Pittsburgh International Airport Parking Deck Expansion Joints
Pennsylvania
Date: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2025
Airport parking deck expansion joints endure some of the harshest service conditions in commercial construction. These joints face constant exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations, heavy vehicular traffic, freeze-thaw cycles, deicing chemicals, and year-round weather elements. Over time, these factors can compromise joint integrity, leading to costly repairs and downtime if not properly addressed. That’s why choosing a system that is durable, watertight, and movement-capable is essential.
At Sika Emseal, we design and manufacture expansion joint systems engineered to meet these exact demands. Our Continuity of Seal principle ensures that every joint is integrated, horizontally, vertically, and through transitions, to provide a comprehensive, leak-free solution. This approach is vital in airport parking decks, where water infiltration can damage structural components, disrupt operations, and increase maintenance costs.
For the Pittsburgh International Airport parking deck, Sika Emseal provided a combination of proven systems, including WaboCrete ME Gen II, Seismic Colorseal and Horizontal Colorseal. The project also incorporated custom factory-welded transitions between the WaboCrete ME Gen II system with Emcrete and Seismic Colorseal, ensuring watertight continuity even at complex joint intersections.
Equally important to product performance is the expertise of the installation team. At Pittsburgh International, Carl Walker Construction delivered professional installation with precision and care, ensuring every joint was properly aligned, sealed, and finished to meet both structural and aesthetic requirements. Their specialized experience with parking structures and expansion joint systems helped guarantee a watertight integration of Sika Emseal’s solutions, maximizing the long-term durability and performance of the deck.
From design to installation, our parking deck airport expansion joint solutions are engineered for longevity, performance, and ease of maintenance. The Pittsburgh International Airport project exemplifies how Sika Emseal’s products and expertise deliver dependable results in high-demand environments, setting the standard for airport infrastructure nationwide.
Watertight Expansion Joint Transitions
On the top level of the parking structure, the expansion joint system intersects with parapet walls at multiple locations along the run. To address these complex conditions, Sika Emseal’s expert welding team custom-fabricated and precision-welded boot transitions at each intersection. Into these transitions, Seismic Colorseal precompressed foam joints were installed, creating a continuous, watertight connection that accommodates both structural movement and long-term environmental exposure.
Expansion Joint Column Transitions
At the top of the columns, Horizontal Colorseal was installed at cross-intersection transitions to provide a robust, watertight, and movement-accommodating connection. The precompressed sections are easily placed into the joint and finished with a sealant band at the intersections, delivering a fast, clean, and dependable installation.
Watertight Deck-to-Wall Corner Transitions
The precompressed foam of Seismic Colorseal and Horizontal Colorseal provides a reliable, watertight transition at deck-to-wall corner conditions. Engineered with open-cell foam technology, the material exerts a consistent 2.5 psi of backpressure, allowing it to self-expand and fully seal the joint opening. This eliminates the need for mechanical brackets or anchor, often challenging to install in tight corner conditions, while ensuring a secure, long-lasting fit and lowest-total-cost-of-ownership.
