Continuing Professional Development: Waterproofing below-ground structures

Standard BS 8102:2009 (Code of Practice for Protection of Below Ground Structures Against Water from the Ground) (see box, right) provides some guidance and information on the three types of waterproofing protection available, but choosing the right strategy can still be difficult. And, as water ingress has far-reaching financial implications, there is a growing trend to incorporate a combination of systems – which can include watertight concrete, sheet membrane and cavity drainage – to optimise protection in the long term.

When designing a basement, you must understand the terms of internal use and external effects on the structure. External effects vary from one site to the next, from the type of soil to the level and type of water table. It is crucial to design a basement that is prepared for water – whether it is present or not.

There are stringent standards on durability, exposure and stress conditions for waterproofing systems for below-ground structures. Owners usually request a service life of 50 years or more for buildings, and up to 120 years for infrastructure. A failure in watertightness will reduce this. Water ingress will lead to physical attack to the concrete and embedded steel of the structure.

Buildings and below-ground structures are subject to exposure conditions, which vary from project to project. They include:

• Different levels of water exposure and pressure – for example, damp soil, percolating water or water under hydrostatic pressure, open water and variable water tables;
• Aggressive groundwater containing chemicals, commonly sulphates and chlorides in solution;
• Unequal static forces caused by load, settlement or uplift;
• Dynamic forces – for example, from settlement or seismic activity;
• Temperature variations;
• Gases in the ground, such as methane and radon;
• Aggressive biological influences, such as plant roots or growth, or fungal or bacterial attack.

All of these may adversely influence the use, watertightness and durability of a basement structure, reducing the service life of the entire structure. Effects range from structural damage and cracking, to loss of thermal insulation and corrosion of the steel reinforcement – reinforcing the need for a high-quality and appropriate waterproofing solution.

Barrier/tanking systems

The most common method of waterproofing below-ground structures is the barrier system – applied internally or externally – which incorporates the application of a sheet membrane to the outside of the basement or substructure, or cement-based materials to the inside. With a barrier system, performance is wholly dependent on the effectiveness of the waterproofing product specified.

A building should not allow water penetration but this becomes even more critical between the membrane and structure. A widely recognised problem for industry experts, a penetrated conventional membrane will make the whole structure vulnerable.

SikaProof A is an innovative fully bonded sheet membrane system for waterproofing in basement and below-ground structures. With a special sealant grid and non-woven fleece, SikaProof A provides a unique, mechanical-bond effect to the concrete structure and prevents any lateral water underflow between the membrane and the concrete.

The grid pattern offers additional protection: the integrated sealant bonds tightly with the surface of the concrete, forming watertight mini-compartments. So even if the membrane is damaged or pierced, moisture or pressured water cannot spread between the membrane and the concrete structure, as it is contained within the damaged grid square.

Concrete can only be fully protected from water damage by preventing water ingress entirely. An external membrane is the most effective barrier. Installed externally and covering the entire basement structure in contact with the ground, the Sikaplan waterproofing system is divided into compartments with a network of cast-in-place compatible waterstops welded to the membrane. Used extensively in heavy civil engineering projects or in highly aggressive conditions, this type of protection makes it easy to locate the position of a leak. Once identified by the control and injection sockets, remedial action can be taken quickly at any time during the product’s service life to ensure watertightness is not compromised.

As with any waterproofing system, it is crucial to choose a barrier or tanking product that offers proven performance. First used in 1910, the cement-based Sika 1 waterproofing system forms an integral part of the structure, and is designed to last the lifetime of that structure.

Suitable for internal or external applications, it incorporates a specially developed admixture – a liquid with microscopic insoluble particles suspended in it – which is mixed with blended pre-bagged mortars. Once it has been hand applied, the admixture reacts to water by turning into a jelly-like substance, blocking gaps and capillaries, and providing an invisible, impregnable seal. Bonding with the substrate, it essentially becomes one with the structure.

Watertightness can also be incorporated into the build process through integral waterproofing. Integral waterproofing systems have gained popularity because of their inherent buildability, repairability and reduced cost. When relying on concrete for a watertight barrier, the detailing of joints and penetrations, as well as “crack-free” concrete, are key.

Fully bonded membrane system

1. SikaProof-A
2. Internal applied waterstops
3. Over-bonding sealing tape system

Design and execution should also consider a limited crack width, correct mix design, an effective curing regime and pour sequencing to avoid shrinkage or cracking. Integral waterproofing may not be suitable as a gas barrier on its own, but can be combined with a membrane to offer methane, radon and carbon dioxide resistance. An integral waterproofing system is not suitable for an application such as a podium deck, where thermal movement and shrinkage may lead to cracking. Additional measures are needed where, for example, radon is an issue. Even “crack-free” concrete will contain micro-cracks that provide a potential path for radon and methane to enter the building.

The Sika Watertight Concrete System offers a solution in the waterproofing of concrete structures. Admixtures are added to the concrete to prevent water penetration. The system is completed with carefully selected waterstops for construction and movement joints.

Water management

Prevention of water penetration should always be the first waterproofing method. But when penetration cannot be prevented, such as in challenging renovations, cavity drain membranes work on the principle of allowing water to continue to penetrate the structure, and then managing the water and diverting it into a suitable drainage point.

Used where the substrate is not strong enough to resist stresses caused by water pressure, cavity drains can be used to achieve grades 1-3 in BS 8102. Irrespective of conditions at the design or installation, BS 8102 states that it must be assumed that hydrostatic pressure is going to occur at some time during the lifetime of the basement.

When specifying a cavity drainage system, consideration must be given to the form of construction, groundwater levels, external ground drainage, soil type and ground contamination. Using a mechanical pump to remove the water, the Sika Cavity Drainage System combines the water-removal system with a secon