Expansion Joints A Must In Every Construction

01 Jan 2017 CW Staff

The Supreme Industries´ Construction Accessories Division has developed customised solutions specifically for the construction requirement of various sectors.

Expansion joints refer to the isolation joints provided within a structure to permit the separate segment of the structural frame to expand and contract in response to temperature changes without adversely affecting the structural integrity or serviceability.

High quality and cost-effective
Anyone familiar with the coefficient of expansion of concrete realises the necessity of providing adequate expansion joints; also the necessity to eliminate intermediate cracks by creating planes of weakness to predetermine the location of contraction cracks. In their (contractor) zeal to lower the cost of concrete highway construction, some engineers have been using only sawed joints, completely disregarding the important function of properly spaced through expansion joints. Since, roads and buildings, being the second largest activity in the economy after agriculture, the role of expansion joints in these areas has become critical.

Hence, to bridge the gap between cost-effectiveness coupled with high quality, The Supreme Industries´ Construction Accessories Division has developed customised solutions specifically for the construction requirement of various sectors. Supreme´s DURAboardHD100, DURArods and DURAsilstrip are the three aces which cater to the need of building or road structure, assuring the structure with a great bonding.

DURAboardHD100: This is a crossed-linked, pre-moulded, high performance joint filler board, which is readily compressible and ensures low load transfer. This structural expansion joint application can be used in concrete brick and block work; it also helps isolation to fill its gap and work as a backup supporter for sealant. Another feature of the product is that it can be used for the expansion joints in concrete highway, taxi tracks, and most importantly, in airport runways.

How do buyers benefit from this product? It comes with closed cell, has excellent chemical resistance, is thermally stable (ranges from -40¦C to +70¦C), most importantly, is bitumen-free, rot-proof and bacteria resistant. DURAboardHD100 is available in thickness ranging from 8 mm to 100 mm.

Supreme´s DURArods: The product is a closed-cell polymer based circular profile, which ensures stronger bonding of sealant with masonry, aluminium or other substrates and helps to maintain desired thickness of sealant at the joint´s centre. Importantly, it does not bond with cold applied sealants. The product can be used in applications like precast panel joints, coping joints, contraction joints, expansion joints, glazing joints as well as isolating joints, and window and door frame parameters. Meanwhile, DURArods works as a back-up to sealant in structural glazing systems. It is available in sizes ranging from 6 mm to 60 mm. It offers closed cell, hence negligible water or moisture absorption; excellent chemical resistance - inert to most acid and alkalis, and cost-effective space filler. It also allows unrestrained expansion and contraction of sealant while eliminating bubbling of sealant.

DURAsilstrip: DURAsilstrip, a bond breaker product, is a closed cell, compressible polymer-based material (paper) backed on one side as per IRC: 57-2006-6.3 and 6.4. Its size ranges from 2 mm to 12 mm, and other sizes are available on request. The product works as a bond breaker between any cold applied sealant and fourth surface in contraction or expansion joints. It also works as a backup to cold applied sealants - in concrete road. Along with benefits in line with DURAboardHD100 and DURArods, DURAsilstrip further has compressible and flexible joint movements along with non-staining, which means it does not disintegrate. All structures move by necessity to avoid buckling which could cause structural failure.

Architects, general contractors, owners and end-users are adverse to seeing caulk joints or movement profiles, which they think destroys the ambiance of buildings. Awareness of the need for movement joints in installations needs to begin at the sale or specification stage, well before ordering products, and certainly before the installer arrives on site. Asking an end-user how they prefer these joints to be treated is of much greater importance.

(Communication by the management of the company)

The Supreme Industries´ Construction Accessories Division has developed customised solutions specifically for the construction requirement of various sectors. Expansion joints refer to the isolation joints provided within a structure to permit the separate segment of the structural frame to expand and contract in response to temperature changes without adversely affecting the structural integrity or serviceability. High quality and cost-effective Anyone familiar with the coefficient of expansion of concrete realises the necessity of providing adequate expansion joints; also the necessity to eliminate intermediate cracks by creating planes of weakness to predetermine the location of contraction cracks. In their (contractor) zeal to lower the cost of concrete highway construction, some engineers have been using only sawed joints, completely disregarding the important function of properly spaced through expansion joints. Since, roads and buildings, being the second largest activity in the economy after agriculture, the role of expansion joints in these areas has become critical. Hence, to bridge the gap between cost-effectiveness coupled with high quality, The Supreme Industries´ Construction Accessories Division has developed customised solutions specifically for the construction requirement of various sectors. Supreme´s DURAboardHD100, DURArods and DURAsilstrip are the three aces which cater to the need of building or road structure, assuring the structure with a great bonding. DURAboardHD100: This is a crossed-linked, pre-moulded, high performance joint filler board, which is readily compressible and ensures low load transfer. This structural expansion joint application can be used in concrete brick and block work; it also helps isolation to fill its gap and work as a backup supporter for sealant. Another feature of the product is that it can be used for the expansion joints in concrete highway, taxi tracks, and most importantly, in airport runways. How do buyers benefit from this product? It comes with closed cell, has excellent chemical resistance, is thermally stable (ranges from -40¦C to +70¦C), most importantly, is bitumen-free, rot-proof and bacteria resistant. DURAboardHD100 is available in thickness ranging from 8 mm to 100 mm. Supreme´s DURArods: The product is a closed-cell polymer based circular profile, which ensures stronger bonding of sealant with masonry, aluminium or other substrates and helps to maintain desired thickness of sealant at the joint´s centre. Importantly, it does not bond with cold applied sealants. The product can be used in applications like precast panel joints, coping joints, contraction joints, expansion joints, glazing joints as well as isolating joints, and window and door frame parameters. Meanwhile, DURArods works as a back-up to sealant in structural glazing systems. It is available in sizes ranging from 6 mm to 60 mm. It offers closed cell, hence negligible water or moisture absorption; excellent chemical resistance - inert to most acid and alkalis, and cost-effective space filler. It also allows unrestrained expansion and contraction of sealant while eliminating bubbling of sealant. DURAsilstrip: DURAsilstrip, a bond breaker product, is a closed cell, compressible polymer-based material (paper) backed on one side as per IRC: 57-2006-6.3 and 6.4. Its size ranges from 2 mm to 12 mm, and other sizes are available on request. The product works as a bond breaker between any cold applied sealant and fourth surface in contraction or expansion joints. It also works as a backup to cold applied sealants - in concrete road. Along with benefits in line with DURAboardHD100 and DURArods, DURAsilstrip further has compressible and flexible joint movements along with non-staining, which means it does not disintegrate. All structures move by necessity to avoid buckling which could cause structural failure. Architects, general contractors, owners and end-users are adverse to seeing caulk joints or movement profiles, which they think destroys the ambiance of buildings. Awareness of the need for movement joints in installations needs to begin at the sale or specification stage, well before ordering products, and certainly before the installer arrives on site. Asking an end-user how they prefer these joints to be treated is of much greater importance. (Communication by the management of the company)