Parking and open-air structures rely on expansion joint seal systems to manage structural movement and prevent cracking. However, traditional expansion joint seal systems, often made from EPDM rubber or Neoprene, can be rigid, challenging to install, and susceptible to environmental stressors such as UV radiation, moisture, chemicals, and heavy traffic. These issues can lead to challenges during installation, increased maintenance needs, and risks of premature failure. Elastomeric expansion joint seal systems made with Santoprene solve these challenges with a simplified installation process, greater flexibility, and increased durability, making them a reliable choice for high-traffic and exposed environments.
Benefits of Elastomeric Expansion Joint Seal Systems with Santoprene
Santoprene elastomeric expansion joint seal systems provide the flexibility and resilience necessary to address the limitations of traditional materials in demanding environments such as parking decks, garages, bridges, and elevated walkways. These systems are extremely durable, designed to withstand heavy traffic loads without cracking, making them ideal for high-stress applications in parking and open-air structures.
Their user-friendly design streamlines installation, reducing both time and labor requirements. This ease of installation not only speeds up the installation process but also minimizes physical strain on workers. Additionally, expansion joint seal systems made with Santoprene offer increased environmental resistance, combining the flexibility and toughness of rubber with the ease of handling that thermoplastics offer. This resilience makes them a low-maintenance, dependable option when exposed to UV rays, rain, snow, and chemicals, ensuring a longer-lasting, resilient expansion joint seal system compared to traditional materials.
Balco’s ESS System for Parking and Open-Air Structures
Balco’s new ESS System is a multi-chamber expansion joint system made with Santoprene. It is designed specifically for parking and open-air structures, replacing Balco’s previous ES System.
The ESS System provides additional benefits that make it a valuable long-term investment.
- Effortless Installation: The multi-chambered design allows for quick compression and easy installation.
- Fewer Splices: Available in longer lengths than traditional horizontal sealing solutions (up to 120 LF for smaller sizes), the ESS System reduces field splicing, minimizing water intrusion risk, and is ideal for large-scale projects like parking garages.
- Pedestrian up to Vehicular Traffic-Rated Performance: Designed and rated for vehicular and pedestrian use, the system provides long-lasting performance in high-traffic areas.
- Water and Debris Resistance: Protects joints from water and debris, ideal for exposed or open-air environments.
- Retrofit Friendly: Accommodates joint gaps from 1″ to 4″ without substrate modifications, making updating or reinforcing existing joints easy.
- Enhanced Durability: Installed with a slight recess, the ESS System is pedestrian and automobile-friendly. It resists road salt, coastal salt, corrosion, and fuel spills, making it ideal for tough exterior and open-air conditions.
- Standards Compliance: Meets ASTM E1399 standards for seismic, thermal, and wind movement, with additional standards for oil resistance and environmental durability.
- Fire-Rated: With the addition of Balco’s MetaBlock® fire resistive joint barrier, the ESS System can be fire-rated.
The DuraSpan™ portfolio consists of 16 expansion joint systems across three main categories: metal cover systems, elastomeric seal systems, and foam seal systems. Engineered for resilience and performance in high-traffic and exposed environments, DuraSpan products offer tailored solutions to meet various design and construction needs.
To assist design professionals, Balco provides resources such as a downloadable comprehensive load data sheet detailing frequently concentrated wheel loads and the DuraSpan Quick Reference Guide, which showcases all products in the DuraSpan™ portfolio. For more information, visit www.balcousa.com or call (800) 767-0082.