All water is not the same. Industrial water can be of differing quality, ranging from ultra-pure water to potable water, process water and wastewater. Water is a scarce resource; therefore, most companies are eager to use water more productively to be less water intensive. In manufacturing, water is used either as an ingredient or as a cooling, flushing or cleaning agent or even a safety resource in the event of fire. Often, this water needs to be stored before it is used, re-used or goes for water treatment. The waterproofing of silos, tanks, basins and reservoirs which store water as a product ingredient is necessary to maintain water quality and ensure water availability. The chemical and metal production and processing industries use tanks and reservoirs to supply and collect process water e.g. for cooling or in recirculation systems.
A leaking roof is one of the most detrimental failures that can happen in manufacturing. Water ingress is likely to damage the structure of the building. Water leaks cause the loss of raw materials or products. Malfunctioning of machinery and the destruction of technical equipment may extend the serious problems a leaking roof can cause. The long-term performance of a properly protected roof improves the durability of the building. At the same time, it secures the investment made into materials and assets. Often, industrial roofs are very detailed with build-ups for air-conditioning, ventilation and architectural shapes. Reliable waterproofing is only possible with liquid coating because the liquid ensures full surface contact even in tiny corners.
Environmentally hazardous chemicals and liquids are frequently an indispensable part of the production process. To prevent pollution of soil and water they require special measures for safe storage. Secondary containment is usually required by national law to control liquid spills of dangerous waste or chemicals. Secondary containment is theoretically only used when accidental spillage takes place but, in practice, minor quantities of chemicals often escape from valves, connections, joints, etc. Waterproofing systems for secondary containment structures e.g. basins, pipeline bridges or trafficked impounding basins, are is usually applied on common construction materials like concrete. To efficiently waterproof the surface, elastic membranes with high waterproofing capabilities as well as high chemical resistance, of course, are required.
Water is the biggest threat to building structures above ground. Gaseous emissions and pollutants in the atmosphere (such as dioxide and nitrogen oxide resulting from fossil fuel combustion) react with water molecules and produce acids. Acid rain pours these substances onto buildings, penetrating and damaging the structure. Although considerable efforts have been made to reduce the release of these acid gases into the atmosphere, they can still be found and, thus, structures must be protected from aggressive emissions. The dry deposit of acidic compounds can also dirty buildings and other structures, leading to increased maintenance costs.
Concrete silos need to be protected internally and externally against different aggressive chemical and mechanical actions. In agriculture and the food and beverage industry, the storage of grain, as well as liquids like wine and oil, requires membranes offering absolute integrity and safety in terms of human health. This means inert membranes which do not contain any potentially dangerous raw materials and which prevent the migration of fluids and flavors.
