Structural expansion joints are design elements necessary for accommodating movements within buildings.  These movements are caused by thermal changes, wind, dynamic loading and unloading, and seismic forces. 

Because expansion joints bisect or isolate structures, they are essentially a gap through every element of the building--drive lanes, roadways, parking decks, floors, walls, foundations, roofs, bathrooms, suites, halls, foyers, lobbies, waterproofing elements, and structural supports.  In parking decks joints must withstand traffic from cars, trucks, vans, buses, pedestrians and all kinds of wheeled maintenance equipment while at the same time must accommodate joint movement. 
 

Instead, the stored-strain energy of compression in its precompressed, impregnated foam sealing assembly locks to the joint faces through a combination of inherent backpressure, a field-applied epoxy adhesive, and injected silicone sealant bands.

This assembly supports a central spline to which the cover plate is attached and centered.

Attachment of the plate to the foam-supported spline means the system is dampened against sound transfer. And installed over EMSEAL's resilient polyurethane nosing material, the SJS is arguably the quietest, traffic-capable expansion joint system available.

Oh, and did we point out that the SJS SYSTEM is watertight too?

Strip seals (left), compression seals, self-centering bar-and-gutter systems, are not watertight, are prone to failure, and don't look that great either.  Technology has evolved beyond these systems.

It is of course better to start out at new construction with EMSEAL as the basis of design for joint systems but retrofit is possible, practical and lasting and can be staged for minimal disruption.  Retrofit can also be phased to suit budget constraints--allowing for gradual upgrade of all joints over time. 

Lasting expansion joint solutions in mixed-use, retail, office, sports, assembly, convention and performing arts venues as well as in retrofit of existing structures is a central focus of EMSEAL's. 

The company's unique approach to expansion joint treatment combines innovative materials technologies with a fresh look at the roles of owners, designers, general contractors, manufacturers and subcontractors, in achieving trouble-free expansion joints.

The approach is grounded in an integrated, collaborative process centered on joint treatment that requires all of these parties to think, design, detail, specify, construct, fabricate, and install three-dimensional solutions.