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The day has finally arrived! The new Canadian VOC laws went into effect on September 9, 2010. See the articles below from Evonik Degussa and Stego Wrap on how these changes are impacting product selection and guide specifications.

The SWA hosted a Product Expo and Demonstration on September 24th. This was the first hands-on event of its kind hosted by the SWA. There were presentations and demos on thin traffic coatings, blindside waterproofing, hot rubber, expansion joints and vapour barriers. Emseal demonstrated the easy installation of their foam products for horizontal and vertical applications. The SWA plan on hosting another Product Expo and Demonstration in the Spring of 2011. Stay tuned for more information.

Best Regards,

Marla

How to Meet Regulations and Maintain a Quality Specification

VOC compliant products may be more expensive and the added cost may not be initially apparent. The price per gallon might be the same but higher labour costs (due to masking of windows), shorter life cycles or more coats make the in­stalled cost higher. The best method for meeting the regulations and getting the best cost effective treat­ment is to use solvent-free products. Various pure solvent-free silane products are available with up to 20 year life cycles. This extended service life more than offsets the material cost.

By specifying solvent and water free products, you also eliminate the chance that old and ineffective tech­nology is in your specification. Quality water repel­lents for brick, concrete and CMU made from pure solvent-free silanes are VOC compliant and have excellent performance. These high active content silanes have exceptional penetration and excellent resistance to wind driven rain and chloride ions.

Click here for a list of products that meet the new VOC requirements.

For more information, please contact Marla at 416-233-1603 or marla@dre.ca.

EMSHIELD SJS-FR1 and SJS-FR2 Fire-Rated Seismic Joint System

One Install Does It All--Fire-Rated, Watertight, Traffic Bearing, 100% Movement, Quiet, Non-Invasive Anchoring, UL 2079 Certified for Decks and Floors

•Built-in, 1 or 2-hour Fire-Rated
•Watertight & Traffic Durable
•100% Movement
•UL 2079 Certified
•Sound Dampened
•Simple Installation
•No Invasive Anchors
•No Fire Blankets or Gutters
•Installed entirely from the deck or floor above--No Lifts Required
•No Under-Slab Obstructions from HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing or Mechanical
•Meets the requirements of ASTM E1966, ASTM E119 and ASTM E1399

USES: Fire-Rated Concrete Decks and Floors, New Construction or Retrofit, Interior or Open Air Slabs, Stadiums, Parking Decks, Interior Floors, Airports, Schools, Hospital, for joints from 4" - 10" (100-250mm) and anywhere trafficability AND fire-rating are required.

SJS-FR1 and SJS-FR2 joins the breakthrough, award-winning EMSHIELD line of UL-certified all-in-one expansion joints from EMSEAL.

Specify the SJS-FR SYSTEM to comply with life-safety requirements, eliminate leaks, handle traffic and point loads at large structural expansion joints, reduce noise, eliminate hard connections to concrete, prevent deterioration of concrete decks, reduce tenant complaints, reduce maintenance costs.

For more information, please contact marla@dre.ca

Specifications to Prevent Leaks

In the September 2010 issue of Construction Canada, The Official Publication of Construction Specifications Canada, Stacy Byrd with CETCO has written a featured article entitled "Specifications to Prevent Leaks". You will find information on how to make waterproofing material selections, quality assurance practices, positive drainage, plaza deck waterproofing, seeking clarification during the bidding process, warranties and much more.

Click here to read the digital issue online

Stacy Byrd, LEED AP, is the National Products Manager at CETCO and has 20 years of experience with waterproofing application design and fieldwork. He is a member of ASTM International Committee D 08 on Roofing and Waterproofing. Stacy can be reached via e-mail at stacy.byrd@cetco.com.

It's That Time of the Year Again..
By Ken Mackey

Without fail, the tech service phones begin ringing in late September as temperatures drop. Low temperatures can significantly increase curing times of coating system components and thus delay or postpone projects.

Neogard markets both fast cure (FC) two component and single component deck coating waterproofing systems. They have developed technologies to keep the crews working in less than ideal conditions. On critical applications, the Neogard Technical Service lab is often tasked to estimate curing rates in cool and low humidity conditions, not typically experienced during the summer months in Canada.

Typically, the Neogard fast cure (FC) two component systems will provide more desirable and consistent cure times in colder temperatures with low humidity. However all of Neogard's single component products can be accelerated to yield overnight cures. Accelerators are additives that counter the reduction in cure rates resulting from cool temperatures and low humidity. Click for more information on Neogard's Urethane Accelerators and Pot Life & Recoat Time with Accelerators.

Auto-Gard FC with an Aggregate Finish

It is important to remember that surface and ambient temperatures should always be above 4°C and rising, prior to application. Application should not occur when the ambient temperature is less than 3°C above the dew point at time of application. Click for Neogard's Dew Point of Moist Air Chart.

For more information contact marla@dre.ca

How Canada's New VOC Regulations Affect Vapour Barrier Guide Specifications
By Brian Rooney

With the changed VOC regulations, each specifier is faced with an entirely new set of circumstances (described in the last essay). Where can a specifier look to find meaningful industry guidance?

I've had a chance to review a sampling of specs for Canadian projects. With some frequency, I've noticed that two CSGB standards show up in the section for under slab vapour barriers. However, neither standard is appropriate.

They are:

CAN/CGSB 51.33-M89; entitled: Vapour Barrier Sheet, Excluding Polyethylene, for Use in Building Construction
CAN/CGSB 51.34-M86; entitled: Vapour Barrier, Polyethlylene Sheet for Use in Building Construction

In their description of each, CSGB explicitly warns of the following limitation: "This standard is not intended to apply to vapour barrier materials for use under concrete slabs or as ground cover in crawl spaces."

I am aware of only two standards that apply specifically to this single application.

They are:

ASTM E 1745; entitled: Standard Specification for Plastic Water Vapor Retarders Used in Contact with Soil or Granular Fill under Concrete Slabs
ASTM E 1643; entitled: Standard Practice for Selection, Design, Installation and Inspection of Water Vapour Retarders Used in Contact with Earth or Granular Fill Under Concrete Slabs

It's important to note that generic "poly" does not comply with ASTM E 1745.

In a future essay, I'll discuss each of the standards in more detail. Your specification should stipulate that the under-slab vapour retarder comply with the requirements of each of these governing standards.

If you'd like an advance look at how to incorporate the standards (and more) into a performance specification, please email your request to Brian at BrianRooney@StegoIndustries.com

Koster VAP 1 2000

The KOSTER VAP 1® 2000 is a one-coat system which consists of a unique combination of epoxy resins and other chemical substances. It is specifically formulated to overcome the poor long-term adhesion properties of most resin-based systems when curing in an environment of constant wetness, extreme alkalinity (pH 13-14), and water vapor drive. Because of its extreme density it is capable of reducing water vapor and moisture to levels acceptable for most coatings, adhesives and floor covering systems. The KOSTER VAP 1® 2000 is in full compliance with current VOC regulations

The KOSTER VAP 1® 2000 SYSTEM has excellent chemical and abrasion resistance and is compatible with most 100% solid epoxy and/or polyurethane based materials. ALWAYS TEST ADHESION PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS TO BE APPLIED ONTO VAP 1® 2000 PRIOR TO APPLICATION.

Before application of any material onto the KOSTER VAP 1® 2000 SYSTEM, allow final coating to cure for a minimum period of 12 hours. This cure time is based on proper ventilation of entire work area during and after application.

VAP1 system has a single source, 10 year independently insured warranty covering their systems and the specified flooring with an owner's umbrella included in the policy.

For more information on Koster VAP 1 2000, please contact marla@dre.ca