What are the latest trends in construction waterproofing ?

With globalization and increase in demand for quality products, it has led to innovative solutions such as durable membranes based on APP/SBS, EPDM, crystalline waterproofing, polyurethane coatings and lastly, acrylic polymer-based cementitious coatings. Plasticizers used in concrete make the concrete dense, thus it contributes in making the concrete impervious.

Earlier, the concept of waterproofing was not taken seriously by both the contractor and client. However, with emergence of innovative and quality products, in present-day it practically costs less than 1 per cent of the value to waterproof a building

Water proofing  market has always been present , but growing awareness has led  to an increase in the usage of the right waterproofing solution. Crystalline water proofing systems and flexible membrane water proofing systems are two versatile systems that are applied in India and internationally. While the former is used to waterproof and rehabilitate leaky water tanks, swimming pools and retaining walls, the flexible membrane water proofing system is mainly applied to repair and waterroof roofs and other exteriors. Acrylic polymermodified cementitious coating systems form innovative waterproofing systems for roofs.

Today, the wide range of  water proofing solutions and products are available. One of the forerunners in in the industry is Fosroc Chemicals India Pvt.Ltd.To give an example,  Reliance Industriest Ltd, had undertaken construction of a Sea water filteration unit at their marine tank farms(MTF) located at Jamnagar,Gujarat in 2007-2008. The project required the structure to be completely water tight and durable. Additionally, there was a requirement for an anti-carbonation/ anti-chloride protective coating(internal) to give long term durability to the structure. 

Cost minimization was high priority and  Fosroc India recommended a combination system using Fosroc Dekguard S300 undercoat and an economical production solution, Fosroc Nitocote ET140 as the topcoat. The system was approved and implemented successfully  by the client.

Another example is Tunnel waterproofing of more than 2 million sqm at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) by “Choksey Chemicals”  where they used admixtures innovatively with flyash.  Choksey chemicals is making a great headway in the waterproofing industry.  It also offers sealants for both buildings and road projects and specializes in elastomeric waterproofing coatings for walls and admixtures. For industrial use, its cement and epoxy-based grouts, cement-based water proofing products and polymer modifiers are ingreat demand.

Therefore implementation of  effective water proofing strategies at the time of construction supports the projects sustainability to a large extent. I suggest this aspect should be kept in mind  right from design and tendering stage of the project. Effectively, efficient water proofing technologies will lead to sustainable design and maintainance of future buildings.

There has been growth in demand for quality products that would provide longer shelf life to the structure, and would be also less on economics. This has led to departure from traditional waterproofing products and methods to apply the same. You would know the earlier process. And now Bitumen and polymer products usage are on the rise and they  have their positive characteristics for being more adhesive and for having a long shelf life. However, the products are known to have toxic characteristics. This makes them less eco-friendly. The other traditional waterproofing products as per earlier trends has been to use some integral waterproofing compound in the concrete during pouring and bitumen coating or brick bat coba on the roof or other surface area.

Wood with steel, bad conductor sndwitched between metal, double core reinforcement, PPC, PSC, special petroleum and non-petroleum modifiers of bitumen, combination of rigid and flexible pavement, stabilisation of aggregate mixes and soil with cement, bitumen, bio-chemicals etc are just few examples of composite materials either in use or waiting for launch.

Fluid-Applied, "Cool" Roof and Wall Systems…

Benefits:

1. Save on annual electricity bills by reducing summer air conditioning costs. According to the US EPA, qualified roof products reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings and can reduce energy bills by up to 50 percent.
2. Reduce Carbon footprint: “...replacing non-reflective, dark roofing materials with white ones ... (every 1000 square feet) would result in an equivalent CO2 offset of 10 metric tons annually.“
   ( www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/LBNL-1000-2008-022/LBNL-1000-2008-022.PDF )
3. Save peak electricity demand costs if you have time-of-use metering.
4. Increase indoor comfort in summer by reflecting heat from exterior surface.
5. Reduce the heat island effect in cities and suburbs.
6. Reduce air pollution and smog formation by reduction of air conditioning usage.
7. Reduce roof maintenance and replacement expenses by extending roof life.
8. Reduce roof replacement waste added to landfills by using roof restoration systems. (Annually) roofing replacement generates 8 to 10 million tons of waste. Historically, about 95% (or 22 million cubic yards) ... has ended up in landfills.
   ( www.dot.state.tx.us/services/general_services/recycling )
9. Help builders and building managers meet energy efficiency building standards such as Perl, LEED, etc.

For example: Insulating Coatings Corporation develops and manufactures fluid-applied membrane systems for the sustainable restoration of roofs, walls, and other industrial surfaces.

ICC has produced a 20 page educational brochure, called:  “White is Green… Making sense of cool roofing” This can be found at: http://www.icc-astec.com/white-is-green.pdf

The Astec acrylic elastomeric products and systems provide seamless waterproof and weather-tight barriers, offering high reflectivity, emissivity, and dissipation of heat, while reducing UV light degradation. Many of the systems test beyond typical standards for durability, pliability, longevity, wind resistance, abrasion resistance, and salt, chemical, and corrosives resistance, while reducing thermal shock damage and the high cost of temperature control.

“We can extend the life of existing roofing for a fraction of the cost of conventional roof replacement.” US Army

“After the application of the coating, the average peak temperature decreased 17 degrees...” US Air Force

TURN OFF THE WORLD FOR A YEAR

A recent New York Times article entitled: White Roofs Catch On as Energy Cost Cutters By Felicity Barringer Published: July 29, 2009

 “Energy Secretary Steven Chu, a Nobel laureate in physics, has proselytized for cool roofs at home and abroad...The scientist Mr. Chu calls his hero, Art Rosenfeld...argues that turning all of the world’s roofs “light” over the next 20 years could save the equivalent of 24 billion metric tons in carbon dioxide emissions. Mr. Rosenfeld said. “So, in a sense, it’s like turning off the world for a year.””

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/science/earth/30degrees.html  

People should become space conscious and use only the required area. 

Car parking need lot of space. Modern multi-storied building flats should be designed for car parking within the flat itself.

Hai All,

The best of my knowledege is to using of m40 grade concrete as base for any waterproofing and shoud not expose to the sun for long time,impose dry landscape can be used for temporary protection of the water proofing screed.

Thanks