Yodobashi Umeda Tower

The original construction plan called for drain pumps and double walls to waterproof the underground portion of the building. However, due to the high maintenance costs associated with this method, the contractor, Penta-Ocean Construction, decided to consider other solutions.

After thorough analysis, the project team chose Xypex products and the Sakizuke method for exterior waterproofing. This method involved installing a non-woven fabric mat on the outer walls and then spraying Xypex Concentrate directly onto it, using a total of 7,616 kg of the product.

This application allowed the active Xypex chemicals to diffuse and integrate into the concrete foundation walls, forming a non-soluble crystalline structure. This rendered the concrete permanently waterproof and chemically resistant from within, while also providing the capacity to self-heal static cracks up to 0.5 mm.

To seal joints, the team used 1,632 kg of Xypex Patch’n Plug, a fast-setting hydraulic cement mix enhanced by the Xypex crystalline waterproofing technology. This ensured a reliable and permanent waterproofing and protection solution for the underground levels.

Thanks to the project team’s unwavering commitment to efficiency and their strategic choice for the unique Xypex Crystalline Technology, the construction of the new tower was completed in November 2019, several months ahead of the originally estimated schedule.