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Aquarium and Zoo Tanks
BEYOND GREENEnvironmentally and Animal Friendly
Unlike most pools and fountains, aquariums and zoo exhibits are designed to meet the individual needs of their occupants – creatures that come with specific sets of needs that must be met if they are to survive in captivity. As a result, the coatings and products used in these settings absolutely cannot release any harmful substances back into the water.
All of the AQUAFIN products used in these applications are 100% solvent free, environmentally friendly and safe for direct contact with humans and animals (NSF/ANSI 61 approved). Additionally they are ultra resistant to salt-water and the chemicals commonly used to maintain the water chemistry in these settings. This well balanced blend of “environmentally friendly” yet ultra durability is what gives AQUAFIN products the advantage and performance guarantee to master these complex projects
Building „dry“ HabitatsMarine and zoological exhibits have always presented designers with a variety of specific
technical challenges, not the least of which is devising a waterproofing system that will
keep these vessels watertight, the viewing areas dry and the animal life safe.
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As waterproofing specialists and engineers, we’ve dealt with these projects at AQUAFIN for more than 20 years. Among the principal lessons we’ve learned is that each installation is unique – but that there’s much to be taken away from each experience that can be applied elsewhere – and that collaboration with other industry experts should not be dismissed.
When recommending our waterproofing solutions for these types of projects we always evaluate the following questions:
• What types of penetrations are found in the exhibit? i.e. viewing panels, anchoring of decorative objects, drains, etc.
• Where is the project located and will the climate impact the final construction? (i.e. is the exhibit indoors/outdoors?)
• What other materials/substrates must our products adhere to in the tanks?
THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS...With large-scale zoological and marine exhibits, the majority of leaks and waterproofing failures typically take place in the areas around viewing panels. However the penetrations don’t stop there – many other vulnerable areas are present, such as at intakes and outlets for the circulation and filtration systems and where decora-tive components of the exhibit are anchored to the tank. These are all penetrations of different size, orientation and materials, and
waterproofing them successfully can require use of a number of different materials and techniques. As a result the waterproofing products must be versatile.
To create absolutely watertight penetrations, we recommend using AQUAFIN-2K/M in conjunction with our JOINT-SEALING-TAPES and GASKETS. Additionally polysulphide sealants and caulks help make up a secure system.
The tapes and gaskets are embedded into the still wet AQUAFIN-2K/M at all wall/floor or wall/wall joints, and around pipe penetrations to provide additional reinforcement in these are-as which are more susceptible to movement.
BATTLING THE ELEMENTS Climate and temperature changes can create substantial amounts of movement in concrete structures, presenting another challenge when selecting the proper waterproofing system.
When the Denver Zoo planned its new 16-acre Asian Tropics ex-hibit, a variety of interesting waterproofing challenges were faced when addressing the large outdoor water features.
In August, the average temperature in Denver ranges from daytime highs in the 90s to nighttime lows in the 60s – a healthy but
PRODUCT - EXPERTISEProduct Systems Designed for Marine and Zoological ExhibitsWaterproof Coatings AQUAFIN-1K, AQUAFIN-2K/MWaterproof Admixtures AQUAFIN-IC ADMIX & AQUAFIN-IC-ADMIX-PlusSealing Tapes JOINT-SEALING-TAPE-2000, & -2000-S, 18x18 GASKETReinforcing Mesh 4x4 MESH
bearable swing. However in winter months the highs can creep into the 40s with lows dropping well below freezing and even down into the teens. It’s obvious that these seasonal temperature changes will cause major thermal expansion and shrinkage in the concrete.
As the concrete shell of the structure moves, the waterproofing must be able to accommodate this movement, otherwise cracks will form and leakage becomes inevitable. Due to its flexibility, AQUAFIN-2K/M was the perfect solution for these conditions and it can be applied as few as 3 days after concrete installation – an added benefit since this was new construction. By contrast, epoxies and urethanes require a minimum curing time of 28 days for concrete substrates.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERSAs an added layer of protection, the project team for the Asian Tropics exhibit chose to go with a combination of AQUAFIN pro-ducts for waterproofing the outdoor tanks.
In addition to the AQUAFIN-2K/M surface applied coating, AQUAFIN-IC-ADMIX, a liquid crystalline waterproofing admix-ture, was added to the shotcrete at the batch plant. This second line of defense ensured that the entire structure would be water-proof on both the positive and negative sides, thereby protecting
”COPING WITH DIFFERENCES“In constructing water features in these unusual environments, it is typical to encounter wide varieties of build-ing materials, from concrete and steel to fiberglass, DensGlass Gold and other materials. When selecting a waterproofing system it is always an advantage to deal with as few products as possible - that‘s why we recommend AQUAFIN-2K/M. It adheres to multiple substrates and can easily bridge the gap between different sustrates to create a monolithic coating.
When the Memphis Aquarium added its new penguin facility, cost was definitely a factor of construction, and the designers were trying to cut costs by reducing the volume of concrete to be used in the construction. To make this happen, they decided that only the water-holding portion of the exhibit was to be concrete, while the surrounding walls were to be built with DensGlass Gold.
It seemed a reasonable solution, but it set aside the fact that penguins can make a mess and that cleaning up after them is definitely an issue. The entire exhibit had to be able to withstand high-pressure water-jet cleaning as well as mechanical brushing – the aquarium wanted a facility that could be cleaned from top to bottom without having to worry about exposing the walls to water – easy to achieve with concrete, not so easy with gypsum sheathing.
This sent the designers on a quest for a material that could run up beyond the shell and onto the walls and adhere effectively to both materials as a monolithic finish that would withstand the water jets and the brushes as well as the high pH levels caused by penguin wastes. This led them to AQUAFIN-2K/M, which has the ability to adhere to a variety of substrates while providing a pH-resistant, non-toxic finish – all within budget.
the reinforcing steel from corrosion and damage by not only keeping the exhibit’s water in the tank, but also by keeping the groundwater from penetrating the outside of the shell
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Window RebateSea Life, Tempe Mills, AZ
“A UNIQUE CHALLENGE” Sea Life Arizona, located in Tempe, AZ, is a project where we collaborated with industry expert and long time AQUAFIN-certified applicator Bob Gurth, owner of Aquatic Exhibit Group. Bob has designed and built complex aquatic environments for more than 2 decades and specializes in viewing panels.
“Sea Life presented a unique challenge – instead of cast in place window rebates, the plans called for use of steel retaining structures for all of the windows and the acrylic tunnel. This meant finding a way to waterproof an area where 3 separate materials met: steel, concrete & acrylic. We were happy to have a material like AQUAFIN-2K/M.” – Bob Gurth, Aquatic Exhibit Group, Wheat Ridge, CO.
Poseidon‘s Rage, Wisconsin Dells, WI | outdoor swimming pool | wave pool | amusement park Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ | rooftop deck waterproofing Pelican Hills Resort, Newport Beach, CA | outdoor swimming pool | glass tile swimming pool Five Tower Bridge | plaza deck waterproofing | parking deck decorative coating Texas A&M, McFerrin Athletic Center | industrial flooring | moisture vapor mitigation Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Rental Car Center | industrial flooring | moisture vapor mitigation Apomattox Water Treatment Plant, VA | tank waterproofing | waste water treatment tanks Bass Pro Shop & Outdoor World, Multiple Locations | aquarium tank waterproofing Pittsburg Convention Center | fountain waterproofing
Poseidon‘s Rage, Wisconsin Dells, WI
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Trump Plaza Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ Pelican Hills Resort, Newport Beach, CA
AQUAFIN INC.505 Blue Ball Rd., #160Elkton, MD 21921p: 410-392-2300f: [email protected] 08
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