Banking on a Proven Technology: Nigeria's NDIC Chooses Penetron
EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., March 20, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In February 2019, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) completed the first phase of construction on a new 12-floor tower facility in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos (Nigeria). PENETRON ADMIX was specified to secure the concrete basement structures located in an extremely wet environment.
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was created in 1988 to help stabilize Nigeria's banking system during periods of economic unrest, loss of depositor confidence, and the resulting bank runs. Reporting to the Federal Ministry of Finance, the NDIC insures bank deposit liabilities and supervises insured banking institutions to monitor their risk exposure. It also advises the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the liquidation of distressed banks and manages distressed banks' assets until they are fully liquidated. More recently, the NDIC has begun to provide deposit insurance services to microfinance institutions across the country.
The newest NDIC facility in Lekki Phase 1 (Lagos) is a 12-floor, multi-purpose building that is being completed on a 4,000 m2 basement footprint with offices, a training center and a number of in-house residential apartments. Lekki Phase 1 is a government area in Lagos State, Nigeria. The development of the area is rapid and ongoing, prompting many to call it "the new Lagos." In any case, the commercial center of Lagos State seems to be shifting gradually towards Lekki Phase 1, which is expected to soon become a central hub for business, manufacturing, warehousing and logistics. The region around Lekki Phase 1 also attracts a massive tourism influx, as it is endowed with beautiful lagoon views and ocean frontage.
Surrounded by Water
"Lekki Phase 1 is surrounded by the Lagos Lagoon to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south; it's a very marshy area. As a result, the water table at the construction site was only about a half-meter (16 inches) below ground level," explains Anthony Jankovich-Bésán, Director of Penetron Nigeria.
Maurizio Citrolo, an engineering consultant with A.G. Ferrero & Co., the Nigerian general contractor and civil engineering consultancy responsible for the NDIC project, needed a globally-recognized and proven concrete waterproofing product to meet the stringent building requirements laid out in the project's specifications. Citrolo reached out to Penetron Nigeria for a solution.
"The main challenge for the NDIC project is the presence of water everywhere - and having to cast the concrete in-situ," adds Anthony Jankovich-Bésán. "PENETRON ADMIX was recommended due to its self-healing properties, ability to resist high hydrostatic pressure, and as a permanent solution to stop the ingress of water into the basement structure."
Waterproofing Retaining Walls for Protection
Because the active ingredients in PENETRON ADMIX generate a non-soluble crystalline network throughout the pores and capillary tracts of the concrete, the micro-cracks, pores and capillaries are permanently sealed against the penetration of water or liquids from any direction. This protects concrete from deterioration, even under the soggy environmental conditions encountered in Ibeju Lekki.
The basement lift pit at Lekki Phase 1 was 5m below the water table. Sheet piles were used to keep the surrounding ground from collapsing, while the existing ground water was pumped out to allow construction to take place.
Keeping the Foundation Dry and Stable
To ensure completely waterproof basement retaining walls, PENETRON ADMIX was added to the mix during the batching phase; PENEBAR SW waterstop strips were applied to seal the construction joints. This combination is now keeping the building foundations dry and stable - far ahead of the project's official inauguration in 2020.
"Penetron crystalline technology has become an important part of the durability design for concrete structures like the NDIC project," says Anthony Jankovich-Bésán. "Particularly for the marshy and marine environments often encountered along the Atlantic coast of Nigeria - it's the perfect solution."
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.
For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com, or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.
SOURCE Penetron
