Semmelweis University Waterproofing Repairs

Background

By the early 2000s, the medical and educational services building for the Semmelweis University (SU) in downtown Budapest was in need of waterproofing repairs. As it is over 113 years old and originally made of high-quality ceramic bricks and mortar without any waterproofing solution, the services building had been vulnerable to water ingress for some time.

That vulnerability eventually led to the building’s basement clinics leaking in 2006. It was a noticeable change as the water leaking through was making its way past the thick ceramic brick walls of the building.

In response to this issue, the university had chosen to renovate the building between 2006 and 2007. At the time, contractors used epoxy injections to conduct a waterproofing repair, which ended with poor results. It wasn’t long after that the building’s walls started leaking again, making the management of the SU eager to find a permanent waterproofing solution for the basement clinics.

Solution

To provide the long-term waterproofing that the SU management wanted, the repair team for the building decided to test Kryton’s KMA solution. As a hydrophilic crystalline admixture, KMA offers long-term protection for masonry mortars and concrete masonry units against water and waterborne contaminants by reducing the mortar’s permeability and absorption. It’s a superior way to waterproof that lowers building maintenance and repair costs. Once applied to the negative side of the wall for the SU’s basement clinics, KMA was able to show the value of its waterproofing performance by permanently protecting the SU's basement walls.