3.

Ground Freezing Techniques This method is suitable for all types of saturated soils and rock and for soils with a moisture content in excess of 8% of the voids. The basic principle is to insert into the ground a series of freezing tubes to form an ice wall thus creating an impermeable barrier. The freezing tubes can be installed vertically for conventional excavations and horizontally for tunneling works. The treatment takes time to develop and the initial costs are high therefore it is only suitable for large contracts of reasonable duration. The usual circulating brines employed are magnesium chloride and calcium chloride with a temperature of -150 to -250C which would take 10 to 17 days to form an ice wall 1m thick. Liquid nitrogen could be used as the freezing medium to reduce the initial freezing period if the extra cost can be justified.

Waterproofing Basements
Basements can be waterproofed by one of three basic methods namely:1. Use of dense monolithic concrete walls and floor 2. Tanking techniques 3. Drained cavity system 1. Dense Monolithic Concrete The main objective is to form a watertight basement using dense high quality reinforced or prestressed concrete by a combination of good materials, good workmanship, and attention to design detail and on site construction methods. If strict control of all aspects is employed a sound watertight structure can be produced but it should be noted that such structures are not always water vapour-proof. If the latter is desirable some waterproof coating, lining or tanking should be used. The watertightness of dense concrete mixes depends primarily upon two factors: Water/cement ratio, Degree of compaction. 2. Mastic Asphalt Tanking The objective of tanking is to provide a continuous waterproof membrane which is applied to the base slab and walls with complete continuity between the two applications. The tanking can be applied externally or internally according to the circumstances prevailing on site. a) External Mastic Asphalt Tanking~

This is the preferred method since it not only prevents the ingress of water it also protects the main structure of the basement from aggressive sulphates which may be present in the surrounding soil or ground water. b) Internal Mastic Asphalt Tanking ~ this method should only be adopted if external tanking is not possible since it will not give protection to the main structure and unless adequately loaded may be forced away from the walls and/or floor by hydrostatic pressure. To be effective the horizontal and vertical coats of mastic asphalt must be continuous.

Note: Alternatives to mastic asphalt are polythene sheeting: bituminous compounds: epoxy resin compounds and bitumen laminates. 3. Drained Cavity System This method of waterproofing basements can be used for both new and refurbishment work. The basic concept is very simple in that it accepts that a small amount of water seepage is possible through a monolithic concrete wall and the best method of dealing with such moisture is to collect it and drain it away. This is achieved by building an inner non-load bearing wall to form a cavity which is joined to a floor composed of special triangular tiles

laid to falls which enables the moisture to drain away to a sump from which it is either discharged direct or pumped into the surface water drainage system. The inner wall should be relatively vapour tight or alternatively the cavity should be ventilated.