March 2007

Waterproofing design should be considered at an early stage

The growing complexity of today’s buildings and the increasing need for flexibility means that now, more than ever, it is essential to specify the correct waterproofing products at an early stage in the design process.

Correct product selection and specification simplifies the construction and reduces the risk of problems developing while on site, as well as contributing to the long term life of the building. However, despite the obvious benefits, the waterproofing strategy is often overlooked or not given sufficient time and consideration.

Site considerations, construction methods, as well as the intended use of the building will all go towards determining what type of application should be specified. Another factor that must essentially be considered is the need to protect sensitive equipment or materials from water intentionally introduced into the building; such as sprinkler systems in core areas, shower and toilet areas.

Damage to sensitive equipment and sub-floors

Over forty million sprinklers are installed world-wide each year, as part of fire protection systems, and each sprinkler is capable of expelling 30 to 100 litres / minute. While being invaluable in the event of a fire, these systems can cause problems where there is sensitive equipment and damage to sub-floors. It is clearly essential to prevent these problems and provide a sound waterproofing system for areas where such water is introduced into a building.

For instance, under raised access floors, which have the benefit of allowing ease of access for building and maintenance purposes, but have created issues as far as waterproofing is concerned.

Products such as RIW Toughseal should be considered, as unlike traditional membranes which require a protective screed, RIW Toughseal is designed as a surface membrane which requires no additional covering. In areas where raised access floors are used they provide the perfect barrier against water penetration to the sub-floor and rooms below. In addition, pedestals can be adhered directly to the membrane, overcoming the potential problem of surface punctures and lengthy installation processes.

RIW Toughseal has been used as a seamless waterproof membrane under raised access floors and in plant rooms on prestigious projects such as GCHQ Cheltenham, MOD Whitehall and many hi-tech buildings at Canary Wharf to protect some of the most sensitive computer rooms & equipment in the UK.

Specialist consultation and design services

As methods of construction advance, so too will the requirements for waterproofing. The importance of waterproofing to the success of a structure means that specialist waterproofing manufacturers should be consulted in the early stages of the design process.

Only then can the correct methods be specified and advice given on how to solve problems such as with raised access floors. Taking time at the early stage of the construction process to address these issues will, in the long run, save time and money as good waterproofing design can both aid construction and reduce the risk of problems developing at a later stage.

For further advice on RIW Toughseal, or any of our other products, please contact our Technical Advisory Team on 01344 397777 or email technical@riw.co.uk