Working in the heat: with the right equipment, we do not shy away from this challenge either. Our work spans more than eight months in a space where the temperature rises above 35 degrees Celsius. SealteQ Ivacon is reinforcing a technical room at steel producer Tata Steel in IJmuiden. Cooling-water leaks have damaged the concrete and the reinforcing steel. Because loose pieces of concrete could cause property damage or personal injury, this had to be addressed as quickly as possible.
Tata steel: technical space to be strengthened
Three-way partnership: Tata Steel, Nebest and SealteQ Ivacon
In IJmuiden, we are working together with Nebest, an independent engineering and consulting firm specializing in inspection, technical advice and project management. “Together with Nebest and Tata Steel, we form a strong three-way partnership,” says Ivacon director Simon Klein. In this assignment, Nebest acts, among other things, as investigator and advisor. They also supervise the work performed. “We know each other and have been working well together for years on various projects at Tata Steel,” says project manager Edwin van der Kolk about the collaboration.
Working Conditions: Red-Hot Steel at Tata Steel
The hot conditions our colleagues work in are caused by steel production. Steel produced in melting furnaces is processed into slabs in a casting machine. This machine leaked cooling water into the technical room below. “You can imagine that when a freshly produced slab of steel moves along the conveyor above your head, it gets even hotter,” says Klein.
The room our colleagues work in is about fifty meters long and dead-end. That sounds more dangerous than it is. “Because it is not a confined space, a confined-space attendant is not required,” explains Van der Kolk. A confined-space attendant is a designated person who remains outside the space to supervise employees working inside a confined space—in other words, an external attendant.
Clothing is important in such a space, director Klein adds: “Our people wear flame-retardant clothing. To provide relief, we also install cooling equipment. If you work under the cooling units, you can handle the heat well. If you work next to a hot airstream, it quickly becomes too warm. Our people step outside the space to get some fresh air a bit more often than usual.”
What Work are We Performing at Tata Steel?
Cooling-water leakage is causing deterioration of the reinforcement in the concrete in the ceiling, the floor and parts of the wall. That is why we are repairing the concrete damage both structurally and technically. “We inject the wet, actively water-bearing cracks with a polyurethane resin. Polymerization of the PU resin seals the crack. The dry cracks—caused, among other things, by large temperature variations—we injected with epoxy,” explains Van der Kolk.
To protect the reinforcing steel, we implement cathodic protection. Cathodic protection shields reinforcing steel in concrete from corrosion.
Van der Kolk: “We install cathodic protection based on impressed current. In addition, we apply a cathodic paint system. This coating is applied to the substrate and protects the reinforcing steel. At the end of the work, we will paint all walls and the ceiling.” For the floor, we used the VIACRETE floor-coating system. “We chose this floor-coating system because it is resistant to hot water, high temperatures and provides waterproofing.”
More Information about Concrete Repair?
Do you have a question about concrete repair? Please contact us on weekdays by phone at 0599-696333 or email info@sealteq.com. Our colleagues will be happy to assist you.