Page 99 - DIGITAL ISSUE MAY 2018

TRADEPOINT
are high chances of the blame game being Tell us about the key focus area of the Waterproofers Association of India?
played and the applicators are made the DB: Our Association focusses on the following:
scapegoat. Hence we are going to take care • Maintaining a unity amongst the Waterproo ng Fraternity INTERACTION
of the skilling and the certi cation of the • Standardization of the waterproo ng speci cations
applicators a er proper training sessions. • Organising so skill development programs throughout the country
We aim to maintain the quality and the • Providing Business Networking opportunities
necessary standards in the waterproo ng • Organising Educational, Training & Best Practices Seminars from worldwide
sector. e industry is dynamic, and it is associations such as International Concrete Institute, American Shotcrete Association,
not about the traditional methods in terms American Society of Concrete Contractors
of application. We are focusing on making • Providing Reliable Information & Resource Center
the applicators aware of the new techniques • Assisting in advocacy before Govt. & Private Sector
and the products that are revolutionizing • Providing Business/Payment default information within the members.
the industry. • Hand holding through expert groups
• Enhancing entrepreneurial & technical skills of the members
e waterproo ng market which was a • Extending bene ts through established trade chambers in India and abroad.
`2605 crore industry in 2016 is expected • Maintaining website having latest information & trade defaulters cautions.
to cross the `5000 crore mark by 2020. • Providing opportunity to attend International & Domestic Trade shows
How do you view this rise in the market?
DB: e traditional polymers sold at about KP: e clients such as MMRCL and others strength in just 30 years. Especially in
`80 - 100 per kg, are becoming obsolete are insisting on the manufacturers to give cities like Mumbai, where there is excessive
and people have accepted the fact that these the guarantee. Earlier, it was just that the atmospheric saline attack, corrosion and
products are not up to the mark. ey are waterproofers were giving guarantees. e similar problems. Waterproo ng involves
accepting products that are better in terms manufacturers did not give any guarantee a lot of technicalities in terms of the site
of quality. Also, the purpose of using on the application. Hence the clients are location, the climate, the factors a ecting
superior materials instead of the normal now insisting on the manufacturers to give the strength of the material and much more.
polymers has been realised. In addition to guarantee. Today the bridges need to have All this has to be considered when it comes
this, the actual cost of the product has gone stringent waterproo ng norms which was to deciding a system for waterproo ng. is
up to `200- 300 per kg. e most important missing earlier. Such awareness amongst is unfortunately given a back seat.
factor is that the entire waterproofing the client will no doubt lead to a complete KP: e designers and most importantly the
fraternity has come up with an idea of revolution in the waterproo ng industry. builders are not too keen on waterproo ng.
bringing awareness amongst the architects They do not realise that an improper
and consultants who actually formulate Can you list down some of the short waterproo ng ultimately leads to a failure
the BOQs and the schedules as to the comings for the waterproo ng industry? of the entire building. If the waterproo ng
availability of the superior products suitable SC: e major hurdle for the industry is the is not done properly , the whole purpose of
for speci c requirements. e architects lack of standardization of the waterproo ng the structure may also fail
are realising the fact that polymers are not methods and also the numerous Over
the only waterproo ng material. ere are the Counter (OTC) products. If people On a concluding note, how do you look
combination of materials that are to be used randomly go for products endorsed by at the future of waterproo ng market in
to get the best waterproo ng system. a celebrity, and do not know the exact India?
Moreover, Infrastructure projects like application, this is a matter of concern. DB: What we look at is that the market
Metros, Airports and Elevated Corridors However thankfully such campaigns are will be at around 7 – 8folds, looking at
also add to the growth of the industry actually helping in brining awareness about the initiatives that are been taken by the
and bring in an improvement on the the importance of waterproo ng. corporates to educate people. rough the
waterproo ng criteria. Projects planned for DB: Any kind of structure needs initiatives of WAI, the waterproofers are
underground structures require stringent waterproo ng. Now a days waterproo ng going to be united and shall take the best
norms when it comes to waterproofing is not being done seriously and that has possible measures to educate the architects
which should be of the highest quality. caused the buildings or the structures to to standardise the speci cations through
SC: In last couple of years, the speci cations degrade in terms of quality at an alarming seminars conducted by the experts of
have improved and are further improving rate. Waterproo ng today, accounts for a the fraternity. Considering all this, we
which is a good sign. However, this needs mere 1 per cent of the total construction look forward to a decent growth in the
to be channelized properly. When the cost. However it has to be understood that waterproo ng industry. In terms of revenue,
manufacturers start giving a guarantee,this it is this 1 per cent that will save the rest we cannot predict as the industry today is
will rope in a proper certi cation of the 99 per cent of the construction cost. If highly unorganised. We are looking for
applicator for which the training sessions that 1 per cent is compromised, the entire applicators who wish to enhance their skills
will be coordinated & facilitated at the structure loses its life at almost 1/4th than and knowledge.
association’s end. is in turn leads to a its actual life. e structure that is supposed
channelized growth of the industry. to last for say a 100 years has degraded in For more details visit: www.wai.org.in

MAY 2018 |CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES 105