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Waterproofing High Rise Residential Structures


Introduction

#1 in a series of articles on Waterproofing High Rise Residential Structures by Neoferma Australia.

There is a maxim in the waterproofing industry "the structure must be water resistant in its own right so that the waterproofing is the second line of defence".

If typically waterproofing represents about 2% of the total cost of the build, it's ironic that waterproofing accounts for about 95% of the building's problems down the line.

A high rise residential building has the potential to present a whole palette of major and potentially catastrophic waterproofing problems from almost every level.

The best waterproofing in the world is no substitute for poor design due to a lack of understanding of the problems that can arise. Often designers look to manufacturers data sheets, not written for the Australian market, or information from waterproofing sales representatives, who may or may not have the experience to correctly advise around a myriad of circumstances.

Take basements for example;

There is no Australian Standard available for the waterproofing of basements.

"New" systems for building basements, usually with the common goal of being less expensive, easier and faster to build, NeoPanel for example in the right circumstances, benefits the designer and the builder by providing all these elements. Its success is based on having considered "what will happen if it does leak?" by designing the risk out.

If you design a below water table basement wall, using masonry block construction and, after all the best intended waterproofing systems have been undertaken, the wall moves or the environment behind the wall changes and it leaks, how will the repair be effected? The block wall is porous and so any remedial action will prove to be costly, is it worth the risk in the first instance?



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