To broaden your awareness of waterproofing products and their installations, and emphasising its importance on your building site.

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1 By John Blasé

2 To broaden your awareness of waterproofing products and their installations, and emphasising its importance on your building site. We will also touch on the pros and cons of the different types of membranes on our markets today.

3 To most people it is an impervious barrier which is designed to To most people it is an impervious barrier which is designed to prevent water entering or escaping from that part of the structure or sections of the building.

4 Waterproofing dates back to the days of Noahs Ark, the 40 days of rain that made the people take some form of action to stop water entering there dwelling and habitats. So they used hay, leaves, and other ways as a barrier to stop the water entering. In some instances you may not stop water; BUT YOU CAN THEN CONTROL WATER

5 When we refer back to the definition of waterproofing as a barrier to prevent water entering or escaping from a structure; then the real importance is reflected in the consequences of NOT waterproofing. Water damage is second only to fire as a cause of building decay and deterioration in Australia, even Government divisions like the CSIRO state that building materials we use have a considerable shorter life span when subjected to moisture or water emersion over a period of time

6 Water that enters a structure by default has immediate and long term effects. Apart from water damage to the structure and its contents, structural damage is unavoidable if the problems are constant. Water damage causes rotting of timber and timber finishes, corrosion of metals and reinforced steel, swelling of Gyprock and plasterboards, electrical hazards, blistering of paint, deterioration of building facades, rotting carpets, and health problems due to dampness. So with this the importance of waterproofing can not be overstated.

7 Australian standards are poor and are interpreted differently by many people Limited Expertise and knowledge within the Waterproofing industry. To many Waterproofing products on the market Lack of technical knowledge by manufacturers Lack of supervision by waterproofing contractors

8 Water is the most destructive element on the planet today Waterproofing usually costs a fraction of the overall project cost Waterproofing defects have constantly been in Queensland's top ten for over 10 years The true value of a Manufacture Warranty is determined by the quality of the applicator and the installation The cheaper the installation price is more likely the less experienced the applicator Data sheets are just general information and are provided without any express or implied warranty or guarantee from the manufacturer Inadequate attention in design or execution by the Architect or builder at the start of the project

9 WE ALL ARE? BSA Master Builders Architects Manufacturers of Waterproofing Products Waterproofing Contractors Builders

10 They make the waterproofing products They QA and package the product correctly They test the product for ( fit for purpose) They produce Data and safety information for the product They sell the product to the waterproofing contractor Their responsibility ends

11 As we are all aware we have two types of waterproofing membranes. Sheet membranes, and liquid applied membranes. Each has its own characteristics and comes with its own problems. As we say in the building industry, the membrane s are only as good as the applicator.

12 To achieve waterproofing; a membrane must firstly be impermeable to prevent water entering or escaping. Must be flexible and accommodate normal building movement. Be durable and be able to retain its integrity over a long period of time. Be able to lend itself to design details in building and be suitable for that specification. Some instances the membrane will need to breathe to allow moisture and vapour to escape. Be compatible with tile adhesives, renders and paints, and should provide a continuous film without weakness and be able to withstand environmental and climatic conditions

13 APP and SBS torch applied bitumen sheet membranes SBS self-stick sheet membranes ( Bituthene) Bentonite sheet membranes. ( Volclay, Paraseal) Rubber sheet membranes ( Butynol rubber) PVC membranes ( Wolfin) EPDM membrane ( Superspan)

14 Can be loose laid or fully bonded Cover joints and imperfections in the substrate Quick to install Have good insulating properties Provide high trafficable areas Do not break down

15 Acrylic co-polymer water-based 1 & 2 part Synthetic membranes Latex rubber polymer membranes Modified Polyurethane membranes Moisture cure polyurethanes Two-pack hydro-epoxy Bitumen Latex Liquid boot and Liquid Rubber

16 Are fully bonded and seam free Can be UV Stable and have the ability to breathe Are easy to apply Are semi-flexible or elastomeric Are a homogenous layer Easy to detail and flash off Easy to repair Cost effective

17 Whether data sheets and the information that is given to us by manufacturers, Architects, Designers are correct. All waterproof membranes that are installed are only as good as the waterproofing applicator.

18 There are two standards in place at the moment for waterproofing. AS which is waterproofing of wet areas within residential building. And AS which is durability of membranes within a wet area. This standard was founded in 1994 to determine best building practice for waterproofing, and to create awareness to builders and Architects of the importance of waterproofing.

19 At the moment their is no current standard that covers basements, podiums, lift pits, balcony's, planter boxes, water features and swimming pools, but when these are released in the future we expect this will lead to a little reduction in the number of waterproofing failures.

20 Appoint a Waterproofing Consultant for the project Waterproofing Considerations at the design stage Use contractors with ten or more years experience Implement a Quality Assurance program Use the same waterproofing Contractors on each Project Use the same waterproofing products for that particular application. ( Put systems in place) All of the above mentioned will reduce the risk considerably

21 The importance, awareness and the understanding of waterproofing has grown significantly over the past years. More people are now recognising the very importance of waterproofing within the building industry as it is a critical component of any building structure. The ramifications of failing to waterproof or waterproofing inadequately can be a staggering cost to a builder.

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