Full Mapei system specified at state-of-the-art Berwick Leisure Centre

A full Mapei system has been specified at Berwick Leisure Centre – a new state-of-the-art facility designed by GT3 Architects.  Funded by Northumberland County Council and delivered by Advance Northumberland, the £20 million centre is located on the site of the former complex, the Swan Centre, in Tweedmouth. All works were carried by main contractor, Tolent Construction, with Mapei surface preparation, waterproofing and installation products specified by GT3 Architects.

Located on the south bank of the River Tweed, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, the new leisure complex includes a 25m five-lane swimming pool, a teaching pool, leisure pool and spa facilities. Other indoor facilities include a sports hall, indoor bowls, fitness studios and a cafe. Mapei systems were used within all pool areas and changing rooms.

A variety of Mapei floor levelling, waterproofing and tanking systems were specified during the surface preparation phase.  They included Mapei Topcem screed – a fast drying hydraulic binder which was used for all floor areas including the pool bases, pool surrounds and changing room floors  - and Nivoplan levelling mortar on pool tank walls and all changing area walls.  Pools were then tanked with Mapelastic Smart highly flexible, cementitious waterproof membrane and Mapenet 150 - an alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh.  Walls throughout the changing rooms were tanked with Mapelastic AquaDefense Tanking Kit - a ready-to use rapid waterproofing system including Mapelastic AquaDefense and Mapeband PE 120 – and floor areas were prepared with Mapeguard WP 200 waterproofing membrane.

Tiles were fixed with two cementitious adhesives: Keraflex Maxi S1 for wall areas and Keraquick S1 for floors.  In pool tank areas, all tiles were grouted with Kerapoxy two-component acid resistant epoxy grout and, in the changing areas, with Ultracolor Plus mould-resistant and water repellent grout and Keracolor FF – a coloured, water repellent cementitious mortar.  Within the centre’s reception area, the specification also included Mapeguard UM35 waterproofing, uncoupling and anti-fracture membrane, Keraquick S1 cementitious adhesive and Ultracolor Plus grout.