Why You Need a Pre-Applied Waterproofing Membrane on Your Vertical Application

When it comes to buildings, moisture is always the enemy—no exceptions. Managing moisture should be a top priority in every construction plan. In fact, most E&O insurance claims in the inspection industry trace back to one common issue: moisture intrusion.

Moisture is one of the leading causes of building defects. And the consequences go beyond structural damage—health hazards like mold exposure result in billions of dollars in medical costs annually. While “black mold” is often blamed, there are actually many types of molds (some of them black) that produce dangerous mycotoxins.

In fact, Dallas tops the list of U.S. cities for mold-related health issues, followed by Riverside-San Bernardino, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Nationwide, mold and dampness-related allergies cost an estimated $3.7 billion annually—and 28% of people are genetically predisposed to mold sensitivity.

Whether your structure is new or decades old, moisture will find a way in—and within 24 to 48 hours of exposure, mold will begin to grow.

Common Pathways for Moisture Intrusion

• The building site not allowing for proper drainage
• Selecting moisture-sensitive building materials
• Poor prep and installation of moisture-proofing materials
• Poor gutter systems, condensation drainage systems, and drainage planes
• Water vapors infiltrating through your building envelope during humid weather
• Poor water vapor exfiltration through your building envelope during cold weather

Where to Apply Pre-Applied Vertical Waterproofing

Bonded, pre-applied waterproofing membranes, a.k.a., “blindside membranes,” are applied to the blindside, or inside, of your vertical wall before you pour your vertical wall foundation. (For more information on what a blindside is, click here.)

Why Apply Vertical Pre-Applied Waterproofing Membrane?

Vertical pre-applied waterproofing membranes are applied to your vertical excavation walls to bond to your concrete. These membranes prevent water from migrating into your structure and causing moisture damage.

Aside from the moisture migration, in some cases, membranes can be incorporated as a barrier in a mitigation system for radon or methane. (Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, estimated to cause between 3% and 14%, per the World Health Organization.) The U.S. EPA found 1 in 3 homes in seven states were over the recommended action level for radon exposure. Hawaii has the lowest radon levels because it has a low uranium content in the rocks, as well as the rocks being porous, which enables air infiltration to dilute the radon concentration. These are the 10 states with the highest radon levels, per the EPA:

1. Alaska
2. South Dakota
3. Pennsylvania
4. Ohio
5. Washington
6. Kentucky
7. Montana
8. Idaho
9. Colorado
10. Iowa

So, how can you protect against moisture infiltration, as well as radon and methane? One way is by pre-applying waterproofing membranes before pouring your vertical concrete. Pre-applied membranes will protect your structure against moisture infiltration and all of the issues that come along with being unable to control this.

Where to Install Pre-Applied Waterproofing Membranes

Pre-applied waterproofing, or sometimes referred to as “blindside waterproofing,” is installed in below-grade applications onto a soil retention system, such as piled walls, diaphragm walls, and the like. Building developers want to maximize their real estate footprint on the land available to them, so exterior or positive-side waterproofing often is impossible because of space constraints. In these situations, builders use blindside waterproofing to maximize land usage while still preventing and protecting their structures from water damage and vapor intrusion.

Pre-Applied Waterproofing Membranes are Typically Found on These Installations:

• Foundations
• Tunnels
• Garages
• New basement construction
• Underground rail stations and tunnels
• Underground parking garages
• Tunnel shafts
• Elevator shafts

Benefits of Pre-Applied Waterproofing Membranes

• Bridging cracks
• Lateral water underflow
• Acting as a barrier to methane and radon

Our Pre-Applied Waterproofing Solutions

Our innovation team at W. R. MEADOWS has developed several products in our portfolio to help you perform pre-applied waterproofing to your vertical applications.

 

Request More Information

To contact your local W. R. MEADOWS representative or for general correspondence, please click here. If you need immediate assistance, please call (800) 342-5976. Thank you!