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The EMSEAL Approach to Successful Expansion Joint Treatment--Collaborative,
3-D, Design, Detailing, Construction, Fabrication, Installation.

It’s not just about great products.

While EMSEAL prides itself on having high-quality, innovative and durable materials for use in sealing and bridging small and large, building component and structural joints in foundations, decks, walls, and floors, the company’s track record of successfully completed projects is equally attributable to its approach to expansion joint treatment:

Anybody can make an expansion joint appear watertight in cross-section.  However, joints leak at changes in plane, direction and where dissimilar joint materials meet. 

Successful projects with expansion joints that don’t leak are characterized by a collaborative commitment by the A/E team, the general contractor, the joint manufacturer, and the waterproofing sub-contractor to detail, construct, fabricate, and install three-dimensional solutions.  

The process begins at design with the visualization by the A/E team and the joint manufacturer of expansion joint locations, layout and impact on all other adjacent materials and spaces. 

This visualization is aided by the use of simple isometric line sketches of joint layouts which reveal conditions that could be designed-out, simplified, or for which details must be developed.  The A/E then supplements the usual cross-sections with axonometric details of conditions involving changes in plane, direction and between dissimilar materials. 

To these conditions, the expansion joint manufacturer must furnish axonometric CAD details showing their materials adaptation to these conditions.   The manufacturer’s application of their material to the designed conditions should be warrantable as watertight at all agreed upon changes in plane, direction, and intersection between various joint materials.  The final isometric layout(s) and all cross-section and axonometric details then become part of the bid documents and working drawings.

Before and during construction the general contractors' role is to elevate the place the expansion joints typically occupy in the sequencing path.   ALL trades must be held accountable for their work in relation to expansion joints.  The joints, for example, must be protected from construction traffic damage and cannot become a place to accumulate construction tolerances. 

The expansion joint subcontractor must commit to taking field measurements from which the manufacturer can fabricate and furnish factory-welded, warranted assemblies to install into the relevant joint locations.

This collaborative approach is not just theory.  It is a practice that has resulted in the successful execution of watertight expansion joints on new and retrofit projects on structures of every type.  From the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, to the enormous, newly constructed mixed-use development—Atlantic Station in Atlanta, to the retrofit of FedEx Field Washington Redskins Stadium, and the newly constructed Citizens Bank Philadelphia Phillies Ballpark,  owners, A/E’s, general contactors, EMSEAL, and a select group of like-minded waterproofing sub-contractors are proving this approach possible and practical.

If this collaborative and disciplined approach is not adopted as the basic philosophy on any project of any scope, whether a stadium, hospital, school, government building or airport, it can be expected that leaks at expansion joints will constitute a high percentage of post tenancy headaches.

We invite you to make EMSEAL your partner in success on your expansion joint project:

1-800-526-8365 or techinfo@emseal.com

EMSEAL EXPANDS
Reorganization, Plant Expansion, Keep Sealant Maker on Stable Growth Trajectory

TORONTO—the Board of Directors of EMSEAL CORPORATION has recently announced a reorganization designed to keep the company firmly on its growth trajectory.

A manufacturer of premium sealants and expansion joint systems for the commercial construction industry as well as for numerous gasketing applications in industrial other specialty market applications, EMSEAL has operated out of locations in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada and the Northeast United States of America for over twenty-five years. 

“EMSEAL has solidified its place as a leader in the sealant and building expansion joint marketplace,” commented founder and Chairman of the Board, Konrad Baerveldt.  “Consolidation of company-wide leadership under CEO, Lester Hensley, as well as expansion into new production facilities are among the newly implemented changes designed to ensure that EMSEAL will continue to grow in a sustainable and stable fashion.”

The company’s long history of ownership by the Baerveldt family, who were joined in 1990 by long-time family friends, the Hensley's, is a cornerstone of its stability and commitment to focus. This strong foundation supports the market-based innovation, decision-making and rapid customer response that characterizes the company.  

Established in 1949 by the late Mr. Max Baerveldt, as Electro Mechanical Construction (Pty) Ltd., the company was one of the first licensees of a sealant technology invented by Laban Mast in the Netherlands in the late 1950's.

Developed and refined by Max and his son Konrad Baerveldt, the sealant product, called EMSEAL became the cornerstone, as well as the corporate name, of the present company, which has operated in North America since 1979.

The recent changes are the culmination of years’ of growth based on management according to a carefully developed strategic plan. The reorganization includes:

• The leadership consolidation of the EMSEAL group of companies in Canada and the USA under President and CEO, Lester Hensley. Mr. Hensley joined the US-based subsidiary (EMSEAL JOINT SYSTEMS LTD) in 1990 and is credited with using the company’s base product offering as a springboard for market-driven product innovation and for securing a solid reputation among architects, engineers, contractors and distributors, as well as the company’s network of independent manufacturers’ representatives.  “Lester, with his father Peter are responsible for the establishment of EMSEAL products and solutions as the basis-of-design for structures ranging from landmark stadiums, and corporate medical and government institutions, to commercial structures and schools,” says Matthew Baerveldt, outgoing President of EMSEAL Corporation.   “Their commitment to EMSEAL has been unwavering for over fifteen years and it is with great confidence and pride that we hand the torch to Lester for managing another phase of EMSEAL’s growth.”
   

• The promotion of Matthew Baerveldt to vice chairman of the board of directors. 
   

• The Appointment to the Board of Directors of strategic business growth consultant Samuel Simonsson. 
   

• The promotion of Operations Manager, William J. Witherspoon, to vice president of Toronto-based EMSEAL Corporation.  “Bill joined EMSEAL nearly three years ago,” says Hensley.  “He arrived with the determination and track record to propel EMSEAL to manufacturing excellence.”  “In addition to lowering production costs and cutting lead times for our most popular products by half,” continues Hensley, “Bill has proved his ability and commitment to take up the challenge of company-wide operations management.”

“EMSEAL is in an exciting growth stage,” says Witherspoon.  “We have proven our ability to grow manufacturing while steadily improving quality and production efficiency.”  He adds, “With a move in February 2005 that has tripled manufacturing square footage combined with substantial investment in state-of-the-art, custom, manufacturing equipment and processes, we will be able to handle current demand increases as well as anticipated sales growth while expanding our capabilities into other market segments.” 

• The promotion of Daniel C. O’Hayer to the company’s Group Management Board with oversight for company-wide sales and marketing.  “The Group Management Board is where operational and strategic decisions of the company are made,” says Hensley. “With over eight years of consistently driving the company’s steady revenue growth in the US architectural market, it is fitting that Dan assume leadership of global sales and marketing for both our architectural and specialty sales divisions group-wide.”
   

• The appointment of Marla Cosburn and her company, DRE Industries of Toronto, as independent representative for the Ontario market. 
   

• Expansion of the sales roles of Gary Kasprzak and Robert C. O’Hayer to include Canadian OEM sales in the company’s Specialty Market Division. 

"Our ongoing success is a tribute to everyone who works with EMSEAL,” comments Lester Hensley.  “From the extraordinary service provided by our in-house sales and specification development engineers, to manufacturing, outside sales, field technical service and administrative staff, as well as through our independent reps, the EMSEAL team delivers quality based on the principles of market-driven, performance-proven products and services and professional, customer-centered service”. 

“I am grateful for the Board’s trust and for the opportunity to continue to play a role in the company’s future,” he continues. “It has taken measured and deliberate change at strategic times to sustain double-digit growth year after year.  We must be prepared to institute similar changes as needed to meet our goal of maintaining or exceeding the growth that EMSEAL has averaged over the last 14 years.”

TRACK RECORD

Movement Joint Gaps are Problematic: Our experience, validated by the research of CIRIA (Construction Industry Research and Information Association), is that the treatment of movement joint gaps in buildings, from design, technology and installation standpoints, are grossly under-emphasized: "Although they are a minor component of the building envelope, joints with sealants are often responsible for defects and failures-sometimes after only a couple of years."

Expansion joints constitute a small percentage of a construction budget yet, along with other waterproofing-related issues, are responsible for the majority of all post-construction complaints and call-backs.

Our privately held company is committed solely to providing lasting joint-sealing and bridging solutions. We are not distracted by involvement in the offering of other types of products--patching materials, deck coatings, etc.

Results of a New Paradigm: Our single-minded pursuit of new ways of looking at our services and products, has resulted in the supply of millions of feet of sealant materials. Over the last thirteen years, for example, more than 350,000 LF of parking deck expansion joint material have been installed on projects ranging from small and medium retrofits, to large new construction projects such as the Washington, DC, National Airport Garage (8,500 LF of joint). Through this process we have cultivated relationships with well-respected, national and regional, design firms, engineering firms, contractors, and owners.

Pre-Installation Quality Assurance: We have developed expansion-joint checklists, and a schematic layout system for use by designers, reps, contractors, and ourselves in communicating expansion joint needs. This system has dramatically improved the quality of information we receive and provided a sound basis on which decisions about choice of product can be made. Additionally, the use of this system has considerably reduced the amount of time all parties spend communicating their needs. Finally, it has provided a means by which costly errors can be avoided during design, fabrication in our factory, and installation.

Attention to Detail: We have developed and are aggressively promoting the full potential of heat welding our Santoprene seals to provide watertight transitions and terminations in the most difficult situations. We are not satisfied with simply supplying material to meet the requirements of cross-section design and we encourage axonometric detailing of these conditions.

Our details for sealing terminations include watertight transitions from joints in decks to vertical structures. We have in the past six years supplied over many thousands of factory welded Santoprene direction changes and terminations.

Installation Quality Assurance: We have instituted material delivery programs that provide contractors with mixing equipment including all accessories as well as, procedures, and training to aid and simplify the installation of our products.

Credibility: Respect and credibility are earned. The list of projects on which we have earned our reputation and the trust of much of our industry is extensive. Some addresses of note are: The Mall of America, The Pentagon, Philadelphia Phillies Ballpark, American Airlines Arena, The Chrysler Technology Center, Washington DC's Union Station, The Ludgate in London, The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, The Clinton County Courthouse in Ohio, and The Watergate Hotel, The Greensboro Coliseum, Houston Intercontinental Airport, The Indiana Children's Museum, Nordstrom's Stores, The Washington Redskins Stadium, California Polytechnic, etc.

We have, at the invitation of many of the nations top design and engineering firms, as well as at the Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWRI) and numerous state chapters of the International Concrete Repair Institute  (ICRI), presented very well-received seminars on the treatment of expansion joints. Additionally, the retrofit of White Stadium in Boston was awarded the New England ICRI chapter award for excellence. On this project we used the THERMAFLEX TM 1.5 system to provide over 800 factory-welded 90-deg transitions for the treads, risers and other expansion joint conditions.

Member:

Sealant Waterproofing and Restoration Institute

Construction Specifications Canada

Contact us:
Architectural/Engineering/Construction: 800-526-8365 or 508-836-0280
techinfo@emseal.com

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Last modified: May 07, 2007