Watertight solutions.

(From Gulf Construction)

Sarnafil - a leading Switzerland-based manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing solutions - is looking forward to actively promote its range of high-quality and reliable solutions for tunnels in the region. The company is highly active in Saudi Arabia, operating though Juffali Chemical Products/Sarnafil and Construction Materials Division. In the UAE, it is represented by the Dubai-based Desert Roofing and Flooring

"Our products and systems give long years of functionality and service because they are based on our own exacting standards and meet the demands of modern construction and civil engineering," says a company spokesman

"We offer customised solutions that fully conform to the requirements of a given problem. Every tunnel is unique, with different construction and hydro-geological conditions. This affects the choice of waterproofing system, as do many other factors," he adds. More than 35 years of experience in tunnel waterproofing has gone into the design of a range of Sarnafil waterproofing systems that include: - Drainage system: Partial or umbrella waterproofing with connection to a drainage system; - Waterstop system: Full, single-layer waterproofing with waterstops (injectable); and - Active-control system: A two-layer line including an injection system. It can be vacuum-tested

The use of polymeric waterproofing membranes to protect structures extends the service life of the concrete and contributes significantly to the preservation of infrastructure. Full waterproofing offers an additional advantage: long-term protection of the groundwater against contamination that could arise with tunnel use, he says

Drainage system Sarnafil's drainage solutions for excavated tunnels meet the high standards of quality and reliability that engineers and owners expect. In addition, they are easy for the contractor to install, says the spokesman

"At the heart of this system is a multifunctional drainage profile, which not only receives the perforated drain pipe, but also holds the gravel filter bed in place on one side, and serving as a form, holds the concrete slab on the other," explains the spokesman. "This separation between gravel and concrete is crucial. Keeping cement out of the gravel greatly reduces sedimentation and calcification in the drainpipe. And that means lower maintenance costs." The Sarnafil drainage profile was first used in Rennsteig Tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in Germany