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Introduction



Title: Introduction
Author(s): A.T. Wolf
Paper category : book
Book title: Durability of Building Sealants - State-of-the-Art Report of RILEM TC 139-DBS
Editor(s): A. T. Wolf
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-12-8
e-ISBN: 2351580419
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 1999
Pages: XIII - XX
Total Pages: 1
Language: English


Abstract: 
Sealants play a vital role in maintaining the weather tightness of buildings and engineering structures. Despite their fundamental role in the weatherproofing and thermal insulation of the building envelope, they receive little consideration from initial selection to final use. Joints represent vital parts of buildings and structures which need to be designed, constructed and sealed in a professional manner.

Nearly sixty percent of all gun-grade joint sealants produced globally are used in the construction industry. In 1996, this amount was of the order of 420,000 tonnes, at an installed cost of about $30 billion; this is the equivalent of sealing about 5-8 million kilometres of joints each year. However, many of these joints fail prematurely. A survey of resealing activities carried out in the United Kingdom in 1990 revealed that 55% of building joint seals had failed within ten years of service, and that only 5% had lasted for more than twenty years. Among the causes of failure cited were incorrect sealant system specification, lack of appreciation of joint movements, and inappropriate joint design. These findings also mirrored those of earlier studies undertaken in Japan and in Germany...


Online publication: 2009-12-07
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00


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