• Hydrostatic pressure: the buoyancy of the water table can force water through pores, joints and cracks.
• Freeze/thaw cycles: water that has penetrated the pores expands by freezing, causing expansions that damage the concrete.
• Chemical attacks: sulfates, chlorides and other pollutants corrode the cement matrix.
• Structural movements: soil subsidence or thermal changes open microcracks that facilitate water ingress.
• Rising damp: water rises by capillary action from the ground, saturating walls and floors.

‍

Without proper interventions, these phenomena can lead to long-term structural degradation, mold growth, and critical hygrothermal conditions in basement environments. Therefore, it is essential to prevent infiltration and insulate concrete with robust solutions.

Conventional methods of protecting foundations involve drainage systems and physical barriers. For example, manholes and drainage pipes are installed to drive away groundwater, combined with hot or cold-applied waterproof sheathing or membranes on the walls against the ground.

‍

Bituminous (or synthetic) membranes provide resilient coatings, while special honeycomb/bonded membranes provide an additional layer of protection against infiltration. In some cases, injections of epoxy or cementitious resins that can penetrate and seal pores and cracks under negative pressure are used.

‍

However, these approaches require complex installation: membranes can become damaged during construction and over time, and work on existing structures is often costly and complicated. In the absence of adequate external waterproofing, cementitious coatings or two-component mortars with high hydrostatic resistance are applied internally, but even these traditional solutions involve high maintenance costs and limited durability.

DRYBOXSYSTEM® is an integrated system that acts at the full thickness of the concrete and on critical points of the structure. At the heart of the technology are Drymix crystallizing admixtures, incorporated into new concrete (or applied as treatments to existing surfaces).

‍

These reactive products, in contact with water, generate a "network" of insoluble crystals in the pores of the concrete. This crystalline network becomes part of the cement matrix and acts as a permanent barrier against water and aggressive agents from any direction. On the other hand, the active ingredients remain "on standby": in case of new moisture infiltration, the crystals regenerate by filling micro-cracks up to 0.5 mm wide, exerting a marked self-healing action

‍

The DRYBOXSYSTEM® system also includes sealing of construction and expansion joints with hydro-expansive profiles and high-performance elastic sealants. In this way, even casting break points retain complete hydraulic sealing. Finally, special cementitious crystallizing mortars and coatings (e.g., Drykote, Dryseal) are applied to the interior (or exterior) surfaces of existing structures to restore a deep waterproof coating.

‍

The combination of bulk crystallization, waterstop in the joints and surface protection provides integral coverage against all forms of water and moisture, permanently solving seepage problems.

‍

The DRYBOXSYSTEM® system offers practitioners concrete advantages over traditional techniques:

• Permanent and self-protective waterproof ing-thanks to reactive crystals, the concrete remains waterproof for life and self-heals in the presence of moisture. This means that any micro-cracks that may form are sealed spontaneously, keeping the hydraulic seal intact.
• High hydrostatic and chemical resistance - treated concrete withstands both high water pressures (positive and negative pushes) and aggression from sulfates, chlorides or CO₂. Unlike membranes, the inner protection is not afraid of temperature changes or mechanical impacts.
• Reduced maintenance costs-as there are no external barriers subject to wear and tear, periodic repair work on conventional waterproofing is eliminated. Installation is faster-no need to wait for external coatings or protections to cure (the freshly uncured concrete is already waterproof). This translates into less construction time and costs.
• Design and application simplification-the integrated system avoids the design and installation of multiple additional layers. By integrating waterproofing into the concrete mix (or cementitious plaster), constraints in the design phase and construction details are reduced. The "dry" approach eliminates complex membrane installation sequences, streamlining site logistics.
• Regulatory compliance and sustainability - Drymix products used by DRYBOXSYSTEM® ensure traceability and compliance with Technical Standards for Construction. The system's raw materials are certified for contact with potable water and achieve sustainability awards (LEED and carbon footprint reduction).
• Guaranteed Durability - Drykos provides specialized technical assistance and multi-year structural warranty: a 10-year posthumous warranty on the waterproof seal and durability of the work is issued upon completion.

Compared to traditional systems (bituminous membranes or PVC sheathing), DRYBOXSYSTEM® proves superior and more reliable. External membranes can suffer mechanical damage or failure over time, while the crystallizing solution operates from the inside and remains effective "for life." Ultimately, technical analyses confirm that crystallization solutions, combined with professional joint sealing and dedicated surface protection, provide "permanent and low maintenance impact" waterproofing.

‍

‍

The DRYBOXSYSTEM® now represents an advanced and comprehensive approach to foundation waterproofing in both new construction and restoration. By integrating crystallizing admixtures into concrete, waterstop systems, and active coatings, it permanently solves the problems of rising damp, groundwater seepage, and hydrostatic buoyancy.

‍

For engineers, contractors and public agencies, this translates into more durable structures, lower operating costs and project simplification. The DRYBOXSYSTEM® system, with its proven effectiveness and technical certification, now emerges as the solution of choice for providing long-term waterproofing and protection to underground works