Testing and Specification of Drymix Mortar in Singapore
TESTING AND SPECIFICATION OF DRYMIX MORTAR IN SINGAPORE
ABSTRACT
Singapore is a small island country, but has won renown as uncorrupted government and high quality products. Independent testing and inspection played a very important role for this achievement. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is the sole public authority in Singapore and was set up as a statutory on 1 February 1960. Within 45 years, it built more than 700,000 flats housing approximately 86% of the population. Every year, around 40,000 new flats (about 400 blocks) are built up to meet the demands. In March 1992, HDB launched the 15-year main upgrading programme (MUP) to vying the finishes and facilities of old estates up to the standard of those in the new towns. The upgrading programme is a conscious effort by the government to provide a better living environment, strengthen existing community ties and enhance the value of our flats. The potential size of the upgrading program is approximately 370,000 units spread across 20 years, which works out to be 350 blocks per year. To ensure and maintain the high standards of the housing quality, drymix mortar is extensively used in the new and upgrading projects. In this paper, several types of drymix mortar used in Singapore public housing projects, such as: repair mortar for repairing of spalling concrete, prepacked plaster, internal and external skimcoat, normal floor screed and waterproofing floor screed, self leveling screed, and tile adhesive are discussed. The development of the requirements and specifications for the above drymix mortar are studied and analyzed. The effect of different factors on the drymix mortar is also described. It also outlines the methods and measures used to inspect and control the quality of application.
KEYWORDS
Mortars; Cement and concrete technology; Construction materials; Screed; Repair materials; Tile adhesive; Waterproofing; Skimcoat; Tile grout
INTRODUCTION
In 1964, the
ABSTRACT
Singapore is a small island country, but has won renown as uncorrupted government and high quality products. Independent testing and inspection played a very important role for this achievement. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is the sole public authority in Singapore and was set up as a statutory on 1 February 1960. Within 45 years, it built more than 700,000 flats housing approximately 86% of the population. Every year, around 40,000 new flats (about 400 blocks) are built up to meet the demands. In March 1992, HDB launched the 15-year main upgrading programme (MUP) to vying the finishes and facilities of old estates up to the standard of those in the new towns. The upgrading programme is a conscious effort by the government to provide a better living environment, strengthen existing community ties and enhance the value of our flats. The potential size of the upgrading program is approximately 370,000 units spread across 20 years, which works out to be 350 blocks per year. To ensure and maintain the high standards of the housing quality, drymix mortar is extensively used in the new and upgrading projects. In this paper, several types of drymix mortar used in Singapore public housing projects, such as: repair mortar for repairing of spalling concrete, prepacked plaster, internal and external skimcoat, normal floor screed and waterproofing floor screed, self leveling screed, and tile adhesive are discussed. The development of the requirements and specifications for the above drymix mortar are studied and analyzed. The effect of different factors on the drymix mortar is also described. It also outlines the methods and measures used to inspect and control the quality of application.
KEYWORDS
Mortars; Cement and concrete technology; Construction materials; Screed; Repair materials; Tile adhesive; Waterproofing; Skimcoat; Tile grout
INTRODUCTION
In 1964, the
References: [1] Ohama, Yoshihiko, Handbook of Polymer-Modified Concrete and Mortar, Properties and Process Technology, 1994, [2] Lu Jin Ping, Application of Polymer Modified Cement Mortar for Public Housing in Singapore, Proceedings of the Third Asia Symposium on Polymers in Concrete, Tongji University Press, Shanghai, China, 2000, 14-22. [3] Product Evaluation Requirements by Housing & Development Board of Singapore, http://ml.eptc.com.sg/