Fosroc Nitocote PE135
Single-component, water-based hydrophobic polyester coating that protects, waterproofs and cures below-ground concrete in one application — applicable on damp, one-day-old concrete.
What is it?
A single-pack, water-based hydrophobic polyester resin coating (grey, viscous liquid) that acts as both a protective/waterproofing membrane and a concrete curing compound.
Where is it used?
Below-ground concrete and masonry — foundations, plinths, retaining walls, basement externals, raft slabs and brickwork/rendering exposed to ground water, chlorides and sulphates.
Why use it?
It bonds to damp, freshly cast (one-day-old) concrete, is solvent/pitch/asbestos-free and non-toxic for confined spaces, is UV stable, and saves a step by curing and protecting in one pass.
How is it applied?
Roller-applied in two coats at 400-500 micron wet film thickness per coat (second coat at right angles), over clean, pre-soaked substrate; or as a curing compound at 5 m2/litre.
About Fosroc Nitocote PE135
Fosroc Nitocote PE135 is a single-component, high-performance protective coating built on a hydrophobic polyester resin and supplied as a grey, viscous, water-based liquid. It was developed to solve a recurring problem on Indian construction sites: below-ground concrete and masonry that need protection and waterproofing long before they have fully dried, often in damp, confined excavations where solvent-borne tar and bituminous coatings are slow, smelly and hazardous to apply. Nitocote PE135 can be applied directly onto damp concrete as young as one day old, and because it is free of coal-tar pitch, hydrocarbon solvents and aromatic amines, it can be used safely in confined spaces such as pits, sumps and basement shafts.\n\nWhat makes the product distinctive is that it performs three jobs from a single pail. It is a barrier coating that resists chloride and sulphate ion ingress and a broad range of chemicals; it is a waterproofing membrane that shows nil water permeability when tested to BS EN 12390 Part 8; and it doubles as an ASTM C309-compliant concrete curing compound when applied thinly at 5 m2 per litre. For contractors and consultants in Delhi NCR and across India, that consolidation translates into fewer products on site, simpler logistics, and one applicator trade instead of two. The cured film is UV stable, so above-ground exposed portions running up to the damp-proof course will not fade or break down in strong sunlight — a genuine advantage in the Indian climate where many tar-based products chalk and crack.\n\nSpace Arc Engineering stocks and applies Nitocote PE135 as an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator. This page sets out the verified technical data from the Fosroc datasheet so that specifiers, structural and waterproofing consultants, architects, site engineers and procurement teams can write it into a specification, estimate quantities and order with confidence.
The technical insight
The chemistry is the key to understanding where Nitocote PE135 fits. It is a water-borne hydrophobic polyester emulsion rather than a bitumen, epoxy or polyurethane. Because the carrier is water (53% solids by weight, 43% by volume per ASTM D2697), it tolerates moisture in the substrate — the resin films and coalesces even when the concrete pore network is damp, which is why one-day-old concrete is acceptable. That same water base is why it cures and curing-compounds simultaneously: a thin 200-micron coat seals the surface enough to retain mix water (ASTM C309), while a full two-coat build of 400-500 microns wet film per coat develops a protective membrane at a minimum 200-micron dry film thickness. Specific gravity is 1.28 g/cm3 at 20 degrees C. Drying is temperature-driven: surface drying takes 35-40 minutes at 20 degrees C but only 4-6 minutes at 45 degrees C, with overcoating intervals of 6-7 hours at 20 degrees C falling to 2-3 hours at 45 degrees C, and complete cure in 7 days at 25 degrees C. The hydrophobic polyester backbone gives the measured performance: water absorption below 0.2% (BS 1881 Part 122), nil water permeability (BS EN 12390-8), pull-off adhesion above 1.0 N/mm2 (ASTM D4541), and excellent resistance to dilute acids (lactic, acetic, nitric), sulphate salts, sea water, ground water and high-sulphate water. The trade-off versus a thick reinforced epoxy or a bonded HDPE membrane is film thickness and crack-bridging — PE135 is a thin-film protective and waterproofing coating, not a structural tanking membrane for high hydrostatic heads.
Where it is used
- Protective and waterproofing coating to below-ground concrete foundations, footings, plinths and pile caps
- External faces of basement and retaining walls against soil-side moisture, chlorides and sulphates
- Concrete curing compound on freshly cast slabs and elements (applied at 5 m2/litre for ASTM C309 compliance)
- Coating to brickwork, blockwork and cement renderings in damp, below-grade or earth-retaining locations
- Protection of concrete in chemically aggressive ground and high-sulphate soil/water conditions
- Lining of sumps, pits, trenches and confined below-ground structures where solvent-borne coatings are unsuitable
- Dual-purpose curing-and-protection on raft and grade slabs to save a separate curing-membrane operation
Key advantages
- Bonds to damp, one-day-old concrete — no waiting for the substrate to fully dry out
- Single-pack, water-based and non-toxic — no mixing, no wastage, safe in confined spaces
- Free of coal-tar pitch, hydrocarbon solvents, aromatic amines and asbestos — environmentally friendly and low-odour
- Combines protective coating, waterproofing and ASTM C309 curing compound in one product
- UV stable — will not fade or deteriorate in strong sunlight on exposed portions
- Resists chloride and sulphate ions plus dilute acids, sulphate salts, sea water and ground water
- Nil water permeability (BS EN 12390-8) and water absorption below 0.2% (BS 1881 Pt.122)
- Good abrasion resistance and pull-off adhesion above 1.0 N/mm2
- Easy roller application and water clean-up while still wet — no solvent thinners needed
Limitations & considerations
- Application must not commence below 10 degrees C or above 50 degrees C
- Do not apply to running or standing water, or when rain is likely before the film dries
- Exposure to chemicals may cause a slight colour change over time (cosmetic, not structural)
- Thin-film coating — it is not a crack-bridging or structural tanking membrane for high hydrostatic heads; use a dedicated membrane where significant ground-water pressure or movement is expected
- Substrate must be clean and free of laitance, dirt, oil and grease; porous substrates need 30-minute potable-water pre-soak with excess water removed before coating
- Sensitive individuals should use gloves, barrier creams and goggles when handling the resin
Selection & best practice
Prepare the substrate first: remove all laitance, dirt, dust, oil and grease, and for porous concrete, brickwork or rendering, pre-soak with potable water for 30 minutes and remove standing water before coating — the surface should be damp, not wet. Stir the pail well and apply by roller in two coats at 400-500 microns wet film per coat, applying the second coat at right angles to the first and strictly within the stated overcoating interval (6-7 hours at 20 degrees C, 2-3 hours at 45 degrees C) so the coats knit into a continuous membrane. Carry all applications up the verticals to meet the existing damp-proof course, and protect the film from mechanical damage during backfilling. On verticals a single coat can be built up to a maximum 600 microns wet film. When using PE135 purely as a curing compound, apply a single thin coat at 5 m2/litre. Keep the lid on between uses, clean tools and spillage with clean water while still damp, and store below 25 degrees C; observe the 10-50 degrees C application window and avoid rain. Allow 7 days at 25 degrees C for full cure before aggressive exposure.
Specifications
| Product type | Single-component protective coating / waterproofing membrane / curing compound |
| Chemistry | Hydrophobic polyester resin, water-based emulsion |
| Colour / form | Grey, viscous liquid |
| Specific gravity (20 deg C) | 1.28 g/cm3 |
| Solids content by weight | 53% |
| Solids content by volume (ASTM D2697) | 43% |
| Coverage — protection | 2.5 m2/litre @ 400 micron wft/coat (2 coats recommended) |
| Coverage — curing compound | 5 m2/litre per coat @ 200 micron wft |
| Wet film thickness | 400-500 microns per coat (max 600 microns single coat on verticals) |
| Minimum protective DFT | 200 microns |
| Surface drying time (ASTM D1640) | 35-40 min @ 20 deg C; 10-15 min @ 35 deg C; 4-6 min @ 45 deg C |
| Overcoating time (ASTM D1640) | 6-7 h @ 20 deg C; 3-4 h @ 35 deg C; 2-3 h @ 45 deg C |
| Complete cure | 7 days @ 25 deg C |
| Water absorption (BS 1881 Pt.122) | < 0.2% |
| Water permeability (BS EN 12390-8) | Nil |
| Adhesion strength (ASTM D4541) | > 1.0 N/mm2 |
| Curing standard | Complies with ASTM C309 when applied at 5 m2/litre |
| Application method | Roller, on prepared (damp, not wet) substrate |
| Application temperature | 10 deg C to 50 deg C |
| Packaging | 20 litre pails |
| Shelf life / storage | 12 months minimum, stored below 25 deg C in normal warehouse conditions |
Industry use cases
Building & infrastructure foundations
Protecting and waterproofing footings, pile caps, plinths and retaining walls against soil-side moisture, chlorides and sulphates — applied on damp concrete soon after striking, then backfilled.
Basements & substructure
Coating the external (soil-side) faces of basement walls and raft slabs in residential, commercial and metro projects where solvent-borne tar coatings are impractical in confined excavations.
Marine & coastal works
Below-ground and splash-zone concrete in coastal Indian projects needing resistance to sea water, chlorides and high-sulphate ground water.
Industrial & effluent structures
Protecting concrete exposed to dilute acids and sulphate salts around plant, drains and bunds — leveraging the excellent rating against lactic, acetic and nitric acids and copper/zinc/magnesium sulphates.
Ready-mix & slab construction
Used as an ASTM C309 curing compound at 5 m2/litre on freshly placed slabs, combining curing with a base layer of below-ground protection on grade slabs.
Masonry & rendered substructure
Coating brickwork, blockwork and cement renderings in damp, earth-retaining or below-DPC locations after a 30-minute potable-water pre-soak.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fosroc Nitocote PE135 a real Fosroc product?
Can Nitocote PE135 be applied to fresh or damp concrete?
What coverage and how many coats does Nitocote PE135 need?
Is Nitocote PE135 a substitute for a full tanking membrane?
How long before it cures and can be backfilled?
What pack size is Nitocote PE135 available in and what is its shelf life?
How we position Fosroc Nitocote PE135
Within the Fosroc range, Nitocote PE135 sits in the below-ground protection family alongside coatings like Nitoproof and the bituminous Nitocote SN/CM products; where those are solvent- or bitumen-based, PE135 is the water-based, low-odour, confined-space-friendly option that also doubles as a curing compound. For heavy chemical immersion or tank lining, Fosroc’s epoxy Nitocote EP-series and the Nitoflor floor coatings are the heavier-duty choice, and for high-pressure tanking a reinforced membrane such as Fosroc Proofex should be specified instead. Against competitor products, PE135 competes most directly with Sika’s water-based and bituminous damp-proofing coatings (e.g. SikaProof / Igolflex range), MBS (MYK Schomburg) waterproofing coatings, Dr. Fixit’s LW/Newcoat and bitumen-based below-ground coatings, and STP’s Shalimastic/water-based coatings. The honest positioning: choose Nitocote PE135 when you need a single-pack, non-toxic coating that goes onto damp, freshly cast concrete in a confined excavation and earns its keep by curing and protecting in one step; step up to an epoxy or a reinforced sheet membrane when the duty is high hydrostatic pressure, severe chemical immersion or active crack-bridging. As an authorised Fosroc distributor and applicator in Delhi NCR and Pan-India, Space Arc Engineering can supply PE135, cross-check it against the rest of the Fosroc system, and recommend the correct primer or membrane pairing for your specific substrate and exposure.
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