Drainable Expansion Joints

[overdesigned]

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully this is the right place to ask this question. We recently looked at a parking garage that had failing expansion joints because water was ponding at the joint. We are designing a replacement for the expansion joints and want to use a product that allows water to drain to the underside of the joint. From there, we will install a gutter system to divert the water. My biggest problem now is finding an expansion joint that truly lets water drain through it. If anyone has any product recommendations / general thoughts, please share. Thank you.

 

[BridgeSmith]

Old style steel sliding plate devices were common for that type of joint. Finger joint devices are another type that allows water through the joint. Are you not able to use a regular compression seal or strip seal and catch the water at one end of the seal?

 

[overdesigned]

@BridgeSmith The concrete deck is not properly sloped to drain water from the EJ, so the seal itself would have to be sloped to drain the water which I don't think is practical. I was considering a finger joint, but it would need to able to be retrofit installed. I have not designed specified EJs, so I'm not sure how practical is it to install a finder joint device where a compression seal was previously. I'll take a closer look into the finger joint or steel sliding plate. Thanks!

 

[BridgeSmith]

It doesn't take much slope for water to drain if there's a gap in the compression seal. Possibly all you need is to remove a section of the compression seal and put a catch pan under open spot. If it slopes to the center of the joint, can you leave the gap in the compression seal there?