BRE GG72/1 PDF

This Good Building Guide discusses one of the main challenges when designing a basement: preventing ingress of water or water vapour. The focus is on dampness due to penetration of groundwater, sometimes complicated by rising damp. This first part outlines the principles of constructing a waterproof basement. The second part describes the main methods for perimeter construction with advice on safety, insulation and services. Each part is 6 pages.

Contents of Part 1:

Site investigation

● Drainage characteristics of the soil Site preparation and the control of moisture

Types of construction

● Type A: tanked protection

● Type B: structurally integral protection

● Type C: drained cavity Waterproofing systems

● Bonded sheet membranes

● Cavity drain membranes

● Bentonite clay active membranes

● Liquid-applied membranes

● Mastic asphalt membranes

● Proprietary cementitious crystallization active systems

● Proprietary cementitious multi-coat renders, toppings and coatings

● Other waterproofing products

- Rubber or flexible waterstops

- Water-swellable waterstops

- Cementitious crystallization waterstops

- Post-injected waterstops

Subsurface drainage

References and further reading