouts: Kerapoxy Easy Design – an acid-resistant epoxy formulation that provides mould and bacteria resistance – and Ultracolor Plus grout – a cementitious grout featuring water-repellent DropEffect® and mould-resistant Bioblock® technology.

Mapelastic Turbo, Keraquick S1 and Ultracolor Plus have CO2e offset in the entire life cycle*.

Tile Specification

*The tile specification included:

650m² 200 x 200 mm Projectos White Matt (M100)
38m² 200 x 200 mm Projectos Azul Matt (M1152)
190m² 300 x 300 mm Eton Grey Structured R11 +40 PTV
2m² 300 x 300 mm Eton Anthracite Structured R11 +40
210m² 300 x 300 mm Eton Dark Anthracite Structured

For more information, please contact: info@mapei.co.uk or visit www.mapei.co.uk