Concrete Removal with High-Pressure Water

Removing concrete plays a central role in concrete restoration, especially when removing damaged layers or precisely exposing reinforcements. With high-pressure technology, KAMAT offers an efficient, gentle and environmentally friendly solution to this challenge. Compared to conventional methods such as the use of hammer drills, the process is convincing due to its precise work without vibrations and the avoidance of damage to the building fabric. These modern techniques enable the sustainable maintenance of structures and are ideal for a wide range of applications, from the renovation of bridges to industrial floors. KAMAT supplies individual solutions and powerful positive displacement pumps for every requirement.

Low-Noise Concrete Removal: High-Pressure Water Jets as a Solution for Construction Sites 

Construction noise is not only unpleasant for the workers, but also for the people living near a construction site. Although it is unavoidable to a certain extent, there are methods to significantly reduce it. One of these methods is the use of high-pressure water jets. The use of high pressure water jetting, or hydroblasting, is proving to be an efficient and quiet technique for stripping concrete surfaces during renovation projects. Especially in inhabited buildings that are sensitive to dust and vibrations, this method offers a clear advantage over mechanical methods such as the use of pneumatic hammers.

However, it should be noted that the high-pressure unit can already be quite loud due to the diesel engine. This is further amplified in combination with the pump. However, to further minimize noise emissions, the containers with the pumps can be supplied with noise insulation. This ensures that the method can also be used effectively in noise-sensitive environments and is as resident-friendly as possible.

However, there are other reasons for using high-pressure water jets for concrete removal:

Vibration-free operation

By utilizing high-pressure water jets, we not only achieve a significant reduction in noise emissions but also avoid generating structural vibrations. Buildings remain stable, and workers are not subjected to the intense shaking caused by jackhammers. The absence of vibrations helps prevent potential micro-cracks in the remaining concrete components.

Precision in action

High-pressure water jets, equipped with specialized nozzles, enable safe and precise concrete removal. We can efficiently eliminate weak or deteriorated concrete while leaving the reinforcement undamaged. Water jets with pressures of up to 3,000 bar allow for effective rust removal from the reinforcement, achieving a surface preparation grade of Sa 2.

Benefits of high-pressure technology for concrete removal

When it comes to concrete removal, high-pressure water jets offer a multitude of benefits:

• Reduced noise: The low-noise operation of high-pressure water jets ensures a more comfortable and less disruptive work environment, both for workers and those nearby.
• Vibration minimization: The absence of vibrations during concrete removal helps maintain the structural integrity of buildings and prevents the formation of micro-cracks.
• Precise and safe: High-pressure water jets deliver precise and controlled concrete removal, allowing for the quick elimination of weak or deteriorated areas without damaging the reinforcement.
• Rust removal: The powerful water jets effectively remove rust from the reinforcement, ensuring its longevity and maintaining structural stability.

Choose high-pressure water jets for optimum hydrodemolition. High-pressure water jetting is the ideal choice for efficient and quiet concrete removal. By using this advanced technology, construction projects can be carried out smoothly, with minimal noise pollution and reduced environmental impact. To further reduce noise emissions, the required pumps can be supplied in noise-insulated containers, as the diesel engine and pump unit can generate a certain amount of noise. Benefit from the precision and advantages of high pressure water jetting and experience superior concrete removal results while maintaining the structural integrity of your buildings.

Removing concrete with high-pressure water technology: example of the renovation of a multi-storey building 

A KAMAT customer used high-pressure water technology with a KAMAT high-pressure pump system on a 17-storey multi-storey building in Milan to remove a thick epoxy coating and damaged concrete at the same time. The concrete renovation on this building had become necessary after water had penetrated through insufficient concrete cover to the reinforcing bars, which had then increased in volume due to corrosion and broken up the concrete. Despite the high pressure, the special KAMAT high-pressure nozzles enabled a fine water jet to be used for very precise work with a low water flow, even very close to windows, expansion joints, antennas, cables, etc., without damaging them.

A KAMAT customer applied the high-pressure water technology with a KAMAT high-pressure pump system in case of a 17-floor multi-story building in Milan, in order to simultaneously eliminate a thick epoxy coating and defective concrete. The concrete upgrading on this building had become necessary after water had penetrated through too little concrete cover to the reinforcing steel, the steel or these reinforcing bars then increased in volume due to corrosion and had fractured the concrete. Despite the high pressure, the special KAMAT nozzles enabled a fine water jet for very precise treatment with little water flow, even very close to windows, expansion joints, antennas, cables, etc., without damaging them.