UltraScape BS 7533 steps up to the paving challenge in Apia, Samoa

UltraScape’s BS 7533 Mortar Paving System has been used as part of the upgrade of Apia city centre high street.

Background

Apia is the capital and the largest city of Samoa. The city is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa’s second largest island. Apia is situated on a natural harbour at the mouth of the Vaisigano River.

As part of a regeneration programme, the Samoa Government released funds to rejuvenate the capital’s main high street. Zheng Construction was engaged as the contractor for the project and New Zealand UltraScape distributor, Horizon International Limited, advised and provided the UltraScape mortar system for the upgrade of the 560m² of 80mm stone paving required for the project.

The challenge

Climate and weather were a critical considerations for the project, Apia features a hot and humid climate, however, the climate is not equatorial because of the trade winds and there are also a few cyclones, so any mortar solution would need to be robust enough to survive these changes in conditions.

The costal location of Apia was also a consideration, the paving and mortar needed to be capable of withstanding saltwater and precipitation.

Apia still has some of its early, wooden, colonial buildings which remain scattered around the city, it was therefore important that the integrity of these buildings and their environment was retained.

The solution

The selected UltraScape BS 7533 compliant Mortar Paving System comprised of pro-bed bedding mortar, pro-prime slurry primer and flowpoint smooth in natural grey grout.

Pre-blended for ease of use, pro-bed can be laid from 10mm – 75mm, is shrinkage compensated and can be opened to foot traffic in just 12 hours, which allowed the contractor to complete the project in good time.

Formulated to provide an exceptional bond between the paving element and pro-bed, pro-prime slurry primer eliminated potential costly failures caused by general wear and tear and heavy load bearing.

Ideal for large scale projects, flowpoint smooth grout was used in natural grey to sympathetically tie in with the selected paving.

The results

Tom Abbott, the design lead for Beca said: ”We are very pleased with UltraScape’s BS 7533 Mortar Paving System. It was easy to use and quick setting. The construction life of 40 years was particularly important to the end client as was the system’s value for money”

UltraScape’s Mortar Paving System is available throughout New Zealand through Horizon International Limited. To contact Horizon International please call 0800 682 745 or visit horizoninternational.co.nz.

For further information on UltraScape’s BS 7533 compliant system, please contact Instarmac’s International Sales Team by calling +44 (0) 1827 254402 or emailing international@instarmac.com.