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| Sector |
Housing, private |
| Project type |
New build |
| Services provided |
Product / system supply |
| Year completed |
2021 |
| Project location |
South East England |
| Client |
BAOBAB Architects |
| Contractor |
Bensleys |
| Products used |
Koster Polysil TG 500; Koster NB 1 Grey; Koster Deuxan 2C; MS 500 Fire Retandant Type C Membrane; MS 20; Delta Channel |
Delta Registered Installer, Bensleys, was appointed by main contractor, Minton Young on behalf of BAOBAB Architects to provide a maintainable waterproofing solution to a large development in the Roedean area of Brighton, overlooking the marina.
The scope of the works was to design, specify and install a suitable waterproofing to the rear and two side walls of two large properties engineered from ICF construction, which were earth/ground retaining.
When specifying a suitable waterproofing solution, consideration to the final use of the building, designing a system to be maintainable and repairable along with a deep understanding of BS 8102:2009 is essential.
ICF homes (Insulated Concrete Formwork) are extremely energy efficient and comprise of large polystyrene blocks that lock together to form a house shape, into which concrete is poured to form the wall structure.
Prior to Bensleys being appointed, the concrete floor slab had already been laid, Bensleys suggested applying as a closed layer, Koster NB 1, which is waterproof to pressurised water up to 13 bar, develops an intense bond to the substrate, and plugs capillaries following an anti-lime inhibitor.
Free lime can leach from newly poured concrete and can lead to the formation of calcium carbonate or calcium sulphate on the surface. Using an anti-lime inhibitor to concrete surfaces prior to the installation of a cavity drainage system prevents leaching.
Once the walls were constructed, Bensleys applied Koster Deuxan 2C to the exterior. This robust crack-bridging 2-component polymer-modified bitumen is designed as a secure and permanent exterior waterproofer, which included a flexible fillet at the floor/wall junction. This was then protected by the ground workers prior to back-filling, incorporating a suitable land drain to the perimeter. Internally, Bensleys proposed to future-proof the project by installing Delta’s MS 500 fire-retardant, Type C cavity drain membrane System, which was installed with Delta plugs, tape, and Delta fire-retardant overtape.
In principle, a cavity drainage system allows for moisture or running water to travel behind the membrane in a controlled drainage system. Whilst requiring minimal preparation and disturbance to an existing substrate. Below the floor membrane (Delta MS 20) perimeter drainage channels with flushing outlets were sited within rebates allowing for suitable drainage of any future water ingress and being diverted to suitable discharge points. This incorporated a suitable closed cell floor insulation. Due to the sloping side, any ingress of ground water was to be discharged to the front elevation where the drainage system was converted to suitable pipework and non-return values to a soak away to the front of the building by gravity-fed drainage, all of which was tested prior to the main contractor continuing with the floor screed and following build-up construction as required.
The client was delighted with Bensleys' pragmatic and practical approach, assured that these luxury properties will be preserved for years to come, given Delta’s 100-year product life cycle.
By keeping a proactive approach, the design and layout of a building in conjunction with the materials used and style of construction, play a key role in preventing the spread of fire and will allow the safe evacuation of occupants from a building in the event of a fire.
