A commercial building is subject to a great deal of stress due to frequent use by a large number of people, and even the most durable of building elements can show wear and tear over time. Waterproofing is an important aspect of the building construction process that uses membranes and coatings to maintain the structure’s integrity. It stops water from entering into dry regions and securely draining out. This is why you should make sure your building is adequately waterproofed to avoid serious structural or cosmetic problems that might make your commercial or industrial space dangerous or difficult to occupy.
Waterproofing techniques have evolved significantly in the last 50 years. Allowing water seepage is an unacceptable risk to the structure of your building, whether you’re looking to strengthen your existing waterproofing or are waterproofing a building for the first time.
Why is it necessary for your commercial building to be completely waterproof?
For building owners to prevent a loss of rent
As a building owner, the last thing you want is for your home to become uninhabitable due to water leaks, thus it’s critical that you get it properly waterproofed from the start. Building with the long term in mind saves you a lot of time and money in the long run.
For the sake of your employees’ safety
Because water and electricity don’t mix, there’s a genuine risk of fire or electrocution if your wiring is exposed to leaks owing to a lack of waterproofing. You would be accountable for any damages or injuries sustained by your employees/tenants. Water-damaged mould and mildew can induce allergic reactions and respiratory issues in building inhabitants, as well as contribute to long-term sickness. Bacteria grow in wet environments, which can lead to a building being labeled “sick” and making it difficult to lease.
For structural reasons
Moisture rots wood, rusts metal, and generates concrete cancer, a type of degradation. A structure that has become structurally unsafe as a result of long-term water damage might be a major tragedy waiting to happen.
For sanitary purposes
Termites, cockroaches, rats, mice, and other pests are drawn to wet regions in a building, posing a health concern to the tenants as well as an ongoing expense for the owner, who must hire exterminators on a regular basis.
Identifying a potential danger or flaw
In commercial buildings, there are three significant contributors to wear and tear.
The first is simply time; even commercial steel is only guaranteed to be rust-free for 25 years, and concrete for 50 to 60; waterproofing, particularly sealants, has a finite lifespan and must be redone (even if it’s over decades). This is especially true for older structures that may have been waterproofed at one time but has since decayed.
The second is an incorrect initial application of waterproofing membrane systems, which wear out quickly or never perform their job properly. This is a potentially dangerous condition, because they may appear to be operating, and your waterproofing may purportedly display that it hasn’t reached the time criteria for renewal despite the fact that it is in desperate need of replacement.
The third factor is damage, which is typically caused by water or other unpredicted factors and may necessitate early waterproofing replacement. You should search for indicators of pre-existing damage as well as telltale signs that your present solution may not survive much longer in order to estimate your risk for, or current condition of, seepage.
Waterproofing as a preventative measure
Even if you already use a waterproofing membrane system, if it hasn’t been installed properly, or isn’t a reliable system you may still be faced with problems down the line. Preventing a little leak or crack from becoming a health danger requires regular inspections. You should include a full review of the entire building, fault sites, and across the entire premises for waterproofing checks as part of your normal workplace safety checklist.
Try to perform a basic check twice a year, or anytime you feel you haven’t done so in a while. At the very least, perform a thorough inspection once a year.
To begin, look through the list of typical failure points in section 1. Examine all aspects of each of these regions, testing during and after the rain. It is critical to test at both times.
Detecting where water is seeping during storms – particularly after heavy rain – may be the only way to detect some fissures. Even during light showers, there may not be enough water accumulation for regions to flood or for a little crack to let in enough water.
The next day, you may notice pooled pools in some spots, which indicates that your drainage is insufficient if it’s anything more than a little accumulation that will soon go. As we’ve seen, even minor accumulation left uncontrolled may severely destroy some membranes over time, especially if you’re working with an older membrane.
Examine the places we’ve highlighted, as well as any other locations in your building that you believe, are in danger. The only way to ensure that you anticipate problems before they occur is to devise a preventative strategy.
When it comes to waterproofing, it’s far less expensive to remedy an issue that hasn’t formed yet. However, in circumstances of severe deterioration, fractures, structural damage, and other variables may impede a ‘fast cure’ to the membrane and necessitate the involvement of many parties.
Characteristics of a good waterproofing membrane system
Waterproofing membrane systems should have the following characteristics:
- It must be watertight (waterproof) while yet allowing moisture to escape from the structure and base.
- Flexible and elastic to respond to natural building motions.
- Robust and long-lasting, designed to withstand extremes of heat and cold or weather.
- In the case of a fire, you’ll be safe.
- Environmentally friendly and non-hazardous.
- It’s simple to clean and maintain.
- It doesn’t need special maintenance and should be simple to fix if it is broken.
- Specifically designed for that portion of the building’s design and purpose.
Robex waterproofing membrane solutions
As one of South Africa’s leading waterproofing membrane providers, Robex provides exquisite craftsmanship and amazing design. We have a wide choice of waterproofing technologies to meet your specific requirements. Balconies, terraces, flat roofs, pathways, planter boxes, tiles, and other surfaces can all benefit from waterproofing. Robex provides a variety of innovative coating solutions that are both strong and weather resistant.
RX Wetsuit
The RX Wetsuit is a spray-applied waterproofing solution that is totally bonded and seamless. It’s a flexible, long-lasting waterproofing membrane that’s also environmentally friendly. RX Wetsuit is a high-grade rubber with bituminous emulsification that may be used as a roofing, waterproofing, and air barrier. The system is suitable for a wide variety of applications and offers solutions for the complete building envelope.
RX Protadeck
RX Protadeck is a high-performance waterproofing solution that may be used on concrete, wood, or steel. It may be applied to practically any surface, including horizontal and vertical substrates, and is completely seamless, totally bonded, and trafficable. It’s great for busy enterprises because of its quick application and cure (areas may be back in operation in under 20 minutes). This device has a 10-year warranty and is made to last.
