APARTMENT BUILDINGS GÜMLIGEN

Looking for the right material

Sometimes it’s worthwhile to refrain from tendering and to look for alternative possibilities. This was the case with the construction of an underground parking garage for three apartment buildings in Switzerland.

The BG-FILCOTEN parkline channel system wasn’t planned from the start – but its monolithic construction without a grate made it stand out.

Underground parking with a detour

In 2019, Ramseier Bauunternehmung AG started the construction of three apartment buildings with underground parking in Gümligen in Switzerland. The parking garage has already been completed. And even though this hadn’t been planned from the beginning, BG-FILCOTEN parkline is their drainage system of choice. But this detour – and the search for an alternative – turned out to be very beneficial for the project and the future occupants of the apartments.

The parking challenge

Drainage systems in parking garages and underground parking structures are particularly challenging. Depending on the weather, vehicles bring in a lot of water and salts that can be a heavy burden on the channel body. At first there can be visual signs such as discoloration and rust, and later there will be functional flaws. If the channel body and its surroundings are made from different materials, tension develops, and the likeliness of cracks is much higher. The harmful salts can penetrate and damage the basic structure of the building in the long run.

The search for alternatives brought up FILCOTEN HPC

Daniel Frieden, foreman of Ramseier Bauunternehmung AG in Bern, who is in charge of the project, suggested going without tendering and the proposed cast grate channel. His decision is based on the following:

Channels made from synthetic materials were out of the question because they don’t provide the required stability.

Finally, they decided on FILCOTEN HPC (High Performance Concrete)by BG-Graspointner. The BG-FILCOTEN parkline comb channel convinced both architects and builders thanks to its exceptional properties. The combination of materials is extremely important. FILCOTEN HPC has the same expansion coefficient as the surrounding concrete base. This reduces tension to a minimum. Approx. 30 meters of BG-FILCOTEN parkline with a 35 millimeter construction height were installed altogether. Daniel Frieden:

The look was also important to us. Since
BG-FILCOTEN parkline can’t corrode, a constantly good appearance is guaranteed in the long run.

Corrosion-free in two respects

BG-FILCOTEN parkline is not only corrosion-free, it also comes without a corrosion cover screwed in place, since the channel body is a monolithic comb channel made from one piece. This prevents rattling sounds whenever a vehicle drives over it, and the neighboring buildings aren’t disturbed. In addition, the channel is especially easy to clean and to maintain.

BG-FILCOTEN parkline has more to offer

Due to its low construction height of max. 35 or 50 millimeters, the channel can be easily incorporated into the structural analysis. An optimized channel body with branch canals enables a faster transport of the water to the drain in the center of the channel. The FILCOTEN HPC material enables lightweight construction. This makes the channels up to 70 percent lighter than comparable concrete systems, which not only makes them easier to install but also lowers the CO2 emission during transportation. FILCOTEN HPC is a purely mineral high-performance concrete that is frost-proof, UV-resistant and subject to fire protection classification A1. This means the material isn’t flammable and smoke emission is excluded. This is especially important for underground parking garages.



We’re serious when it comes to sustainability, which is why we are making the environmental performance indicators of FILCOTEN HPCpublic. Thanks to a verified environmental performance evaluation according to ISO 14040/14044 and EN 15804, the material is ideally suited for sustainable construction projects. Its production is based on 100 percent green electricity, which preserves resources. FILCOTEN HPC is 100 percent recyclable and meets the strict testing criteria of the Institute for Biologically Sound Construction Rosenheim (IBR) with regard to heavy metals, VOCs, biocides and radioactivity. The material has undergone stringent testing and is free of styrol.

Have you only just heard of BG-FILCOTEN parkline? And would you like to learn more? Here you can find the brochure. And if you are planning a parking garage, underground parking or a car park, get in touch with our specialists:

Tel: +1 514 932 5445
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.bg-graspointner.com

Project profile
Project name: ARGE BM Mattenstrasse Location: Gümligen, Schweiz Installed channel types: BG-FILCOTEN parkline 150, H=35 mm BG-FILCOTEN parkline 150, H=35 mm with drain Total installed length in meters: 48 m Services BG-Support: Björn Rösch Client/builder: ISB Foundation BG-Project team: Björn Rösch Architect/planner: Sven Stucki Architekten Building contractor: Ramseier Bauunternehmung AG