| |NOVEMBER 20229percent, the walls and building structures together account for a majority of the total market share on the back of renovation & up-gradation of existing/current water management systems. The waterproofing industry in the country has gone through a significant change over the last decade. A myriad of new players has entered the waterproofing market with both imported as well as indigenous technologies. But unfortunately, a few of these entrants offer a quick fix solution that is of low quality but tall claims and does not work as estimated. Although the Construction chemicals & waterproofing industry is developing, with a plethora of new products being introduced, using these products the right way is the key to success. CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS IN CONSTRUCTION & CIVIL REPAIR INDUSTRY Building construction needs strengthening and therefore, Construction chemicals have been playing critical roles in almost all types of construction projects, such as residential building projects, industrial projects, commercial building projects, and more. These chemicals are most often utilized in numerous elements of projects with an aim to achieve several crucial qualities that include durability and workability. Construction chemicals come in huge varieties from a large number of manufacturers across the world. Construction chemicals are also being utilized by the construction & civil repair industry to a large extent as it facilitates in enhancing the strength of the concrete and its quality as well. These chemicals also render water-tightness & protect concrete structures from atmospheric degradation. Most manufacturers provide a large variety of products for applications in waterproofing, concrete modification, repair & rehabilitation of structures. MODERN WAYS OF WATERPROOFING The modern ways of waterproofing include the liquid brush applied solutions that can be bitumen-based, PU-based acrylic-based, and many others and pre-formed membranes that are loosely laid or torched/self-adhesive membranes. The liquid membranes such as resin, polyurethane, bitumen, acrylic, water, or solvent-based, in 1 or 2-components) could be used in civil as well as industrial projects. Sanjay Bahadur, CEO, construction chemicals, Pidilite Industries, says, "More and more liquid waterproofing coatings like polyurethane and poly-urea hybrids are gaining acceptance in the market and one expects this trend to continue with new advances in industrial chemistry. Compared to pre-formed membranes, liquid applied membranes based on polyurethane/polyurea technology that is more suited to Indian conditions as these membranes provide seamless or jointless systems which make them more application-friendly". In recent years expensive remedial work for correcting failures in below-grade waterproofing systems has encouraged owners as well as designers to get high-performance as well as reliable waterproofing solutions for preventing water ingress. Waterproofing chemicals are divided into two segments that include hydrocarbon & polymers. Hydrocarbon - an organic sticky, viscous & waterproof compound is used as a waterproofing material for roofs. APPLICATIONS OF DRYWALL Waterproofing wet areas is a challenging task that the construction industry faces. Therefore, with the introduction of the drywall concept, the construction industry is using different and new materials for constructing these wet areas and this has created a requirement for reliable waterproofing systems. The present practices of waterproofing systems were originally designed for conventional brick/block masonry walls. Owing to changing skyline, buildings are becoming more attractive and implementing the use of smarter materials. In such buildings, powder rooms or restrooms are viewed as personal spaces to get refreshed and rejuvenated and this helps in making use of different building materials. One such component is the Drywalls panel that is slowly evolving into a material of choice in the construction of powder room walls. Although the usage of drywall panels is advantageous to developers it is imperative to make sure the water-tightness of these areas as well as accommodate movement that would occur in these panels. THE WAY AHEAD The rise in demand for waterproofing membranes over the forecast period 2019-2029 will be majorly fuelled by governmental focus across the globe, especially in developing economies, on water conversation & wastewater treatment infrastructure, waterproofing of roofs, walls, tunnels and landfills, repair & renovation of existing infrastructure in developed nations, and usage in mining tunnels across the globe owing to the performance & adaptability of waterproofing membranes in extreme environments. In recent years expensive remedial work for correcting failures in below-grade waterproofing systems has encouraged owners as well as designers to get high-performance as well as reliable waterproofing solutions for preventing water ingress
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