General recommendations for the foundation crack repair procedures

1. Investigating and mapping of the crack

During crack investigation, the following characteristics of the cracks must be considered and
recorded:
 Crack type (surface crack, continuous…)
 Crack course (vertical, diagonal, net forming…)
 Crack width and depth
 Crack growth (short/long-term, daily…)
 Crack condition (dry, wet, polluted…)

2. Crack remediation methods

According to the information gathered one the following methods can be used to repair cracks:
 Closing the cracks to protect against corrosive pollutants into the structural element
 Sealing the cracks to protect against penetration of water into the structural element
 Bonding of the crack surfaces with elastic materials for permanently limited movement of
the crack.
 Frictional connection of the crack surfaces to produce a stress resistant bond in the
structural element.

No. Crack width Remediation method Recommended material

MC Bauchemie
Closing (Filling)
1 Zentrifix KMH (bonding coat)
< 0,3 mm Repair mortar incl. bonding
Nafufill KM 130 (mortar)
agent
or equivalent

MC Bauchemie,
2 ≥ 0,3 mm Impregnate or Injection using
MC-Injekt 1264 compact
(Horizontal) brush
or equivalent

MC Bauchemie
3 ≥ 0,3 mm
Pressure injection MC-Injekt 1264 compact
(Vertical)
or equivalent

MC Bauchemie
Concrete Closing (Filling)
4 Zentrifix KMH (bonding coat)
honeycomb Repair mortar incl. bonding
Nafufill KM 130 (mortar)
and defects agent
or equivalent

Table 1: Procedure for the remediation of cracks

3. Execution

3.1. Remediation of cracks < 0.3 mm, concrete honeycombing

For the remediation of cracks with a crack width w < 0.3 mm and concrete honeycombing, the
following points are to be considered:
 Cleaning the crack area by blowing loose particles and pollution using an air pressure
device
 Pre-wetting the crack surface
 Preparing the mortar
 Filling the cracks by injecting the selected material using a brush
 Covering the filled cracks with quartz sand

A B
Figure 1: A) Remediation of a crack. B) Concrete honeycombing

3.2. Shallow (horizontal) cracks with w ≥ 0.3 mm

For the remediation of shallow (horizontal) cracks with w ≥ 0.3 mm, the following points are to be
considered
 Opening the crack edges using a cut off grinder

Figure 2: Cut-off surface

 Cleaning the crack area by blowing loose particles and pollution using an air pressure
device
 Pre-wetting the crack surface
 Filling the cracks with the selected material using with brush injection
 Covering filled cracks with quartz sand
3.3. Deep (vertical) cracks with w ≥ 0.3 mm
For the remediation of deep (vertical) cracks with w ≥ 0.3 mm, two different crack injection
techniques can be used: high-pressure and low-pressure injection.

Low-pressure injection technique includes the following steps:

 Cleaning the crack area by blowing loose particles and pollution using an air pressure
device
 Installing injection ports (short rigid-plastic tubes with a flat base with a flat surface)
 Sealing the surface. Use an epoxy adhesive to seal over the surface ports and exposed
cracks
 Injecting the crack
 Removing the ports. Allow 24 to 48 hours for the epoxy to cure and penetrate into the
cracks

Figure 3: Example of crack

remediation with low pressure injection

High-pressure injection technique includes the following steps:

 Drilling holes along the crack
 Installing metal mechanical injection ports
 Cleaning the crack area by blowing loose particles and pollution using an air pressure
device
 Sealing the surface. Use an epoxy adhesive to seal over the surface
 Injecting the crack
 Figure 4: Example of crack
remediation with high pressure injection

Remarks:
This document describes only general recommendations regarding remediation of cracks in the
concrete foundation. Special condition must be considered individually in an adequate manner. The
remediation of the cracks should be done only by qualified workers. In case of extensive defects a
special recommendation design should be issued.

Appendix:
1) Technical sheet Zentrifix KMH (2 pages)
2) Technical sheet Nafufill KM 130 (2 pages)
3) Technical sheet MC-Injekt 1264 compact (2 pages)