Waterproofing and Dampproofing guidelines

Waterproofing and Dampproofing practices vary considerably in different parts of America because of the variety of weather conditions that exist and the various materials that are available for use. Many times, waterproofing and dampproofing systems are essentially customized to area practices and the time-proven methods employed by individual firms.

Waterproofing: treatment of a surface or structure to prevent the passage of water under hydrostatic conditions.
Dampproofing: treatment of a surface to resist the passage of moisture in the absence of hydrostatic conditions.

Waterproofing systems can be divide into two primary categories.

• Positive(exterior) side waterproofing systems: where the waterproofing membrane/ layer is installed between its substrate and the source or supply of water.
• Negative(interior) side waterproofing systems: where the substrate is between the waterproofing system and the source of water.

Before selecting waterproofing and dampproofing systems, you need to consider the following criteria:

• Climate and geographic location
• A building's intended use and design life of expectancy
• Exterior and interior temperature, humidity and use conditions
• Code requirements
• Type and condition of substrate, including soil
• Structural system
• Slope and drainage
• Waterproofing system type including overburden
• Accessibility and building configuration
  
• Building movement
• Type and amount of insulation/protection/drainage needed
• Need for ventilation during installation
• Compatibility with adjacent building and or system components
• Construction sequencing
• Worker safety
• Potential building additions
• Odors generated by certain system application methods
• water table
• Construction traffic
• Penetrations

Suggested list of waterproofing materials:

• Asphalt built-up membrane
• Coal-tar built-up membrane
• Hot-fluid-applied polymer-modified asphalt membrane
• APP and SBS polymer-modified bitumen sheet membrane
• Self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet membrane
• Buty rubber membrane
• EPDM membrane
• PVC membrane
• One and Two component, fluid applied elastometric materials
• Bentonite waterproofing
• Crystalline Waterproofing
• Cementitious waterproofing
• Elastometric trafiic coatings

Suggested products for Dampproofing are:

• Solvent-based aampproofing mastics
• Bituminous-emulsion dampproofing