CRL was engaged to undertake façade remediation works at Shopping Centre in South East Melbourne, focusing on 75 precast concrete panels along the façade. The scope included crack injection, patch repairs, and the application of an anti-carbonation coating. As works progressed, the scale significantly expanded beyond the original engineering assessment.
Access to approximately half of the panels, located above Level 2, was provided via scaffold towers. The remaining panels—situated above an active carpark—were accessed using boom and scissor lifts. Comprehensive traffic management measures were implemented to ensure public safety throughout the project’s duration.
Crack injection was performed using Parchem Nitofill LV cartridges and surface-mounted packers, treating roughly339 linear metres of cracks. The extent of concrete spalling was far greater than initially reported and was addressed under a schedule-of-rates arrangement.
Concrete remediation was carried out using a Fosroc repair system, comprising:
A total of 72 m² of spalled concrete was repaired. Several sections exhibited severe material loss and failed steel connections, requiring the installation of supplementary steel bracing. Additional repairs included 26 m² of honeycombing and 15 m² of delaminated/bubbling paint. Once structural repairs were complete, the panels were pressure-washed and coated with an anti-carbonation system comprising Dulux Green Render primer and Dulux Acrashield, covering 1,450 m²of precast façade. All works were completed in line with manufacturer specifications and safety protocols, ensuring minimal disruption to public access and neighbouring operations.
%20-%20Edited.png)