THE FACTS:
According to Australian Insurance Industry sources, waterproofing failures account
for upwards of 10% of all claims per annum in many domestic and commercial properties.
The courts are taking the attitude that all people involved in the scope of work.
( IE: Builders, Owner Builders, Plumbers, Carpenters, Tilers, Waterproofing, ECT: )
share resonabilty for warranty claims. ( IE: Water Leaks )
Waterproofing failures can extend damage into other adjacent areas in a building
such as fixtures and furnishings. The result is a further escalation in repair
costs and a considerable amount of inconvenience for the property owner.
It is therefore of paramount importance that this type of intermediate construction
work be performed correctly by quailfied practioners to the specified standards,
in the very first instance.
Beware of inferior quality Waterproofing ...
Of recent times inexperienced people have entered the building industry.
Working on price and little else the damage caused to homes and buildings is alarming.
At present victoria does NOT ISSUE or REQUIRE waterproofing Registration or Certificates.
If a Certificate is produced it is likely a TAFE 2 week short course.
Waterproofing Technology has become very sophisticated and hi-tech.
Waterproofing products are made from a variety of materials including Acrylics,
Latex, Polyurethane, Elastimers, Bitumen and Epoxy. There are a variety of products
for every application in the building construction industry, from residential wet areas,
balconies and below ground works.
Although Atlantis covers all aspects of waterproofing in the building construction industry,
the major consumers of our services over the past 10 years have related to the supply
and installation of Class III membranes, in accordance with the current Building Codes,
Australian Standards and Manufacturer Certified Installation.
All work carried out by the Atlantis team is to the exacting standards laid down for
the building industry by:
1.. Manufacturer Certified Installation.
2.. Conform to Australian Standards.
3.. Membrane Approval and Certification by the Australian CSIRO.
Australian Standards
Regulations require wet areas to be waterproofed
(e.g. Bathroom floor, shower floors, splash areas above baths etc.)
sealed with a waterproofing membrane, including some tiled areas.
Defining a wet area.
Wet Areas:
An area within a building supplied with water from a water supply system.
This includes: bathrooms, showers, laundries and sanitary compartments.
It excludes kitchens, bar areas, kitchenettes or domestic food and beverage preparation areas.
Waterproofing system:
Means a combination of elements that are required to achieve a
waterproof barrier, including, substrate, membrane, bond breakers, sealants,
finishes and the like. Membranes meeting the requirements of AS/NZS 4858
The following are materials which are deemed to be waterproof:
Stainless steel
Cooper material not less than 99.9% copper
Waterproof flexible sheet flooring material with sealed joints
Water resistant (WR):
Means the property of a system or material that restricts moisture movement and
will not degrade under conditions of moisture.
Shower area, enclosed:
The area enclosed by walls or screens including a hinged or sliding doors that
control the spread of water to within the enclosure.
Note:
A shower fitted with a frameless or semi-frameless glass door, shower curtains
and the like are not considered to be an enclosed. A screen over a bath less than
1500 mm long is not considered an enclosed shower.
Shower area, unenclosed:
The area that is open on one or more sides, extending on the open sides,
1500 mm from the shower Splash Backs at the wall
Requirements for waterproofing a wet area
Enclosed shower with a hob:
The entire floor of the enclosed shower area including the hob must be waterproofed.
The walls must be waterproof to not less than 150 mm above the shower floor
substrate or not less than 25 mm above the maximum retained water level whichever
is the greater with the remainder being water resistant to a height of not less
than 1800 mm above the finished floor level.
Internal and external corners and horizontal joints must be waterproof within a
height of 1800 mm above the floor level with not less than 40 mm width either
side of the junction.
Floors outside the shower area and adjacent to baths:
Concrete & Compressed fibre cement sheet flooring
The entire floor must be water resistant.
Timber, particleboard, plywood and other timber based flooring materials
The entire floor must be waterproofed.
Wall junctions and joints:
Areas outside shower areas:
The wall/floor junctions must be waterproofed and where a flashing is used,
The horizontal leg must be not less than 40mm. Areas adjacent to baths
Edges of the vessel and junction of bath enclosure with floor to be waterproofed.
Where the lip of the bath is supported by a horizontal surface, this area must be:
Waterproof for showers over a bath; and Water resistant in all other situations.
For other conditions of building elements in wet areas, Table 3.8.1.1 of the
BCA Volume 2 provides all the necessary details.
All figures shown in this information sheet are taken from BCA 2009 Volume Two
Atlantis WaterProofing Technicians P.O. Box 6278 Point Cook VIC
 3030 Affordable Professional Waterproofing We service Melbourne Geelong Ballarat
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