Frequently Asked Questions

Concrete Canvas^® (CC) is part of a revolutionary new class of construction materials called Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats (GCCMs). It is a flexible, concrete filled geosynthetic which hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable, waterproof and lower carbon alternative to conventional concrete. Essentially, it’s Concrete on a Roll™.

CC is unrolled into position and secured in place. The material is then hydrated. There is a 2-hour working window before setting begins, and in 24 hours the material hardens to service performance specifications.

Concrete Canvas^® GCCM (CC) is typically used to replace conventional concrete for a wide range of erosion control and weed suppression applications. Typical examples include channel lining, slope protection, bund lining, remediation works, culvert lining, outfall protection, mining vent walls, gabion covering and pipe protection. Our biggest markets are the Civil Infrastructure (principally road and rail), Mining, Petrochemical and Agricultural sectors.

CC is manufactured in our UK production plant using bespoke machinery designed by Concrete Canvas Ltd. A 3-dimensional synthetic fibre matrix is filled with a custom cement blend before a PVC coating is added to one side.

CC is BBA certified with durability in excess of 120 years when used for erosion control applications. For advice on specific climates please contact Concrete Canvas Ltd.

CCX-M™ is part of a revolutionary new class of construction materials called Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats (GCCMs). It is a flexible, concrete-filled geosynthetic which hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable, waterproof and lower carbon alternative to conventional concrete. Essentially, it’s Concrete on a Roll™.

CCX-M™ is unrolled into position and secured in place. The material is then hydrated. There is a 30-minute working window before setting begins, and in 24 hours the material hardens to in-service performance specifications.

CCX™ is slightly stiffer than CC, making it more suitable for larger more uniform profiles. CCX™ has different drape characteristics than CC, making it less suitable for undulating surfaces.

CCX-M™ is typically used to replace conventional concrete for erosion control, remediation and enhancement of impermeability to canals and bulk water infrastructure.

CCX-M™ is manufactured in our UK production plant using bespoke machinery designed by Concrete Canvas Ltd. The process uses a unique patented method of inserting a cementitious material between two geosynthetic layers and stitched together to form a GCCM. A 0.3mm LLDPE backing is applied to the bottom geosynthetic.

Based on environmental exposure testing, CCX-M™ has a lifespan in excess of 50 years. For advice on specific climates and applications please contact Concrete Canvas Ltd.

CC Hydro™ (CCH) is the world’s first all-in-one armoured impermeable liner, known as a Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Barrier. CC Hydro™ (CCH) combines the concrete filled geosynthetic technology of Concrete Canvas^® with a highly impermeable, chemically resistant geomembrane liner. The liner incorporates a hi-visibility welding strip which allows joints to be thermally welded with a double-track or triple-track air channel for on-site testing.

CC Hydro™ is laid in the same way as Concrete Canvas^® but the geomembrane liner is thermally welded along the overlaps for a fully impermeable joint. The flexible concrete-filled geosynthetic hardens on hydration, to provide long term protection to the geomembrane from puncture, abrasion, weathering and UV degradation. This hard armour concrete surface effectively removes the need for concrete, soil or aggregate top cover, normally required with conventional liner systems.

CC Hydro™ GCCB (CCH) is typically used to replace conventional liner systems for a wide range of containment applications. Typical examples include bund lining, lagoon lining, and tank lining and remediation. Our biggest markets for CCH are the Petrochemical and Oil & Gas sectors.

CCH is BBA certified with durability in excess of 50 years when used for containment applications. For advice specific to your project, please contact Concrete Canvas Ltd.

CC can be supplied as either palletised bulk rolls or man-portable batched rolls. CCT1™ bulk rolls are 170m², CCT2™ are 125m² and CCT3™ are 80m². CCT1™ batched rolls are 10m² and CCT2™ are 5m². Due to its relative weight, CCT3™ is not available in batched rolls as standard. CCH is available in standard bulk rolls only.

CCX-M™ and CCX-B™ are supplied as Bulk Rolls 1.9m wide by 50m in length, with an area of 95m² per Bulk Roll. Bulk Rolls are supplied with slings and can also be manoeuvred using a forklift fitted with a pole attachment.

Concrete Canvas^® GCCM has nominal dry weights of 8kg/m², 12kg/m² and 19kg/m² for CCT1™, CCT2^™ and CCT3^™ respectively.

CC Hydro™ GCCB has nominal dry weights of 9kg/m² and 13kg/m² for CCHT1™ and CCHT2™ respectively.

CCX-M™ and CCX-B™ have typical nominal dry weights of 14.5 to 15.5kg/m2.

CC is currently used in over 80 countries around the world and exports make up over 80% of turnover. Outside of the UK, our biggest markets are Brazil, Japan, Russia, Australia, USA and India.

Although CCX™ is the newest product that Concrete Canvas Ltd has developed, the material has been installed in over 20 countries covering all 6 developed continents. CCX™ is available through our Sales Partner Network, which currently covers over 80 countries around the world.

CC products should be stored under cover in dry conditions, away from direct sunlight and within the manufacturer’s sealed packaging as supplied.

CCX™ should be stored under cover in dry conditions, away from direct sunlight and within the manufacturer’s sealed packaging as supplied.

When stored in the manufacturer’s packaging in the correct conditions, CC can be kept for up to 24 months from the manufacture date without significant degradation in
performance. After the 24-month point, CC will continue to function but may take longer to reach the values specified on the CC Data Sheet.

When stored in the manufacturer’s packaging in the correct conditions, CCX™ can be kept for up to 12 months from the manufacture date without significant degradation in performance. After the 12-month point, CCX™ will continue to function but may take longer to reach the values specified on the CCX Data Sheet.

The performance values of CC will start to decline once opened; the CC should, therefore, be used within a few days of opening to prevent any significant degradation. It is best practise to reseal any packaging after opening to extend this period as much as possible.

The performance values of CCX™ will start to decline once opened, especially in humid environments. The CCX™ should, therefore, be used within a few days of opening to prevent any significant degradation. It is best practice to reseal after opening if delays in the installation are anticipated.

CC is stocked and supplied in its natural colour (mottled grey) as standard. There are a number of options for colouring CC including dying the surface fabric fibres or applying coloured surface treatments, such as painting the fibre surface of CC with a good quality exterior masonry paint. It is recommended to seek advice from a CC representative before painting or dying.

CC is supplied in standard widths of 1.0m for CCT1™ and 1.1m for CCT2™ and CCT3™. Wide Rolls up to 3m (CCT1™) and 3.3m (CCT2™) can be manufactured to order. It is possible to produce narrower rolls but this would be subject to a minimum order quantity.

Yes, bespoke lengths can be supplied subject to a batching surcharge.

Yes, bespoke lengths between 25m and 50m can be supplied and may be subject to a batching surcharge. Bespoke lengths are made to order and lead times may be longer than 50m stock roll lengths.

Concrete Canvas^® Ltd can supply a range of ancillary products for CC installation including ground pegs and sealant.

Concrete Canvas Ltd can supply a range of ancillary products for CCX™ installations including ground pegs, screws and sealant.

Slope protection is where the body of the slope is inherently stable but the surface of the slope is prone to erosion caused by weathering, surface run-off and environmental degradation. CC can be used for slope protection in this case.

Slope stabilisation is where the body of the slope is geotechnically unstable and is at risk of suffering from slip (where a mass of the slope collapses). In certain applications, CC can be used for structural slope stabilisation by combining it with flexible structural facings. In this case, the project should be designed by a geotechnical engineer. See CC Installation Guide: Slope Protection for more details.

CCX-M™ and CCX-B™ have been independently tested to the performance properties listed in ASTM D8364 - Standard Specification for GCCM Materials. Both products meet the minimum requirements of a Type II GCCM. Please see Technical Note 1 for more information on ASTM D8364.

The three most common methods are a screwed overlap joint; a screwed and sealed overlap joint; or a thermally bonded overlap joint. There are a number of other mechanical and non-mechanical methods which may be suitable for particular applications. Please see CC User Guide: Jointing & Fixing or contact Concrete Canvas Ltd for more details.

The three most common methods for jointing CCX-M™ are a screwed overlap joint; a screwed and sealed overlap joint; or a thermally bonded and screwed overlap joint. For CCX-B™ the geomembrane layers must be thermally welded together whilst the cement filled geotextile layers can be thermally bonded or sealed with an adhesive sealant. Please see CCX™ Jointing Guide or contact Concrete Canvas Ltd for more details.

The level of waterproofing that materials provide is typically referred to in geotechnics using a measure of permeability called the k-value. CC has been tested to BS1377 and has an average k value of between 10-8 and 10-9 m/s, which is similar to clay; a range commonly referred to as being impervious.

The permeability of a CC lined structure can be adjusted by selecting an appropriate method for joining the material. Please see the CC User Guide: Jointing and Fixing document for more information.

If the overall impermeability is critical for your application, we would recommend the use of our CC Hydro™ material, which incorporates a high-performance containment geomembrane that is thermally welded with testable joints for quality assured containment applications. Please see the CC Hydro Brochure for more information.

The enhancement of impermeability of a CCX-M™ lined structure can be adjusted by selecting an appropriate method for joining the material. Please see the CCX™ Jointing Guide for more information.

If the overall impermeability is critical for your application, we would recommend the use of CCX-B™, which is thermally welded with testable joints for quality assured containment applications.

The level of waterproofing that materials provide is typically referred to in geotechnics using a measure of permeability called the k-value. The LLDPE geomembrane to CCX-B™ has been tested to BS EN 14150 and has a k value of the less than 1x10-¹² m/s.

It depends on the application. Consult the application table in the CC User Guide: General or contact Concrete Canvas Ltd directly for technical advice.

CC can be installed vertically providing that the supporting surface is structurally stable.

CCX™ can be installed vertically providing that the supporting surface is structurally stable. Contact Concrete Canvas Ltd for assessment of the intermediate fixings required to ensure the performance of the lining in steeply inclined applications.

This is dependent on the application and the quality/ inclination of the substrate; as a guide, we recommend pegging in anchor trenches at 2m intervals and material overlaps (joints). In warm climate conditions, intermediate fixings are required at 3m intervals on exposed CC surfaces. Wind or Hydraulic shear forces may also require pegging to prevent movement of the CC. Consult the CC/CCH Installation Guide: Bund Lining and CC Hydraulic Design Guidance Notes documents for more information.

This is dependent on the application and the quality/ inclination of the substrate; as a guide, we recommend pegging in anchor trenches at 2m intervals and material overlaps (joints). In warm climate conditions, intermediate fixings are required at a maximum of 3m intervals on exposed CCX-M™ surfaces. Wind or hydraulic shear forces may also require pegging to prevent movement of the CCX™. Consult the CC Specification Guide: Watercourses for more information and for advice on non-penetrative fixings for CCX-B™, contact Concrete Canvas Ltd.

CC typically replaces 100-150mm of poured, sprayed or precast concrete, resulting in typical material savings of 95%. This directly results in a reduction on the carbon footprint of construction works. A recent Life Cycle Assessment found that CCT2™ contains 45% of the embodied carbon when compared to a 150mm ST4 poured concrete channel before the transportation and installation carbon savings are also considered.

CCX-M™ typically replaces 100-150mm of poured, sprayed or precast concrete, resulting in typical material savings of 90%.This directly results in a reduction of the carbon footprint of construction works. CCX-B™ typically replaces 100-150m of poured concrete over a geomembrane liner.

Concrete Canvas® uses a specialist high early strength cement with a limited alkaline reserve which is below the US Environmental Protection Agency limits. CC has been installed directly into live watercourses without the need for special environmental protection measures.

CC has achieved Euroclass classification B-s1, d0 and has passed the American MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) fire testing for use in underground mining applications.

CC has excellent resistance to chemical attack, in particular sulphate attack, which means it is well suited for use in ground surfacing applications. The concrete we use is also much more resistant to chemical attack compared to ordinary Portland concrete. CC has passed acid (ph1), alkaline (ph13) and hydrocarbon immersion tests to BS14414.

CCX™ has excellent resistance to hydrocarbons, alkalines and leachates. Please contact us with your chemical information to allow us to advise on CCX™ compatibility for your application.

We do not recommend CC as a vehicle trackway in most circumstances. However, CC can be used as hard armour capping of ground to prevent dust generation, erosion and wash-out of fines. The load-bearing capacity of the trackway should be based on the surface modulus (CBR) of the ground which should be sufficient to support the requisite traffic loading. The CC should therefore only be used to provide surface erosion control rather than to increase the surface modulus of any given substrate. For this type of application, we would typically recommend 2 layers of CCT3™ with an offset overlap and the 2 layers screwed together. It is not recommended to install CC in turning areas where axle loading can ruck the surface of the material.

Yes. Once wet, CC has a working time of approximately 1-2 hours in a Malaysia climate.

Yes. Warm water should be used for hydration and plastic sheeting should then be applied over the hydrated material until it has set. Consult the CC & CC Hydro - Hydration Guide for further instruction or contact Concrete Canvas Ltd directly. Generally, the same setting conditions that apply to conventional concrete pouring should be observed when installing CC.

Yes. Wherever possible it is advised to hydrate CC at dusk to avoid the water used for hydration evaporating in warm environments. In very hot conditions, it is advised to re-hydrate the material at 1-hour intervals for the first 5 hours. For comprehensive guidance on installing CC in hot climates contact Concrete Canvas Ltd.

Before hydrating, unset CC can be cut using basic hand tools. It is recommended to use snap off disposable blades or handheld self-sharpening powered disc cutters. After CC has set, it can be cut using angle grinders, jigsaws with ceramic blades or good quality tile cutters.

One of the key features of CC is that the fixed internal volume and control during manufacture ensures void space is set within carefully prescribed bounds and subsequently limits the Water: Cement ratio achieved in the field. It is therefore not possible to over hydrate CC; it will set underwater and can, therefore, be installed in adverse weather conditions.

The CC will not reach its full strength and the setting time may be delayed.

Yes. It will hydrate fully from immersion.

CC can be hydrated using saline or non-saline water. The water does not need to be potable.

The minimum ratio of water: CC is 1:2 by weight. For Example, CCT2 weighs 12kg/m² and a minimum of 6 litres/m² is required for hydration. CC cannot be over hydrated so an excess of water is always recommended.

Yes. When ordered in sufficient volumes, Concrete Canvas Ltd can accelerate or retard the setting times of CC to accommodate different environmental conditions and applications.

General PPE precautions should be taken; face masks, protective clothing and gloves should be worn when handling CC. CC does not contain measurable amounts of soluble chromium (VI) and is not classified as an irritant. Consult the CC & CCH (M)SDS document for more information.

CC should be installed with the fibrous surface exposed. The fibre reinforced concrete layer will protect the PVC backing from weathering and UV damage.

Providing it is installed correctly, CC requires no regular post-installation maintenance.

CC can be demolished using standard construction demolition equipment and disposed of in the same manner as conventional concrete waste.