SikaTop®-581 Seal

• Approved for use in contact with potable water under Regulation 31(4) (a) of the water supply (water quality) regulation 2016 for England and 2018 for Wales. 
• Approved by Energy and Climate Change Directorate Drinking Water Quality Division, under Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 2014, 33(3) (a).
• Approved by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs under Regulation 30 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017. 
   

IMPORTANT NOTE
 

• Specific instructions for use (IFU) for potable water applications must be followed and are available upon request.
• For all other applications follow the guidance within this technical data sheet.

Cementitious material

Rotate stock in order not to exceed the shelf life of 12 months for SikaTop®-581 Seal and SikaLatex®-600.

SikaTop®-581 Seal should be stored under cover, clear of the ground and stacked not more than 6 bags high.  Protect the materials from all sources of moisture and frost.  

~ 2080 kg/m³

0.8 mm

4 bar

Total application thickness in two coats - 2mm

Application temperature (substrate and material) - from +3 to +30°C

45 minutes (+20°C) 

350 (+20°C) minutes

Approximately 15m² per bag at 1mm thickness per coat, apply two coats.  Consumption may vary depending on roughness of substrate.

Substrates to be treated must be completely clean, structurally sound and mechanically keyed. All surface coatings, defective renders, foreign matter, formwork treatments and other contaminants that may affect the bond adversely should be removed.

Substrates should be prepared by abrasive blasting, high-pressure water treatment or mechanically abrading the surface to achieve the required key.   
All mortar joints to be flush pointed.

Repair with Sika-4A and/or SikaTop®-586 Seal as required. 

All wall/floor intersections to be prepared by cutting a 20mm-by-20mm chase along the junctions and filling with Sika-4A, finishing in an angle fillet to “round out” the junction. 

Water infiltration through the substrate to be treated should be either diverted by drainage or concentrated at weepholes, which will be plugged with Sika-4A after the application of the final coat of SikaTop®-581 Seal.

Basements in areas containing high levels of soil or ground water sulphates may require a pre-treatment render.  Consult the technical department for details.
 

LIQUID CONTENT

SikaTop®-581 Seal mixed with SikaLatex®-600 (diluted 1 part SikaLatex®-600 to 3 Parts clean water): 4.8 – 5.6 litres of liquid per 25 kg bag. 

SikaTop®-581 Seal mixed with water: 4.8 – 6.1 litres per 25 kg bag.

The quantity may vary slightly depending upon the ambient conditions. In all instances, it is important that the material is mixed to the correct consistency. 

In applications where the SikaTop®-581 Seal is expected to be in contact with hydrocarbons (such as diesel oil, petrol etc.) potable water only should be used as the mixing liquid.
 

MECHANICAL MIXING

Blend the powder into the mixing liquid. Use a suitable mixing paddle in a slow speed drill (400 - 600rpm). 

CONSISTENCY

Do not exceed the maximum liquid requirement. 
The material should be mixed for approximately 2 minutes until a thick, creamy, lump-free consistency is obtained that will just support the weight of a stiff bristle brush. 
Mixed material must be used within 45 minutes from the completion of mixing, or less under hot weather conditions.  Do not re-temper the mix.

First coat
Apply a first coat of SikaTop®-581 Seal at a minimum thickness of 1 mm by brush or broom.  Work the mix firmly onto the pre-dampened, prepared substrate by brush or broom.  After completing 2 or 3m², strike off with the brush or broom in one direction for a neat appearance and to provide a mechanical key for the second coat. 
Care must be taken not to spread the material too thinly.  When the material begins to drag or “ball”, do not add more water, but dampen the substrate again. 

Allow at least an overnight cure before applying a second coat.  Apply the second coat when the first coat is sound enough to receive it without damage. 

Second coat
Dampen the first coat and remove excess moisture. Brush or broom the second coat of SikaTop®-581 Seal at a minimum thickness of 1mm, onto the substrate (as above) and finish at right angles to the previous coat. 

To aid proper coverage the second coat should be a different colour, for example, white on grey.

If the second coat is to be the final finish, it may be finished with a brush or sponge float to give a uniform surface. 

Spray Application
Use an all-in-one mixing and spraying machine or separate spraying machine and all associated ancillary equipment to suit application volumes.
When applying by spray use a 3-4mm nozzle at a pressure of 3.6 - 5.0 bar (50-70lb/in²).
Layers up to 2 mm can be achieved by spray in a single coat but afterwards should be brushed to give a uniform surface if required.

FINISHING

If a cementitious plaster or render such as SikaTop®-586 Seal is to be applied, then finish the SikaTop®-581 Seal with horizontal brush strokes to give more grip.  In most situations, these can be applied the next day.  If this is likely to be delayed for some time, then the SikaTop®-581 Seal should be sand dashed immediately after application to aid adhesion.  

Never use a gypsum-based plaster to cover SikaTop®-581 Seal in a tanking application.  If a “skim coat finish” is required over SikaTop®-586 Seal, a cement based fairing coat.  See separate datasheet for information on SikaTop®-586 Seal.

Damp cure for 24 hours after which time the SikaTop®-581 Seal must be allowed to air dry.
In cold, humid, or unventilated areas it may be necessary to leave the application for a longer curing period or to introduce forced air movement. 
NEVER use dehumidifiers during curing periods.

Tools, equipment and spillages should be cleaned immediately with clean water.