Frequently Asked Questions
Do I heat the RW Material with the blue flame of the torch?
No...heating with the blue flame is too hot for the material. Please use the yellow or yellow/orange portion
of the flame to apply heat to the RW sleeves and Joiner-Strips.
If a tear occurs during the installation process, can I repair?
If the tear is small, it's suggested you use a Joiner-Strip. If the tear is large,
it will grow. In this case, you will have to remove the sleeve by heating the outside
of the RW material while at the same time pulling it off against the direction you are working.
You will then need to re-apply primer, and wrap a new sleeve around the area.
Can I cut the width of the RW 11" or 17" for custom fits in the field?
We do not recommend this practice in the field, as too many things could go wrong
causing a tear or a knick in the material. Best solution would be to purchase the 5-1/2 INCH
wide material rather than field cutting a wider length.
What is the shelf life of the RW material?
5 years.
Can RW be stored in a Construction Trailer in Unconditioned Air?
Yes, RW does not have any compounds that will get soft and "pool". Our formulations can be stored
in rolls one on top of another.
Is the primer a hazardous material?
We have two approved primers; Polyken 1027 and Polyken 1039.
1027 has some environmental issues.
1039 is 100% solids, and although more expensive it presents less concerns.
MSDS sheets may be provided upon request.
Does your material hold up to direct sunlight (UV)?
Our mastics in RW include a UV resistant formulation. When subjected to UV it will not grow,
peel away, or cause the mastic to not adhere. Our mastic is a proprietary formulation which
will not get soft like mastics that are asphaltic based.
If the material catches fire or has a flame on the surface while shrinking, is that o.k.?
This is o.k., but should be avoided. You are probably applying too much heat. Make sure the
flame is rolled out prior to continuing the shrinking process. Let affected area cool a little
and then continue to heat using the yellow/orange portion of the flame.
Some of the pre-cast bases and cones have pits after the wire brushing. Do we need to make sure
these pits get completely covered with primer?
No....just apply 2-3 mils of primer to completely cover area where the RW material will be applied.
If a large chunk of concrete has fallen off, because of poor handling, will the RW still
adhere to the un-even area?
Yes...but you might want to fill in that area with our Filler-Cord. Just cut to length and
build up to the appropriate level.
Do I primer the metal gussets of the manhole?
Yes....you primer wherever you are going to install RW.
Can I apply the RW around the top of the manhole with the release paper attached
and then pull it off in one motion?
Yes, this is the easiest way to insure that the RW is positioned properly.
What about inserting pipes through holes cut through RW installed areas?
This will not present a problem. However you should wait at least till the next
day to drill penetration holes through the RW material. The sleeve must be cooled down
to ambient temp first. If this happens on the same day, you can drill through the material.
Can we move the manhole, after RW has been installed?
Although RW can withstand some movement after it is sealed in place, the manhole should
be moved to its installed position prior to the application of RW.
Does RW meet AWWA C216-00?
RW meets AWWA C216-00.
AWWA asks for Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVT) . The specification described under AWWA C216-00 calls for a maximum
WVT values of 0.05 g/h square meter using ASTM E96. The PSI RW material is considerably less than that.
Therefore, RW meets the AWWA C216-00 requirements as described.