Environmental Agency Bund/Sump Lining
THE PROBLEM
Following a fuel leak in the fuel storage/emergency generator bund (sump) it was revealed that a previous contractors attempt to seal the bund had proved unsuccessful as diesel was leaking to the surrounding area.
THE SOLUTION
Following the initial containment of the spill and clear up by others we began by thoroughly preparing the bund throughout. The previous contractors attempt to seal the bund using a cementitious slurry system had failed due to its brittle nature and poor adhesion to the substrate necessitating its complete removal. The base of the bund was prepared using a vacuum controlled vonarx to remove the failed coating prior to diamond grinding to complete. The block work walls were abraded to remove organic growth and contaminants whilst raising a surface profile.
Once prepared the engineering block bund walls were primed with a water based epoxy primer to gain adhesion to the dense hard substrate. A fine quartz aggregate was broadcast into the wet resin to promote inter-coat adhesion. Once cured the bund was then primed throughout using a moisture and oil tolerant epoxy primer, which also consolidated the weak and friable slab and ensured excellent adhesion for the bund lining.
A coat of Advanced Polymerics Polyflex High Build was then applied throughout the bund at a coverage rate of 0.5kg per square metre to form a seamless, fuel resistant and flexible bund lining. A 0.4 – 0.8mm pigmented quartz aggregate was broadcast into the uncured resin to form a slip resistant dressing. Finally any loose or unbound aggregate was removed using CFM vacuums and the slab penetrations sealed with a high modulus polyurethane mastic prior to a second coat of Advanced Polymerics Polyflex HB being applied throughout at a coverage rate of 0.6kg per square metre to achieve a seamless bund lining.