Infi-Shield
The external sealing protection system for all manholes and catch basins. This system creates a rubber jacket, sealing the casting to the structure. This effectively eliminates infiltration and siltation through the adjustment rings, reducing the hydraulic loads on piping, pumping stations, and waste water treatment facilities. In addition, frequent costly repair and maintenance is reduced.
The Problem
With the growth of sanitary and storm water sewers, concrete structures have become an accepted industry standard. They serve both to contain water within, and also to exclude unwanted water from entering. Routine maintenance cost to repair, upgrade, and extend systems is an ongoing expense. Construction methods have remained basically the same, with little progress made in countering the hostile, deteriorating forces attacking the structures. While the use of concrete products remains popular, the industry is slowly changing and adopting new ideas.
What to Fix
To maintain internal integrity, products to improve the joint seals between concrete sections, manholes, and adjustment rings, have been introduced - with mixed success. Butyl and rubber are commonly used in joint seals, whereas, mortar is used in adjustment rings to keep ground water from infiltrating. But, as mortar breaks up, the never ending maintenance cycle repeats. Therefore, if we could guard mortar from attack, and delay breakup, we could maintain structural integrity and extend the useful service life of the system.
What Happens
In a manhole or catch basin, the deterioration of mortar is affected by a variety of forces - freeze thaw cycles, exposure to water, acidic soils, chemicals, ground faults, traffic - creating soil movement and general exposure problems. In due time, as the mortar seal on the structure is breached, infiltration of ground water and siltation increases, adding both to the accelerating deterioration of the structure and to additional processing expense for the treatment facility. Until recently, no effective method existed for protection against this attack.
The Solution
An external sealing system was developed by Sealing Systems, Inc., creating a protective rubber jacket, sealing the casting to the structure. This effectively eliminates infiltration and siltation through the adjustment rings, reducing the hydraulic loads on piping, pumping stations, and waste water treatment facilities. In addition, frequent and costly repair and maintenance is reduced, eliminating the sinking earth around manholes and catch basins. Expensive curb replacement, pavement, landscaping, and siltation clean-up is eliminated.
Benefits:
- Eliminates water and soil infiltration through pipe and structures
- Eliminates breakdown of adjusting rings on manholes and catch basins
- Eliminates costly patching
- Cost effective - short and long term payback
- Reduces the burden of waste water treatment facilities
- Seals castings to structure
- Quick and easy installation
- Adjustable to any height for manhole and catch basin ring sections
- EPDM safety approved material
- Product available to fit any size structure or pipe
Flex-Seal
An inexpensive and permanent method of sealing the grade adjustment ring area and joint sections in a manhole or catch basin from the inside of the structure. This state-of-the-art method is packaged in a kit which anyone can install.
The Problem
Engineers, contractors, maintenance staff, and rehabilitation experts know that over time their fine work from design to field installation will fall victim to acids, salt, and ground movement, etc. Manhole structures will leak at the joints and at the grade adjustment rings resulting in excess ground water infiltration. This will increase treatment processing costs and erosion to the structure.
The Solution
Flex-Seal Utility Sealant® is an aromatic urethane rubber. Urethanes are noted for extreme toughness, elongation, abrasion resistance, acidic resistance, and longevity. Sealing Systems, Inc. process allows a fast and simple method of sealing the adjustment ring area and joint sections on any concrete structure. When properly installed, the adjustment ring areas and joint sections will not allow infiltration and will not deteriorate from hydrogen sulfide or road salt.
Click Here to Watch Flex Seal Elongation Test
