FOUNDATION

WATERPROOFING :
DESIGN AND DECISIONS
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 Introduction 3

02 Why focus on below-grade waterproofing? 4

03 Environmental forces linked to soil moisture 5

04 Two methods to protect foundations from water and moisture 6

05 Types of application 7

06 Water management and protection 11

07 Causes of waterproofing failure 12

08 Keys to success 14

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 INTRODUCTION 01
The practice of waterproofing has existed in some form for more than 2,500 years, and it is an essential element for
ensuring building longevity. Since humans first began creating dwellings, we have found a need to separate ourselves from
the elements, and subsequently, we have taken various approaches to treating our structures’ surfaces to prevent the
passage of water into or through the walls.

Over time, our methodology for controlling moisture infiltration has evolved. People have long relied on natural materials
like wax, pitch (bitumen) or clay to control moisture flow, but the technologies have been refined through the years. Today,
we typically see waterproofing materials and practices fall into one of the following three categories:

► Liquid-applied waterproofing, which can either be carried out through hot or cold
application systems to waterproof surfaces.

► Prefabricated membranes, which can take the form of modified bitumen, elastomeric or
thermoplastic sheets that can be easily applied to surfaces.

► Mineral-based systems, which include bentonite clay (which expands when wet to
protect concrete and fill small cracks and voids) and crystalline waterproofing materials
(which penetrate concrete and seal capillaries) to keep moisture infiltration at bay.

A full understanding of the properties, strengths and limitations of various materials—and the forces you might be working
against when attempting to protect a structure—is critical to “getting it right” when designing a waterproofing system.
For this reason, this ebook will cover not only why below-grade waterproofing is specifically important, but also the
environmental, installation and other factors that are part of designing and deploying a successful waterproofing assembly.

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 WHY FOCUS ON
BELOW-GRADE
WATERPROOFING?
02
While the highly visible elements of a building typically receive the most attention, we know it’s the unseen components that
often have the greatest impact on the building’s performance and lifespan, as well as potential cost overruns and delays
during construction. This is as true with waterproofing elements as it is with anything else—the most visible materials get
the most mindshare, but the hidden materials may make the biggest difference when protecting the building.

Consider the foundation of a building. As a construction
professional, you know that the foundation is the core of
an amazing structure, yet we collectively have a tendency
to avoid spending much time on it when designing and
constructing buildings. Part of the issue is that foundations
are rarely the most glamorous parts of a building. Below-
ground levels, whether building basements, parking garages
or others, sometimes suffer from an “out of sight, out of
mind” mentality when buildings are being designed, yet the
quality of their construction could not be more important to
the life of the building.
is inappropriately installed, it can have seriously negative
impacts on the building lifespan and performance. Repair
or remediation works can be very expensive when leaks are
found in below-grade waterproofing. In some cases, repairs
may not even be possible given that the cause of leaks can
be literally buried and difficult to access. As a result, if you
want to avoid future expensive fixes, it is worth your time
to focus upfront on mitigating the potential for migration of
moisture in a building foundation.

Failure to pay adequate attention to below-ground levels

when designing a building can lead to significant problems.
If the design, installation and inspection of foundations and
basements are ignored, or if below-grade waterproofing
(i.e., waterproofing below ground level) is not installed or

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 ENVIRONMENTAL
FORCES LINKED TO
SOIL MOISTURE
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE, CAPILLARY ACTION, AND THE WATER TABLE
03
There are three major environmental forces that we must contend with to avoid unwanted moisture infiltration: hydrostatic
pressure, capillary action, and the water table. Hydrostatic pressure is exerted by a stationary liquid in all directions against
adjacent surfaces. Water exerts 0.43 psi of pressure for every foot of depth, and seasonal rainfall levels add to the normal
water column depth.

As this equation shows, hydrostatic pressure is determined by multiplying liquid density by gravitational force by depth-
related pressure.

P = pgd
h
Hydrostatic pressure is
determined by multiplying
liquid density by
gravitational force by depth-
Density of Acceleration Distance related pressure.
liquid of gravity (depth)

Think about what happens when you dive to the bottom
of a pool, or better yet, picture what happens to a
submarine as it dives. You feel more pressure exerted on
you the deeper you dive, and the same happens to the
submarine’s hull on a higher level. If you’ve experienced
this phenomenon, you’ve experienced hydrostatic pressure.
Foundations below the groundwater line, often called the
water table, are subjected to hydrostatic pressure. This
pressure from the force of the water-saturated soil can
occur against vertical foundation walls as well as under-
the-floor slabs.
Hydrostatic pressure creates two difficulties:
► It puts additional loads on the structural elements.
► It makes waterproofing more difficult as pressure
tends to force water into any crack or imperfection in
the structure.
of—and in the opposite direction of—gravity. Capillary action
will vary by soil types. For example, water will rise in all
soils except gravel and can rise as much as six feet above
the water table in clay and silt. But why does capillary action
matter for your building? Consider this example.
Even in the absence of hydrostatic pressure, water present
in the soil can travel upwards through a crack in the slab
by capillary action, ultimately leading to water infiltration
inside the building. It is also worth noting that additional
construction in nearby locations can affect the water table;
in other words, the level below which the ground becomes
saturated with water. As a result, the hydrostatic pressure
exerted on your building could change, subsequently
affecting the capillary action within your building materials.
Now that we have established the ground moisture-related
environmental forces affecting your building, it is time to
discuss how these forces should impact your waterproofing-
related design decisions.

Capillary action (sometimes denoted as “capillarity,”

“capillary motion” or “wicking”) refers to the ability of
water to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance

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 TWO METHODS TO
PROTECT FOUNDATIONS
04
FROM WATER AND MOISTURE
DAMPPROOFING AND WATERPROOFING
You have choices to make when it comes to protecting your foundations. First, you need to decide whether you are
dampproofing or waterproofing.

In the context of below-grade protection, dampproofing refers to treating a surface to resist the passage of moisture in
the absence of hydrostatic conditions (e.g., if your surface is above the water table). Waterproofing, alternatively, refers to
treating a surface to prevent the passage of water under hydrostatic conditions.

Note that dampproofing

DAMPPROOFING WATERPROOFING
cannot be used if there’s
a realistic potential of
hydrostatic conditions
CAPILLARY RISE
forming.
GROUND WATER
LEVEL

GROUND WATER LEVEL

When working at or below the water table, you must opt for waterproofing rather than
dampproofing.

This illustration highlights the difference between dampproofing and waterproofing. It shows us that when you are working
within the range of the water table (where the groundwater level is above the waterproofing or structure level), you need to
have a waterproofing material that can handle the hydrostatic conditions created by that water table.

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 TYPES OF
APPLICATION
05
POSITIVE-SIDE WATERPROOFING
There are a few ways to go about below-grade waterproofing design. First, there is positive-side waterproofing, which
consists of installing a waterproofing membrane or layer between the substrate you are protecting and the source of water.
This type of application is commonly referred to as exterior side waterproofing, as the waterproofing materials are applied to
the outside of the building.

Positive-side waterproofing is generally seen as the least problematic option to pursue and tends to be the most successful,
since it keeps water out and actually benefits from the external water pressure forcing it to work. It also allows the design
team to inspect all lap joints and defects with full visibility.

The biggest drawback, however, is that once areas have been filled in with earth around the foundation, post-backfill
inspection is not possible. If leaks occur due to building movement or faulty installation, repairs can only be made through
excavation or interior retrofits.

In positive-side waterproofing systems, waterproofing

materials are placed outside the building to prevent
water infiltration.

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 curing of the concrete substrate, it also contributes to the
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF SYSTEMS corrosion of the concrete and steel reinforcements from
THAT CAN BE EMPLOYED FOR POSITIVE- the groundwater and chemicals. The constant presence
of moisture can also lead to mould growth or damage to
SIDE WATERPROOFING, INCLUDING THE interrelated building elements like floors or windows. This
FOLLOWING: type of membrane does not protect against the effects of
the freeze-thaw cycle and can only be used on cementitious
► Prefabricated membrane systems
systems.
► Modified bitumen sheets
Additionally, if the building moves or cracks over time,
► Elastomeric sheets
additional negative-side waterproofing products may need to
► Thermoplastic sheets be added to close new gaps. The materials used for negative-
► Liquid-applied membranes side waterproofing must be able to withstand hydrostatic
► Cold liquid-applied pressure. Prefabricated membrane systems are typically
• Single component installed in negative-side waterproofing applications with
• Multicomponent epoxy or urethane injections, cementitious coatings, metallic
mineral application, or crystalline application. Since the
► Hot liquid-applied membranes
goal of waterproofing is to protect both the structure and its
► Mineral-based systems interior, and negative-side waterproofing does not necessarily
► Bentonite clay protect the structure itself, negative-side waterproofing
► Crystalline should generally be looked at as a temporary solution or a
problem-solving method.

Prefabricated membrane systems are typically self-adhered

or heat-welded, post-applied products (applied after the
structure is put in place), but in some cases they can be pre-
applied (or blindside) products. Liquid systems are typically
post-applied, while mineral-based systems are typically
pre-applied. On most projects, below-grade waterproofing
is applied after the foundation walls have been poured. On
some projects, however, this simply is not possible. That’s
where blindside waterproofing comes in.

NEGATIVE-SIDE WATERPROOFING
There is one additional form of below-grade waterproofing
to know as well: negative-side waterproofing. As you
might guess from the name, negative-side waterproofing
protects the surface opposite the side of applied hydrostatic
pressure (e.g., the inside of a basement wall). Negative-
side waterproofing keeps water from entering an occupied
space and is applied to what is known as the dry face. It is
primarily used for water-holding purposes (preventing water
from entering a space), but it does not prevent the water
from entering the substrate (wall). The main advantage of
negative-side waterproofing is that it is accessible after
the installation for repairs or upgrades. Also, since the In negative-side waterproofing systems, membranes are installed on the
inside of the wall, thus preventing moisture from entering.
negative (interior) side of walls tends to be more accessible, However, the wall could still be damaged.
it is easier to identify leak locations than with positive-
side systems. The fact that negative-side waterproofing
allows moisture into the substrate is generally seen as a
disadvantage, however. While moisture promotes active
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WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS
IN BLINDSIDE WALLS
Blindside foundations are mostly used
when the project is located in a high-
density urban area where the generally
restricted space does not allow for the
excavation of an open trench outside
of the foundation perimeter. Usually,
this type of excavation is found in
urban environments with underground
parking garages. For this type of
foundation, the waterproofing product
must be installed on the outside of the
foundation. Because these sites usually
have several underground levels
and may have other quirks adding
complications to the waterproofing
membrane installation, it is essential to
use high-performance products, for the
applicator to be properly trained, and to
have the necessary technical support in
order to respect the system integrity.
There are a variety of materials used in
blindside waterproofing, including the
following:
► Bentonite sheets
► Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)
modified bitumen membranes
► Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes
► High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
membranes
► Hybrid membranes
When external factors will not allow proper excavation for the installation of
a waterproofing membrane outside a foundation, you may need to install the
waterproofing membrane before pouring the foundation (blindside wall).
All the materials listed above differ in As you might imagine, blindside
chemical composition and, therefore, waterproofing is considerably more
have different physical properties. complex than the regular way of
Some of these materials are more doing things, but sometimes it’s the
affected by outside factors than easiest—or the only—way to get it
others. For example, an SBS-modified done. This does not mean blindside
bitumen membrane often proves to be waterproofing is explicitly relegated to
a better option depending on specifics being chosen as a last resort. In some
of the blindside wall waterproofing cases, blindside waterproofing can
application. substantially reduce the area that must
be disturbed to waterproof a foundation
For example, an SBS-modified bitumen
on a job site, and it can reduce the
system will not be adversely affected
overall developed footprint of the
by inclement weather or shotcrete
building.
applications, overexposure to UV rays,
and precipitation. Since it reduces the amount of
excavation required and thus
When choosing materials, keep in
minimizes site disturbance, blindside
mind some of the key performance
waterproofing can help with earning
properties to analyze for any blindside
environmental accreditations, achieving
waterproofing system: adhesion to
LEED prerequisites or Sustainable
poured concrete, puncture resistance,
Sites development credits. Whether
and resistance to lateral water
these accreditations are desired or not,
migration.
blindside waterproofing may also be
A common situation dictating blindside of interest if the landholder’s wish to
waterproofing would be when the preserve existing wildlife habitats and
proximity of adjacent property lines plant life or otherwise maintain the
in “zero lot line” scenarios prevent grounds.
excavation outside of foundation walls.
Picture a densely built-up city block,
for instance. Blindside waterproofing is
also used in pits—think about elevator
pits and tunnels. We also see blindside
waterproofing in split- or mud-slab
horizontal applications when products
are waterproofing the underside of the
structural slab. In all of these cases, the
common factor is lack of accessibility.
CONVENTIONAL PREAPPLIED
WATERPROOFING WATERPROOFING
(BLINDSIDE)
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The $1.4 billion Atlantis Resort & Residences in Dubai was built using SBS-modified bitumen
waterproofing membranes with blindside walls.
CASE STUDY – ATLANTIC
RESORT & RESIDENCES
In the case of the Royal Atlantis
Resort & Residences on the famous
Palm Jumeirah Island in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, proximity to
both urban structures and bodies of
water made blindside waterproofing
a necessity. This project consisted of
substructure waterproofing for a $1.4
billion, 46-story resort consisting of
791 guest rooms and suites, and 230
luxury suites. The buildings include
restaurants, stores and entertainment
premises, as well as a swimming pool
90 metres above the ground. The
project is located on the crescent of the
man-made palm-shaped island and is
adjacent to the existing Atlantis resort.
A high-performance SBS-modified
bitumen blindside waterproofing
membrane system with either
composite or polyester reinforcement
(depending on which product variant
was chosen for specific applications)
was selected for the project in large
part because it demonstrates the best
resistance to hydrostatic pressure in
the industry by a wide margin. This
was especially important for the Royal
Atlantis Resort & Residences project,
as it is located near a large watercourse
(the Persian Gulf) and had to resist
extremely high hydrostatic pressure if
water infiltration was to be avoided.
The specified blindside waterproofing
system was designed to protect
infrastructure against leaks that might
occur between the concrete walls of
buildings affected by the waterproofing
operation. While the concrete cures, the
surface of the waterproofing system
membranes clings to the structural
concrete, ensuring total adherence
to eliminate the risk of lateral water
migration between the waterproofing
membrane and the foundation wall.
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The installation team worked to
customize all previously issued and
approved details on the Royal Atlantis
Resort & Residences in accordance
with the blindside waterproofing
system, which included tying in
preapplied SBS-modified bitumen
blindside waterproofing materials
with post-applied thermowelded
waterproofing membrane, all
throughout an application area that
included different levels of elevation,
construction joints and expansion joints.
In the end, 250,000 square metres of
SBS modified bitumen product was
installed in line with the specified
construction schedule. Not every
blindside waterproofing endeavour will
be as large scale as the Atlantis project,
but this example shows how blindside
waterproofing can protect everything
from the average subterranean parking
garage to even the most grandiose
of buildings that has specialized
construction requirements.
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 WATER MANAGEMENT
AND PROTECTION
Keeping water out is one challenge; managing water and
protecting newly installed below-grade waterproofing
assemblies is another. Therefore, we should also install
protective layers, drainage layers and waterstops.
PROTECTIVE LAYERS
Protective layers, as their name implies, protect below-
grade membranes from damage. This damage can either
occur from backfill or consecutive trades. Depending on the
membrane, common materials used in protective layers
include insulation or asphaltic boards. In some cases, layers
serve dual purposes, such as insulation and drainage.
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DRAINAGE LAYERS
Drainage layers, alternatively, assist in the relief of
hydrostatic head pressure and prolong the membrane life.
Proper design means having the least possible amount of
water reaching the membrane, and water management
is highly recommended in all below-grade assemblies.
These panels are typically impact-resistant, dimpled plastic
attached to a woven geotextile fabric, and they channel
water away from the membrane. Almost all below-grade
waterproofing projects will have either a protection layer
(board) to prevent possible damage from backfill operations,
or a drainage solution to direct the water away from the
waterproofing membrane. Some drainage solutions can
protect both the membrane and manage water.
WATERSTOPS
Waterstops provide a final level of protection for the building,
existing within concrete sections, especially joints. These
premanufactured joint seals are often comprised of PVC or
chloroprene rubber that must be fused together, bentonite
clay that expands when wet, or hydrophobic injectable
expanding grouts.
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 CAUSES OF
WATERPROOFING FAILURE 07
As is often the case with construction quality, the “devil is in the details” when it comes to effective below-
grade waterproofing. It does not matter how great a waterproofing product is if it is not installed correctly—it
can instantly perform worse than the worst waterproofing product in the world.

IMPROPER FLASHING AND DETAILING SUBSTRATE PREPARATION AND

Gaps in the integrity of the waterproofing due to
incorrect detailing or damage from other trades are
a leading cause for failure. The picture below shows
one example: rather than using the proper installation
techniques, the contractors took it upon themselves
to ensure this elevator pit’s preapplied waterproofing
was snug to the forms by using a staple gun to shoot
staples through the modified bitumen membrane
and into the wood forms. This created approximately
30 penetrations through the membrane that had to
be detailed properly after the staples were removed
(which you can see on the right). The correct repair
procedure in this case was to patch over all the holes
after the staples were removed, which added up to
out-of-scope costs in excess of $10,000 once labour
and materials were factored in.
DAMAGE
Substrate preparation, in general, is key to the
success of any waterproofing system. If the substrate
isn’t adequately primed, the correct application of
the waterproofing system is next to impossible. In
the picture below, the substrate was ineffectively
prepared, and the hot liquid-applied system exhibited
an adhesive bond failure. Beyond preparation, issues
with the substrate itself (such as cracked masonry)
can lead to failure. You might wonder why anyone
would attempt to apply waterproofing materials to a
failing substrate, but unfortunately it does happen. In
these cases, team members should always be notified
of unsatisfactory substrate conditions.

Poor installation techniques can lead to additional repair Improper preparation of the substrate can
costs that exceed the initial budget of a project. cause loss of adhesion during assembly.
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INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS
Various materials will come into contact with each other for any given below-grade waterproofing project.
Assuring these materials are compatible is essential to the efficiency of the overall waterproofing. Be careful
because the term “compatible” may have different definitions depending on whom you ask. Answers like
“Sure?”, “It will stick; don’t worry”, and “I don’t know” are far too common. It is safe to assume that it is nearly
impossible to make a statement about the compatibility of materials without first determining the function of
the interactions between these materials.

MATERIAL STORAGE AND INSTALLATION CONDITIONS

As covered previously, there are various materials available for waterproofing applications. Each of these
materials will have different restrictions and guidelines related to storage and application conditions. For
example, a modified bitumen-based sheet will be less affected by low temperature conditions when compared
to a water-based spray-applied product. It is not uncommon to see materials becoming negatively affected
when left exposed. Whether or not a material can be brought back to a functional state after improper storage
all depends on the material being used—you should always rely on the manufacturer’s requirements and
recommendations. As a rule, if a pail of viscous material has polymerized or reacted, it is best not to use it.
Polymerization is a chemical reaction in which two or more small molecules combine to form larger molecules
that contain repeating structural units of the original molecules, and once this level of change has taken place,
it is unlikely the material will be usable.

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KEYS TO SUCCESS 08
As you have likely noticed, many of the leading causes of waterproofing failure are related to mistakes during installation, so
rule No. 1 for a successful installation is to follow best practices and directions precisely. Beyond this, you should also abide
by the rules of good project design.

GOOD INITIAL DESIGN

A good initial design begins with good communication between all team members. All team members involved need to be on
the same page before and during the project to ensure a successful outcome. Waterproofing needs to be considered at the
front end of any building construction project—in the design phase of a project. Designers and architects should consult with
waterproofing manufacturers and contractors during the design phase to ensure that all requirements are fulfilled. Many
major problems with projects can be traced back to parties failing to talk with one another or pre-construction meetings
not being scheduled properly, so take special care to avoid potential oversights early on. When selecting a system design
and the materials that will be used for a project, there are a number of questions worth asking yourself in order to make an
informed decision.

Consider, for instance, the following:

► What are the site conditions? If a building site is right up against a property line, or there is no way to carry out
positive-side waterproofing due to existing structures or other obstacles, you may know right away that a blindside
waterproofing installation is your best bet.

► What are the soil conditions? At the start of a below-grade waterproofing project, a soil analysis needs to be
conducted to help determine what type of waterproofing material will perform best in the given environment.
Contaminated soil may also limit your options.

► What temperature limitations exist? Many waterproofing products—especially those requiring sealants, solvents or
adhesives—become difficult to install in cold temperatures (below 40 °F or 4 °C), meaning your material choice may be
limited by your environment. Consult the manufacturer’s directions to learn about the material installation procedure
and storage requirements.

► What is the hydrostatic pressure at the location? Different products have different tensile strengths, and the
amount of pressure that must be withstood could affect your design. For instance, bentonite products and elastomeric
sheets are more likely to withstand high hydrostatic pressure than liquid-applied systems or self-adhered membranes.

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► What sort of drainage is found on site? Different a museum does not require the same approach as
waterproofing materials and applications lend waterproofing a parking garage, for example. You
themselves to different drainage designs, but should consider the level of disruption that installation
regardless of the choices you make, some type could cause, the sensitivity of the contents of the
of drainage will need to be developed adjacent to building being waterproofed, and how difficult repairing
membranes to efficiently remove water from surfaces. could be down the line, when selecting the type of
system.
► What will construction sequencing be? Consider
factors such as work benching (as you will need
durable materials that can hold up to the “abuse” of
consecutive trades), clear detail sequencing (to allow
for a proper installation by contractors), and scheduling
(as some products may not resist unforeseen project
delays or weather conditions during certain times of
the year).

► Are all of the applicable materials compatible?

As discussed earlier, there are a lot of ways to
describe compatibility, yet if several different types of
waterproofing products are to interact, compatibility
at tie-ins and other intersecting locations must be
properly defined and confirmed. If literature is not
immediately available or you find yourself questioning
compatibility, your best bet is to contact manufacturers
and ask.

► What are the code requirements? Local

organizations approve certain products for certain
types of projects. Codes that require a waterproofing
membrane usually define the minimum waterproofing
system and give guidance regarding options for
bridging non-structural cracks. As a result, it is
important to understand the requirements for the
project’s geographic location to ensure that the product
specified meets them all.

► How much is the building expected to move? Over

time, and even by design, every building moves. This
movement must be accounted for in the design phase,
and waterproofing materials need to be selected to
accommodate this movement through both material
properties and adequate details. It is hard to predict
where cracks will develop due to shifting structures,
but pay special attention to any existing penetrations
and construction joints when detailing, as these are
the areas most likely to develop leaks when movement
does occur.

► What will be the primary function of the building?

The intended use of a building needs to be considered
when choosing waterproofing systems. Waterproofing

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 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, several aspects may influence your selection of a foundation waterproofing system; the bottom line is
that it is essential to the life of a building. Therefore, it must be done right. We are hoping this webinar has provided
you with useful information and has helped you find the solution best suited to your needs. For more information,
please consult the SOPREMA website, or contact us—we will be pleased to answer your questions or requests for
information.

SOPREMA, YOUR COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR THE BUILDING ENVELOPE

SOPREMA is an international manufacturer specializing in the production of waterproofing and insulation products,
as well as vegetative and soundproofing solutions, for the building and civil engineering sectors.
Moreover, SOPREMA has earned a place among industry leaders with the expertise and availability of its technical
staff who support building professionals in their projects from design to completion.

For more information, please consult the

SOPREMA website, or contact us — we will
be pleased to answer your questions or
requests for information.

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