What is BS 8102: 2009 and what does it mean to specifiers of structural waterproofing projects?
BS 8102 is a design document whose purpose is to inform the designer of the various methods of waterproofing available and to assist in the correct specification of those systems. Although other documents are available, BS 8102 is THE document that you should be familiar with. Although not UK law, failure to use BS 8102 could result in the designer having a difficult time in a court of law in the event of litigation following a waterproofing failure. It is almost certain that this code of practice will be used by the prosecuting expert witness.
The New British Standard BS 8102:2009 came into effect 30 November 2009 and supersedes BS 8102:1990
A number of new recent developments are addressed which are important when specifying, designing and constructing below ground structures including: Continue reading » » » »
View Video Of Newton Tanking System On Restoration Man
Newtons System 500 Tanking System was used in the current series of Restoration Man on Channel 4. The project was absolutely unique, and involved the conversion of an ice house, historically used for storing fish, into a habitable property. The extraordinary property is situated right on the lochside in the Scottish borders. Converting what was essentially a 19th Century stone fridge was a mammoth task, and owner Laird Henderson lived onsite in a caravan for many months while converting the property. Continue reading » » » »
Treating Damp in this Grade I Listed Historic Property
St George’s Hall is in the centre of Liverpool and is a landmark building steeped in history. Construction of the building started in 1841 and it eventually opened in 1854. The Grade I Listed neoclassical building has Roman and Greek design influences and contains concert halls, law courts, tea rooms, heritage centre and educational tour areas.
St George’s Hall stands 169ft long and 74ft wide with a tunnel vaulted ceiling – the largest of its kind in Europe.
As part of the major refurbishment works that have continued through recent years, areas of the building that have been opened to the public have been required to be upgraded.
Treating Dampness Within Listed Building Requirements
One area requiring upgrading was the reception and entrance/lobby area on the east side of the building. Visitors wishing to undertake a historical tour enter through this part of the building so it needed to be dry but aesthetically in keeping with the historical tone. Visible dampness and mineral deposits leeching from the surface of the brickwork were creating an unsightly look and damp feeling to the area. This, coupled with the convoluted shape of the walls, required a solution that would retain the character of the structure whilst providing protection from the dampness and associated salting. The solution would also need to conform to the heritage requirement that it should be sympathetic to the underlying structure. Continue reading » » » »
Tanking is a generic term used to describe various mediums which are used to deal with water entering a below ground building. Tanking membranes are really barriers which is applied to the structure to physically hold back water ingress and are the more traditional method of dealing with water from the ground. At John Newton and Co. we feel that there is a more modern, reliable and risk free alternative to tanking membraneswhen we have actual or the potential for water ingress in to a structure . The alternative is Cavity Drain Membrane Systems, and this article explains why it is the best approach
Tanking membranes are applied to a building in order to provide a physical barrier to prevent to ingress of water. They can be applied either internally or externally. Examples of tanking membranes include:
I have recently moved house. The chimney breast has been dry lined and so is completely non-operative. Recently large damp patches have occurred, though there hasn’t been any rain. It doesn’t look like it is coming from the chimney stack - could it be a leaking pipe? The property is usually left with the windows open a bit so do not think it is condensation. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated – Paul, Stratford
Hi Paul
Ok this is quite a common problem associated with chimney breasts and can be a real pain.
A damp chimney usually happens for one or more of the following reasons:
Water entering uncapped chimney pots
Water entering through defective lead flashings around the chimney stack
Leaking adjacent rainwater goods
Salt contamination of the wall plaster
The first thing to do is to check outside. Try to inspect the chimney and the associated lead flashings. You may well be able to see any defects clearly from the ground but if not you may need access equipment. If you are not confident about doing this yourself then contact your local building surveyor and for a fee they will undertake a survey for you. Continue reading » » » »
Treating damp walls in buildings these days can vary considerably in that there are many products and methods available. John Newton and Company have embraced the latest in plastics technology and we now feel that we have the most up to date and effective systems available for treating damp. Newton damp proof membranes provide a quick , easy and cost affective solution for treating damp walls, for damp problems of almost any kind. Newton damp proof membranes are made from High Density Polyethylene and Polypropylene which means that they are impervious to moisture and moisture vapour. The surface of the membranes are formed into a stud formation so in crude terms they look like big sheets if plastic egg box. The ‘egg box’ stud profile is a major advantage when treating damp.
Advantages Of The Stud Profile Structure When Treating Damp Walls
Whether it is rising damp, penetrating damp, residual damp or condensation related damp the stud profile allows moisture to evaporate from the wall unhindered which means that there is no danger of the dampness being guided else where which is a risk with some other systems. The air gap technology of Newton membranes also means that drying of any residual moisture in the wall is aided as moisture vapour can still evaporate unhindered from the wall behind the membrane which also uses the air in gap to force water outer out through the substrate as the greater air pressure inside tries to equalise to the lower air pressure externally. In this way Newton membranes use physics and physically properties to separate damp wall surfaces from internal finishes thus ensuring prolonged longevity even if the underlying damp problem is persistent or even constant and it would be hard to guarantee that when treating damp by any other method.
“I had a damp proof course installed in my property about 6 months ago. Recently I’ve noticed a couple of damp spots on the wall about two feet from the ground. What could these be? Has the damp course failed or could they be due to existing damp leaving?” – Rob, Northumberland
Hi Rob
I have based my opinion on the property being a solid traditional brick built construction with the external ground levels around 150mm below the internal floor level, fairly decent external brickwork and pointing.
I would hazard a guess and say that the dampness you are seeing is probably due to the salt migration in the brick work as a result of the rising dampness you have had treated.
Newton 503 is ideal for a moisture sensitive floor
John Newton and Co provide a range of damp proofing and waterproofing membranes including some high grade floor membranes which can be used as damp proof membranes to combat a problem with a damp floor. In addition we will soon have an applied product for flat soffits and decks and also an epoxy membrane for floors which is immanent. A damp floor is usually down to the fact that there is no functioning damp proof membrane (dpm) on or below the floor slab either because it has been missed out or if there is one it has failed.
A good dpm will prevent a damp floor by stopping moisture vapour from rising up through the floor slab or by providing a physical separation layer between a damp floor slab and the floor finish above.
Basement tanking systems are traditionally bonded membranes or applied systems externally to stop the entry of water into your property. So why the change to an internal basement waterproofing approach?
Simple. It is nearly impossible to achieve one hundred percent workmanship to get external basement tanking system to work. Thousands of basements in the past have had external basement tanking systems like bitumen, asphalt or even a bonded sheet applied to a new build basement prior to backfill many too have a land drain adjacent to the footings to “take the water away” before it reaches the structure. Of course I would recommend getting rid of the water in the first place but through experience realise that this can be impractical and in some circumstances impossible so you need to do something about it. Plenty of external basement tanking systems are there and I would like to put forward the view that they are not failing because… they are not being tested! If they were then the workmanship issue may come into the equation and if it is poor then you may have significant problem “water” and then the next problem arises – how am I going to fix this?
The answer? It’s extremely difficult to deal with the problem from an external perspective
