Airports

Moscow’s Busiest Airport Taps Penetron to Waterproof Fire-Fighting System

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Thanks to double-digit growth during recent years, Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport needed to renovate the facility’s fire-fighting system, consisting of massive concrete water tanks. Penetron crystalline technology ensured a durable waterproofing solution in September 2019.

Russia’s busiest airport, Sheremetyevo Airport (officially named Sheremet’yevo Alexander S. Pushkin International Airport), is one of four international airports that surround Moscow. Originally a military airbase about 29 km (18 miles) northwest of central Moscow, Sheremetyevo currently comprises six terminals and handles over 40 million passengers every year.

“The airport has seen over 15% annual increases in aircraft traffic year over year and is now one of the world’s busiest hubs,” adds Igor Chernogolov, President of Penetron-Russia.

Upgrading the Airport’s Fire Security System

In an ongoing effort to cope with the growing passenger flow, Sheremetyevo continues to upgrade the passenger and cargo terminals. Given the current passenger volume, special attention is paid to the airport’s security systems. Recently, a large-scale renovation and expansion of the airport’s concrete water storage tanks – used for fire-fighting purposes – was completed.

“These water tanks are huge, reinforced concrete structures that hold hundreds of thousands of liters of water,” adds Igor Chernogolov. “After many years of service, they needed to be rehabilitated and waterproofed.”

Transforming Porous and Absorbent into Waterproof and Durable

Because concrete is a hard yet porous and absorbent material, it can crack and allow water to easily penetrate through pores, micro-cracks and capillary tracts. This results in a wide range of deterioration factors that damage and degrade the concrete and the underlying reinforcing steel.

“Once water or any water-borne chemical penetrate the concrete matrix, it can dramatically affect the durability and lifespan of concrete,” notes Igor Chernogolov.

The local Penetron team treated the airport’s tanks with a topical application of PENETRON, an integral crystalline waterproofing material. Applied by brush or spray to either side of the concrete structure, it penetrates deeply into the concrete in the presence of moisture. The ensuing chemical reaction fills the microcracks, pores and capillaries commonly found in concrete with an insoluble crystalline formation. This prevents water and water-borne chemicals from entering, even under the levels of hydrostatic pressure found in the airport’s water tanks.

“Any cracks that develop during the lifetime of the concrete will now be self-healed by PENETRON,” says Igor Chernogolov. “That’s permanent concrete protection.”

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels.

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