STRUCTURAL PRESERVATION SYSTEMS
RECOGNIZED WITH ICRI’s AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

The International Concrete Repair Institute has recognized one of Neogard’s licensed applicators, Structural Preservation Systems of Elkridge, Maryland, with an Award of Excellence for their work completed at the White Flint Mall in North Bethesda, Maryland. The 600,000 square foot parking structure, built in the mid-1970s, supports a high level of customer activity at one of Washington, DC’s premier “upscale” shopping centers.

Since the mid-1980s, the White Flint parking structure has undergone continuous repairs.  According to ICRI’s Concrete Repair Bulletin, “In 1998, the owner decided to embark on a comprehensive evaluation process to determine the extent of damage and deterioration to the structure.  The survey indicated that while there were areas of obvious deterioration (spalling and water leakage through joints and cracks), there were also many areas of structural deficiency emanating from corrosion damage and inadequacies in the original structural design as compared with current design criteria.”

Structural Preservation Systems was selected to perform a variety of repairs, including (1) repairs to the existing post-tensioning system; (2) shear reinforcement of beams and girders; (3) flexure reinforcement of beams and girders and (4) column strengthening.  Structural also developed a program for the 391 x 64 foot ramp, which connects the second and third levels of the parking structure, maintaining access to the third level while repairs were made.  This special program prevented a complete closure of the ramp for 3-to-4 months that would have severely impacted the shopping center tenants.

Upon completion of the structural and mechanical repairs, Neogard’s Auto-Gard, vehicular traffic-bearing waterproofing systems, was applied to protect the ramp and parking structure.  Auto-Gard provides positive waterproofing to prevent corrosion and deterioration of new and existing concrete structures.  Applied as a liquid, Auto-Gard is a durable, yet attractive, non-porous film that bonds to the concrete deck and all surrounding joints creating a durable, skid-resistant surface which resists heavy vehicular traffic, natural elements like ice and water and chemicals such as battery acids and brake fluids.  The easily maintainable and sustainable Auto-Gard system will prevent the need for such massive repairs in the future.