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The Challenge
Following our successful delivery of critical structural remediation for this client’s flagship London site, Structural Repairs was engaged to investigate and resolve widespread, active water ingress at their Cosenza location.
A preliminary condition survey revealed that the infiltration within the retail unit was highly complex and interconnected. Active leaks were identified across the main corridor, the recharge area and critical staircase locations. Previous mitigation measures (such as drip trays and localised surface sealing) had either deteriorated or proven entirely ineffective.
Operating within a live commercial environment, the client required a rapid, highly effective intervention that would arrest the active water ingress while minimising disruption to their daily retail operations.
Diagnostics & Investigation
Before deploying a remediation strategy, our engineering team conducted a targeted investigation to identify the root causes of the structural failure. We identified multiple systemic defects:
- Out-of-Scope Ingress: A severe, previously undocumented active leak was identified in the corridor area near critical fire safety equipment.
- Joint & Drainage Failure: Recurring leakage was directly linked to failures within the structural joints and drainage systems.
- Concrete Delamination: Severe deterioration and spalling were observed at the underside of the staircase slab, leaving internal steel reinforcements exposed and vulnerable to corrosion.
- Hidden Leak Pathways: By removing steel cover plates above the recharge area, we uncovered defective waterproofing details within a hidden concrete channel.
A preliminary condition survey revealed that the infiltration within the retail unit was highly complex and interconnected. Active leaks were identified across the main corridor, the recharge area and critical staircase locations. Previous mitigation measures (such as drip trays and localised surface sealing) had either deteriorated or proven entirely ineffective.
Operating within a live commercial environment, the client required a rapid, highly effective intervention that would arrest the active water ingress while minimising disruption to their daily retail operations.
The Remediation Strategy
To deliver immediate structural stabilisation and long-term asset protection, Structural Repairs engineered a multi-phased, low-intervention remediation strategy.
Recognising the severity of the interconnected leaks, our team proactively extended the scope of works beyond the original brief to ensure a complete and reliable waterproofing solution.
- Non-Invasive PU Foam Injection To immediately arrest the active water ingress, we installed targeted injection packers along the identified leak paths. We deployed advanced polyurethane (PU) foam injection. This expanding resin effectively fills voids and structural cracks, delivering an immediate waterproof seal even under highly wet conditions.
- Channel Reinstatement & Waterproofing Within the recharge area, the damaged concrete slab within the drainage channel was fully reinstated. To prevent future failure, the channel and adjacent joints were upgraded with a high-performance waterproofing membrane.
- Structural Concrete Repair To address the massive delamination at the ceiling slab soffit, our technicians executed precise mortar reinstatement. This critical intervention restored the structural profile and ensured the exposed steel reinforcements were permanently protected from future moisture ingress.
The Outcome
The remediation works successfully eliminated all active water ingress across the commercial unit.
By deploying non-invasive injection technology, Structural Repairs provided immediate stabilisation of the leak paths while drastically minimising operational disruption to the retail environment. The combination of advanced resin injection, concrete reinstatement and proactive scope expansion has delivered a proven, durable solution that secures the long-term performance of this multi-national retailer’s asset.
