A Few Common Reasons Why Balconies Leak
Insurance statistics have shown the highest number of waterproofing failures are balconies, terraces, rooftops in high rise dwellings and commercial buildings. The design criteria in many of these buildings lack appreciation of water control. […]
Do we need to vent a membrane roof?
The question has been raised regarding requirements for venting of the roofs on this building. The following points should be noted: 1) It is not the roof membrane which determines whether vents are required or not, but the construction of the roof, the roof space between the outer skin and the inner lining and the use of those areas immediately beneath the roof, which determine whether venting is required or not. 2) The purpose of venting is to ensure that there is no build-up of deleterious moisture within the space below the roof skin. Such excess moisture can cause deterioration [...]
VIC – DELWP have rejected draft regulations for mandatory inspections of waterproofing
In a surprise reversal of the Victorian Building Regulations 2017 Draft the reforms to help correct the chronic waterproofing failures in buildings have been scrapped. The rationale for the reversal was feedback from the Building Surveyors fearing legal liability. Thus we go back to the beginning with the Builder (being the head Building Practitioner) required to sign off on Compliance of the waterproofing, with cover under his insurance. Adding to the waterproofing quality wows, any tradesperson can do waterproofing works up to the value of $10,000 (from $5,000) without proof of compliance to a Standard (AS3740 & AS4654.2). Typically waterproofing [...]
Waterproofing president to speak at International Conference
Our AIW President, Paul Evans, is giving a talk at this years "International conference focusing on technical and market developments for waterproofing membranes in construction and civil engineering applications" held between 14-16th November in Cologne, Germany. It is the 11th annual international conference on Waterproof Membranes and will involve a cocktail evening to welcome guests followed by a 2-day program of presentations covering technical developments and market trends in the roofing and geomembrane waterproofing industry. Waterproof Membranes 2017 will offer superb opportunities to network and interact with engineers, specifiers, researchers and commercial personnel working for: the world’s leading membrane producers; [...]
New Vic Legislation requires Waterproofing Mandatory Inspections
The Building Act 1993 remain, however current the Building Regulation 2006 are to be ‘sunset, replaced by the proposed Building Regulations 2017 (legislated around September) Changes in the 2017 Regulations which affect the waterproofing industry relate to “Part 13 – Inspections notices and Orders; Division 1 – Inspections and Directions; 169 Prescribed mandatory notification stages for construction or alteration of building”. For the first time a building inspector or surveyor must add the inspection:- “(e) prior to covering a waterproofing membrane in any wet areas” NOTE: AIW have proposed an amendment " (e) prior to covering, or final use, a [...]
Educating Specifiers
All too often we find the waterproofing details on project specifications are non-existent or very lacking in proper details. We find the waterproofing lumped in with all sorts of other items such as tiling, painting, plumbing, structural engineering and such. If the details are ambiguous then the old "apples for apples" is extremely difficult to apply and prices are all over the place. Most waterproofers have their own particular like and dislikes when it comes to what materials to use and how to install them. Choose the "right" product A particular material may or may not be the ideal product [...]
Consumer Affairs Vic – Builder Update
From 1 September 2016, Victorian builders must give a copy of the new Domestic Building Consumer Guide to their clients, before the client signs a major domestic building contract. The Domestic Building Consumer Guide is the contract information statement required by section 29A of the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995. Most of the information referred to in the guide can be found via our Domestic Building Consumer Guide page. You can also download the Domestic Building Consumer Guide (Word, 108KB). To complement the new guide, we have updated the checklist that must be included in a major domestic building contract.
Causes of Failure in Waterproofing: Substrate Moisture
The third major cause of waterproofing failures is residual moisture in the substrate causing adhesive failure or de-bonding of the membrane. Australian Standards for textile floor coverings (AS/NZS 2455.1), vinyl flooring (AS 1884), tiling (AS 3958.1),painting (AS 2311), plywood (AS/NZS 2269) and timber (AS/NZS 1080.1, AS 2792.2) all specify the substrate dryness or material moisture content for the installation of various floor covering materials over concrete and mortar screeds. Why Australian Standards for waterproofing (AS 3740 / AS 4654.1) has failed to define and specify methods for determining the substrate dryness or moisture content has remained a perplexing issue. There [...]
Causes of Failure in Waterproofing: Priming
The second most common recurring problem, after poor surface preparation, is the failure to prime the respective parts and surfaces before the application of the waterproofing membrane. Failure of the waterproofing membrane bond to substrates is a recurring and consistent problem often associated with poor subsurface drainage and saturation of tiling or topping screeds. Every manufacturer of a sealant or a waterproofing membrane specifies priming of surfaces. There are primers available for a large range of materials to enhance adhesive bond strength of both sealants and membranes. Most membranes currently on the market will not form a chemical waterproof bond [...]
Notes from a Balcony Inspection
The property was inspected by Mr P. Evans, Registered Builder, Trade Qualified, Certified Waterproofer, Vice President of The Australian Institute of Waterproofing, Cert 111 OH & S, 40 yrs in Construction. Here are his notes, which are a great read for anyone in the constructon industry: Upon inspecting the balcony without performing invasive testing ( lifting tiles) an audio test on random tiles confirmed the tiles are de-bonding in a large majority of the balcony area consisting of approx 70M2. These tiles are know in the industry as "drummy" due to the hollow sound made when impacted with a firm [...]