Safeguarding a historic structure
The iconic Charles Bridge in the Czech Republic is a 650-year-old structure that runs through the heart of Prague, linking the Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana) and the Old Town (Staromestka).
Originally forming the only route across the River Vltava the bridge has been instrumental in Prague’s growth and now plays a major role in the city’s tourism industry. The bridge has also provided a backdrop for numerous films, music videos and computer games.
Preventing weather damage
Wear and tear from the weather, flooding and thousands of tourists caused significant damage to the structure and led to the requirement for major renovation works. Costing €8.7 million (Kč 220 million), the refurbishment project included repairing the upper bridge section, replacing the old concrete deck, installing new waterproofing system, replacing stones in sills, adding new drainage and repairing the structure’s pillars.
To extend the life of the bridge, the engineers on the project were keen to use innovative and long lasting solutions for this work. As part of this goal, they were seeking a waterproofing solution that would form a strong bond to the deck of the bridge and the surfacing for long-lasting protection. Consequently, a minimum bond strength of 1.6 MPa to both the new concrete deck and the existing bohemian sandstone of the main structure was required.
Durable waterproofing in challenging climatic conditions
The ELIMINATOR® system from Stirling Lloyd (now GCP Applied Technologies) was chosen due to its ability to provide a tough, durable membrane that would achieve the required bond strength. . Based on unique ESSELAC® technology, the ELIMINATOR® system can be applied in a wide range of temperatures and climatic conditions which meant that installation of the waterproofing could be carried out throughout the year, a feature which the competing systems were unable to offer.
The granite paving, old concrete deck and previous waterproofing system were removed. Once the new concrete deck was in place and had been left to cure, a primer was applied to seal the concrete.
The ELIMINATOR® waterproofing membrane was then spray applied in two separate coats, each in a contrasting colour to provide a visual check to confirm the required thickness was achieved. The ELIMINATOR® system cures rapidly, enabling speedy progression of the project.
100mm of concrete was applied, returning the bridge’s exposed surface to the aesthetic appearance it had before the refurbishment.
Blue360sm Total Business Advantage.
The power of GCP products, performance and people
gcpat.ae | United Arab Emirates customer service: +971 4 5139560
GCP Applied Technologies Inc., 2325 Lakeview Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30009, USA
P. O. Box 5006, Office 2104, 21 Floor, The Exchange Tower, Opp. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Business Bay, Dubai – United Arab Emirates
This document is only current as of the last updated date stated below and is valid only for use in the UAE. It is important that you always refer to the currently available information at the URL below to provide the most current product information at the time of use. Additional literature such as Contractor Manuals, Technical Bulletins, Detail Drawings and detailing recommendations and other relevant documents are also available on www.gcpat.ae. Information found on other websites must not be relied upon, as they may not be up-to-date or applicable to the conditions in your location and we do not accept any responsibility for their content. If there are any conflicts or if you need more information, please contact GCP Customer Service.
Last Updated: 2022-02-02
https://gcpat.ae/en-gb/inspiration/project-profiles/eliminator-system-protects-historic-bridge-deck