The Project

The multi-billion dollar Doha Metro system in Qatar, is one of the largest metro transit projects in the world. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the Doha Metro network will consist of four lines and around 100 stations covering the greater Doha area, connecting major residential, commercial and industrial zones.

The transportation infrastructure will be built in two phases.

1. Phase 1 is expected to be completed in 2019, and will include the construction of two of the major stations at Msheireb and Education City, as well as over 30 other stations.
2. Phase 2 is scheduled to be delivered by 2026 with over 50 more stations to be developed.

Contractors for the Doha Metro system were taking no chances when it came to selecting a reliable and high-quality waterproofing construction product.

In Doha, any waterproofing membrane must succeed against demanding conditions: ground water, an average annual temperature of 32°C, and, critically, the presence of chlorides and sulphates, which attack the reinforcement and the concrete, respectively.

With some membranes, water can leak through potential defects in installation and track behind it, migrating to other parts of the structure. The transit project’s construction specifications state that the stations must remain completely dry throughout a 120-year design life.

Four out of five winning transport business contractors chose PREPRUFE® Plus membrane based on its proven performance  and the reputation of GCP Applied Technologies in the region. A fully bonded waterproofing membrane, this innovative system was installed before the concrete was poured and bonds to the structural concrete, preventing water tracking behind the waterproofing layer or problems caused by ground movements.

About PREPRUFE® waterproofing  and GCP

PREPRUFE® Plus patented adhesive properties allow it to bond to concrete but not to foot traffic or debris. PREPRUFE® Plus also has double adhesive “ZIPLAPS™,” which provide a more robust lap between adjacent sheets.

PREPRUFE® Plus waterproofing was used mostly below the bases of the transit project’s stations and for the walls in some locations, such as where they are cast onto diaphragm walls. BITUTHENE® 8000 HC is also a part of the waterproofing system and is being used where the outside of the walls can be accessed after striking formwork.

One of the important elements for waterproofing the station was getting the detailing right. GCP drew upon a vast library of details gained over the past two decades while installing over 50 million square metres of PREPRUFE® globally.