**Material Specification 537---Nonmetallic Waterstops**

1\. **Scope**

This specification covers nonmetallic waterstops for use in joints of
concrete structures.

**2. Classification**

**Classes---**Nonmetallic waterstops shall be of the following classes,
as specified:

> ***Class I*** shall be fabricated of either natural or synthetic
> rubber.
>
> ***Class II*** shall be fabricated of vinyl chloride polymer or
> copolymer.

**Types---**Nonmetallic waterstops may be either split or solid and
shall conform to the following types, as specified (see fig. 537--1):

> ***Type A*** shall have ribbed anchor flanges and a smooth web.
> Flanges may be of uniform thickness or may have either a converging or
> a diverging taper toward the edges.
>
> ***Type B*** shall have ribbed anchor flanges and a smooth web
> containing a hollow tubular center bulb having a wall thickness equal
> to at least one-half the web thickness, and the inside diameter (D)
> specified in the specifications or shown on the drawings. Flanges may
> be of uniform thickness or may have either a converging or a diverging
> taper toward the edges.
>
> ***Type C*** shall have a single, circular bulb-type anchor flange at
> each edge and a smooth web.
>
> ***Type D*** shall have a single, circular bulb-type anchor flange at
> each edge and a smooth web containing a hollow tubular center bulb
> having a wall thickness equal to a least one-half the thickness of the
> web, and the inside diameter (D) specified in the contract.
>
> ***Type E*** shall have ribbed anchor flanges and a web molded or
> extruded in the form of a round or U-shaped bulb of the dimensions
> specified in the contract or shown on the drawings. The web bulb shall
> be connected at the open-end of the U by a thin membrane having a
> minimum thickness of 1/64 inch and a maximum thickness of 1/5 of the
> web thickness and design to prevent infiltration of wet concrete into
> the bulb and to tear when expansion of the joint occurs. Flanges may
> be of uniform thickness or may have either a converging or a diverging
> taper toward the edges. Auxiliary positioning or nailing flanges may
> be provided as long as the functioning of the web bulb is not altered.
>
> ***Type F*** shall have ribbed anchor flanges with at least two extra
> heavy ribs designed to resist displacement of the waterstop during
> concrete placement on each flange, and a smooth web having a
> positioning or nailing flange attached at the center.
>
> ***Type G*** shall be of special design conforming to the details
> shown on the drawings.

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**Figure 537--1** Types of nonmetallic waterstops

![](media/image1.png){width="2.811111111111111in"
height="4.235416666666667in"}

**Sizes---**Waterstops of types A through F shall be of the sizes
specified in the specifications or shown on the drawings and listed in
table 537--1 of this specification. Type G waterstops shall have the
dimensions shown on the drawings.

**Table 537--1** Sizes of waterstops

Size Web thickness (T) Width (W)\
designation (inches) (inches)

1 1/16 5 1/4

2 3/32 3 3/4

3 3/32 4

4 3/32 5 1/4

5 3/32 6

6 1/8 4

7 1/8 5 1/4

8 1/8 6

9 5/32 4

10 5/32 4 1/2

11 5/32 9

12 3/16 4

13 3/16 5

14 3/16 6

15 3/16 9

16 1/4 6

17 1/4 9

18 3/8 5

19 3/8 6

20 3/8 9

21 1/2 6

22 1/2 9

23 1/2 12

**3. Physical requirements**

The extruded or molded material shall exhibit the properties specified
herein when tested by the methods specified in section 4 of this
specification.

**Class I waterstops**

• Hardness as determined by the Shore A durometer method shall be a
minimum of 60.

• Specific gravity shall be a maximum of 1.2.

• Tensile strength shall be a minimum of 2,500 pounds per square inch.

• Ultimate elongation shall be a minimum of 450 percent.

• Compression set shall be a maximum of 30 percent.

• Water absorption in weight measurements shall not exceed 5 percent.

• Decrease in tensile strength and ultimate elongation after aging shall
not exceed 20 percent.

• There shall be no sign of failure due to brittleness at a temperature
of minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

**Class II waterstops**

• Hardness as determined by the Shore A durometer method shall be a
minimum of 60.

• Specific gravity shall be a maximum of 1.4.

• Tensile strength shall be a minimum of 1,400 pounds per square inch.

• Ultimate elongation of the web shall be a minimum of 280 percent, and
the flanges shall be a minimum of 200 percent.

• There shall be no sign of failure due to flange brittleness at a
temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit nor of web brittleness at a
temperature of minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Decrease in either tensile strength or ultimate elongation after
accelerated extraction shall not exceed 15 percent.

• Results of alkali exposure:

a\. After immersion for 7 days, the sample shall exhibit no loss of
weight and a maximum weight gain of 0.25 percent, and the hardness
measured by the Shore A durometer method shall not vary more than 5
points either plus or minus from the untreated sample.

b\. After immersion for 30 days, the sample shall exhibit no loss of
weight and a maximum weight gain of 0.40 percent, and the dimensions of
the treated sample shall not vary by more than 1 percent from the
untreated sample.

**4. Test methods**

Testing shall be conducted by the methods cited herein. All cited test
methods are included in ASTM as follows:

a\. Hardness shall be determined by ASTM D 2240.

b\. Specific gravity shall be determined by ASTM D 792.

c\. Tensile strength shall be determined by ASTM D 412 for Class I
waterstops and ASTM D 638 for Class II waterstops.

d\. Ultimate elongation shall be determined by ASTM D 412 for Class I
waterstops and ASTM D 638 for Class II waterstops.

e\. Compression set shall be determined by ASTM D 395.

f\. Water absorption shall be determined by ASTM D 570.

g\. Tensile strength and ultimate elongation after aging shall be
determined by ASTM D 412 for Class I waterstops and ASTM D 638 for Class
II waterstops.

h\. Brittleness shall be determined by ASTM D 746 for Class II
waterstops.

i\. Accelerated extraction shall be accomplished by procedures outlined
by United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Concrete Research
Division (CRD) C 572 under the following conditions:

\(1\) Samples shall not be less than 1/16 inch nor more than 1/8 inch in
thickness.

\(2\) The immersion medium shall be a solution prepared by dissolving 5
grams of chemically pure sodium hydroxide and 5 grams of chemically pure
potassium hydroxide in 1 liter of water.

\(3\) The samples shall be immersed in the medium for 14 days at a
temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus 5 degrees
Fahrenheit.

\(4\) During the period of immersion, air shall be gently bubbled
through the medium from a 0.25-inch diameter glass tube at an
approximate rate of one bubble per second.

\(5\) Fresh medium shall be provided each day.

\(6\) Samples need not be dipped in acetone.

j\. The effects of alkalies shall be determined by USACE CRD C 572 under
the following conditions:

\(1\) Sample shall have a maximum thickness of 0.25 inch.

\(2\) The immersion medium shall be as described for accelerated
extraction above.

\(3\) Fresh medium shall be provided every 7days.

\(4\) The samples shall be immersed in the medium for 30 days.

\(5\) Samples need not be dipped in acetone.

**5. Condition**

Waterstops shall be extruded or molded in such a manner that the
material is dense and homogeneous throughout and free from voids, tears,
thins, indentations, or other imperfections. Unless otherwise specified,
waterstops shall be symmetrical in shape and uniform in dimensions and
shall be furnished in continuous strips a minimum length of 50 feet.
Factory splices shall have a minimum tensile strength of 50 percent of
the unspliced section.

**6. Packaging and storing**

Waterstops shall be packaged and stored by methods that provide
protection from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and/or excessive
heat.