PVC Waterstop | Waterstop tapes for concrete joints

PVC Waterstops are flexible waterstops based on PVC-P (plasticised PVC), designed for waterproofing of construction and expansion joints in concrete structures. They are incorporated into the concrete during casting and seal the joint from within the cross-section, rather than on the surface. They have a density of 1.49 ± 0.03 g/cm³, a tensile strength at break of ≥10 N/mm², an elongation at break of ≥350 per cent and a Shore A hardness of 67 ± 5. They have been tested under hydrostatic pressure exceeding 20 metres of water column (report 651_24_DKK-01/05-03-2024) and are accompanied by a declaration of conformity in accordance with DIN 18541.

The ARGYNET View: The waterstop is one of the very few materials that cannot be repaired. It is installed once, within the concrete, and remains there for the lifetime of the structure — if the wrong type is selected, the only remedy is demolition. That is why the choice is made at the design stage, not at the time of ordering.

Two questions determine the code. First: does the joint move? If so, type E is required, with a hexagonal central ball that absorbs the movement; if not (a construction joint), Type C without a ball is sufficient. Second: where is it installed? Type I is positioned axially at the centre of the cross-section, with the reinforcement surrounding it; type E is fixed to the surface of the formwork and remains on the outer face. That is the entire system.