SKIDCOMManorteq · Swellable waterbar
HydroBar Original
The original swellable waterbar. Bentonite and butyl rubber that seal construction joints from inside the concrete.
Highlights
Seals the joint the concrete can't.
Expansion
Swells up to 350% in contact with water, depending on what's in the water, and presses against the concrete to close the joint.
Source: Manorteq product literatureSealing force
Internal sealing pressure along every metre of joint.
Source: Manorteq product literatureWith 
A long record alongside .
Bentonite waterbars have been used with waterproofing around the world for about twenty years. Neither affects the other.
Durability
Built to resist wash-out.
Its butyl rubber content keeps it sealing through wet and dry cycles, with better wash-out resistance than traditional bentonite bars.
Where it's used
Where it's used
- Wall-to-slab construction joints
- Day joints in basements and retaining walls
- Water tanks and reservoirs
- Pipe penetrations
For salt water or saline ground, use HydroBar Evo. For polluted ground or contact with slurry or manure, ask us first.
Application
Fixed firmly, before the pour.
A summary of Manorteq's guidance. Follow the technical data sheet for your project.
- 01
Prepare
Place on smooth, clean, dust-free concrete or metal. Keep the bar dry and don't install in heavy rain.
- 02
Position
Keep it at least 80 mm from any exposed concrete surface.
- 03
Fix
Use Manorteq Fixing Wire with nails and washers at 250 mm centres maximum, nails and washers at 200 mm, Fixing Glue or SynMastic.
- 04
Join
Overlap ends by at least 100 mm, side by side, never stacked. Don't use bar that is damaged or already swollen.
Technical data
Technical data
Values from Manorteq Ltd. Check the current technical data sheet before specifying.
| Size | 20 × 25 mm (H × W), 5 m lengths |
|---|---|
| Material | Sodium bentonite with butyl rubber |
| Swelling | Up to 350%, depending on water quality |
| Sealing force | 1.25 tonnes per metre |
| Wet / dry cycles | More than 3 |
| Salt water | Not suitable: use HydroBar Evo |
| Minimum concrete cover | 80 mm |
| Fixing | Fixing Wire, nails and washers; Fixing Glue; SynMastic |
| Stocked in Accra | Yes — sizes on request |
Documents
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Official manufacturer documents, opened from the source so you always get the current version.
Questions
What project teams ask us.
Why does a joint need a waterbar if the concrete is waterproof?
Waterproof concrete, for example with Admix, protects the mass of the concrete. A construction joint is a separate weak line where shrinkage leaves a gap, and a swelling waterbar closes it.
HydroBar Original or HydroBar Evo?
Original is bentonite: physically bigger, fibrous as it swells so it reaches into fissures, with more ways to fix it. Evo is lighter and more flexible, seals with more than double the force, and handles salt water. Send us the detail and we'll recommend one.
Can a HydroBar just be laid on the concrete?
No. Every HydroBar must be fixed securely so it can't move or lift when the concrete is poured onto it.
Will it interfere with ?
No. Manorteq's ancillary products are developed to work with the waterproofing system.
Detailing construction joints?
Send the joint details and we'll recommend the waterbar and the fixing method.