Waterstop: The "Seal Guardian" of Concrete Structures

In modern construction projects, especially in the construction of underground facilities, water conservancy facilities, tunnels and culverts, subways, docks, water conveyance aqueducts, water retaining dams, liquid storage structures, etc., we often hear the term "waterstop". So, what is a waterstop? As the name suggests, it is a strip-shaped material used to prevent water seepage and leakage. From a more professional perspective, a waterstop is a strip-shaped or bar-shaped engineering material embedded in the concrete joints to provide permanent sealing and prevent water seepage and leakage.

In general large-scale engineering construction, due to the inability to continuously pour concrete, or due to the deformation of the foundation, uneven settlement, or the thermal expansion and contraction of concrete components caused by temperature changes, construction joints, settlement joints, and deformation joints need to be left. Waterstop is usually pre-embedded in the construction joints, settlement joints, or deformation joints of concrete. When the concrete undergoes expansion, contraction, movement, or cracking due to temperature changes, uneven loads, or foundation settlement, the waterstop, relying on its own elasticity, strength, and durability, undergoes elastic deformation at the joints, thereby maintaining its sealing integrity and effectively blocking the water penetration path, ensuring the safety and durability of the structure. Therefore, it is metaphorically referred to as the "sealing guard" of concrete structures in the industry.