Waterproofing –

à la carte
 UGC International is a world leader in the provision of reliable,
customer oriented product solutions focused on your needs
in the tunnelling and mining industries. We are part of BASF,
The Chemical Company, an established multinational company
with extensive support frameworks and resources which you
would expect from a leading worldwide construction chemicals
supplier.
UGC recognises that your success is founded on delivering
solutions that meet or exceed your customers’ valuable needs.
By integrating with you from project start-up and understanding
the issues that are important to you, we can contribute to your
success.
As many underground projects attract international contractor
Introduction – and design teams, our global presence permits seamless transfer
of technology and services to any of your projects, anywhere in
à la carte the world.

Time for a new waterproofing approach

«Ideal for • Technology development in underground structure waterproofing

has remained quite static until recently. Conventional sheet
complex tunnel membranes are the norm, but are often susceptible to leakages that
geometry» are notoriously difficult to rectify.
• Furthermore, sheet membranes are unsuitable for installation in
complex tunnel shapes, and for the construction of permanent
sprayed concrete linings.

Fast, easy and bonded are the keys to success

• In response to industry demand, UGC has developed the new
generation MASTERSEAL® spray applied waterproofing membranes
that can simply be applied in a sandwich construction between
«Bonding permanent sprayed or cast concrete shells.
reduces risk of • The secret to the waterproofing system lies in the bonding properties
water ingress» between the membrane and concrete lining on both sides. This
strong bond mitigates the risk of water ingress by eliminating
potential groundwater paths.
• Already a good track record has developed in tunnels worldwide.
Solutions –
à la carte

UGC and MASTERSEAL® spray applied waterproofing membranes have

the following features that can assist you throughout the project:

Design
• The use of spray applied membranes may bring you significant project
savings through value engineered designs
• In combination with permanent sprayed concrete, single shell tunnel
linings may be considered to simplify the construction sequence
• A simple, but versatile waterproofing system for tunnels having
complex geometry. You can chose whether you want drained or un-
drained tunnel lining systems

Build
• It’s easy and safe! Use standard dry spraying equipment and spray it
on!
• It’s fast! 100 m2 per hour application rate with two operatives
• You can build it into your excavation-support cycle due to the fast
curing within a few hours
• No need for cutting rock anchor heads or smoothening the rock profile
as with sheet membranes – Just spray onto everything and it bonds
and waterproofs!
• Sprayed concrete with fibres can be used both sides of the membrane

Operate
• Extremely low maintenance for the tunnel operator due to it being a
fully bonded waterproofing membrane
• Versatile in existing tunnels where a waterproof system is required
followed by a thin, structural sprayed concrete lining
 1st layer permanent sprayed
concrete lining
Layer of MASTERSEAL® membrane

2nd layer permanent sprayed

or cast concrete lining

Design Flexibility –
à la carte
Bond on both sides of MASTERSEAL® allows monolithic structure!

Infinite opportunities
«Ideal for • The MASTERSEAL® spray applied system is ideally suited to
underground structures with complex geometry, such as for lay-by
complex tunnel niches, cross passages, turnouts and crossover caverns.
shapes» • MASTERSEAL® may be applied to limited sections to provide isolated
waterproofing, such as in the crown sections of tunnels where
conductor cables for electrical train are situated for example.
• MASTERSEAL® is a continuous waterproofing system with-
out discrete joints, and does not require waterstops and
compartmentalisation.
• MASTERSEAL® can be used in combination with sheet membranes,
and standard joint details between and MASTERSEAL® and sheet
membranes have been established, making the system totally
flexible!
«Drained and
• Both undrained and drained lining designs are possible. For drained
undrained solutions solutions, MASTERSEAL® DR1 geotextile or systematic drainage
are possible» pipes are used.
• UGC can supply you a generic specification compiled by an
international tunnel consultant.
• The spray applied membrane facilitates the construction of
monolithic, single shell tunnel linings using permanent sprayed
concrete. Recent projects adopting this approach have shown total
project savings up to 25% over the double shell method. UGC can
assist you with this design concept.

«Design
economical single
shell sprayed
concrete linings»
 Construction
Simplicity –
à la carte

• Entirely safe for your tunnelling team and the environment

«Simply sprayed • Application rates can be up to 100 m2 per hour in any complex tunnel
structure
in challenging
• The fast setting characteristics allow it to be over sprayed with concrete
conditions» within hours
• Only a small team of 3 operatives is required
• The spray equipment is simple, standard and readily available worldwide
«Minimal surface • No need for additional sprayed concrete to smooth out excessive voids
preparation» and over-breaks, making it the ideal choice for rock tunnels
• No need to cut-off or smooth-over rock bolt and anchor heads as the
MASTERSEAL® seals steel too
• As a fully bonded solution, spraying concrete against the MASTERSEAL®
is trouble-free
• MASTERSEAL® can be used in conjunction with fibre reinforced
sprayed concrete
• As with some spray applied systems, MASTERSEAL® does not have to
be applied to 100% dry surfaces
• UGC are there to support you with all your pre-construction testing
«Fast, safe and training requirements, and can assist in any technical back-up you
application by a require for your project.

small team»
 Operational
Security–
à la carte

Heightened Security!
UGC appreciate one of the key requirements of tunnel operators is the
provision of a dry tunnel that remains so over the design life of the
underground facility!

The development goal of UGC’s MASTERSEAL® waterproofing

membrane was to ensure that it was a fully bonded solution and that
the material composition maintained integrity and had no adverse
effects on the concrete tunnel lining structure or surrounding
«Less water environment.
ingress risk»
The secret asset is the bonding characteristics of the MASTERSEAL®
membrane to the both the outer and inner concrete layer. This ensures
that ground water migrating through the concrete linings cannot
develop a path into the inside of the tunnel.

The membrane is constituted of a polymer-rich cement base. This is

imperative to prevent de-bonding and ensure long-term stability of
the system.

Making new from old

«New life to Owners of rail, road and metro schemes typically have a need to
old tunnels» upgrade their aging tunnels on the network.

MASTERSEAL® spray applied membrane is an ideal waterproofing

solution for the refurbishment of old tunnels in conjunction with
permanent sprayed concrete as it is extremely fast to install, which
is crucial in limited possession times allowed on existing, operating
tunnels.
References –
à la carte
Europe
• Collombey Road Tunnel, Switzerland
• Giswil Road Escape Tunnel, Switzerland
South America
• Machadinho Hydroelectric Power
Station Tunnels, Brazil
• Zapata Highway Tunnel, Chile
• Lo Prado Highway Tunnel, Chile
• Orientales Underground Station,
Santiago Metro, Chile
North America
• Bergen Rail Tunnel, New Jersey, USA
• Wolf Creek Highway Tunnel, Colorado, USA
• Wine caves, Nappa Valley, California, USA
Asia Pacific
• MTRC Cross passages, Hong Kong
• MTRC Vent tunnel enlargements, Hong Kong
• Parramatta Rail Link Station Tunnels,
Sydney, Australia
 Headquarters: Machines/Equipment: Latin America:
UGC International MEYCO Equipment BASF Construction Chemicals
Division of BASF Division of BASF Latin America
Construction Chemicals (Switzerland) Ltd Construction Chemicals (Switzerland) Ltd 23700 Chagrin Boulevard
Vulkanstrasse 110 Hegmattenstrasse 24 Cleveland, OH 44122-5554
8048 Zurich, Switzerland 8404 Winterthur, Switzerland USA
Phone +41-58-958 22 11 Phone +41-58-958 27 00 Phone +1-216-839 75 00
Fax +41-58-958 32 46 Fax +41-58-958 37 07 Fax +1-216-839 88 26

Europe: North America: Asia Pacific:

BASF Construction Chemicals BASF Admixtures Inc. BASF Construction Chemicals
(Europe) AG Underground Construction Group Asia Pacific
Vulkanstrasse 110 23700 Chagrin Boulevard Room 2207, Shanghai Times Square
8048 Zurich, Switzerland Cleveland, OH 44122-5554 93 Huai Hai Zhong Road
Phone +41-58-958 22 11 USA Shanghai 200021, P.R. China
Fax +41-58-958 32 46 Phone +1-216-839 75 00 Phone +86-21-5133 2834
Fax +1-216-839 88 29 Fax +86-21-5306 9055

Further brochures on our à la carte solutions are available:

For your local BASF UGC representative, visit our website at www.ugc.basf.com.

Product liability: The information given here is true, represents our best knowledge and is based not only on laboratory
work but also on field experience. However, because of numerous factors affecting results, we offer this information without
guarantee and no patent liability is assumed.

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