Waterproofing
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Waterproofing is the process of making an object, person or structure waterproof or water-resistant so that it remains relatively unaffected by water or resisting the ingress of water under specified conditions. Such items may be used in wet environments or
Water-resistant and waterproof often refer to resistance to penetration of water in its liquid state and possibly under pressure, whereas
The hulls of boats and ships were once waterproofed by applying tar or pitch. Modern items may be waterproofed by applying water-repellent coatings or by sealing seams with gaskets or o-rings.
Waterproofing is used in reference to building structures (such as basements, decks, or wet areas), watercraft, canvas, clothing (raincoats or waders), electronic devices and paper packaging (such as cartons for liquids).
In construction
In construction, a building or structure is waterproofed with the use of membranes and coatings to protect contents and structural integrity. The waterproofing of the building envelope in construction specifications is listed under 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection within MasterFormat 2004, by the Construction Specifications Institute, and includes roofing and waterproofing materials.[citation needed]
In building
Walls are not subjected to standing water, and the water-resistant membranes used as
Within the waterproofing industry, below-ground waterproofing is generally divided into two areas:
- Tanking: This is waterproofing used where the below-ground structure will be sitting in the water table continuously or periodically. This causes hydrostatic pressure on both the membrane and structure and requires full encapsulation of the basement structure in a tanking membrane, under slab and walls.
- Damp proofing: This is waterproofing used where the water table is lower than the structure and there is good free-draining fill. The membrane deals with the shedding of water and the ingress of water vapor only, with no hydrostatic pressure. Generally, this incorporates a damp proof membrane (DPM) to the walls with a polythene DPM under the slab. With higher grade DPM, some protection from short-term Hydrostatic pressure can be gained by transitioning the higher quality wall DPM to the slab polythene under the footing, rather than at the footing face.
In buildings using
Another specialized area of waterproofing is rooftop decks and balconies. Waterproofing systems have become quite sophisticated and are a very specialized area. Failed waterproof decks, whether made of polymer or tile, are one of the leading causes of water damage to building structures and personal injury when they fail. Where major problems occur in the construction industry is when improper products are used for the wrong application. While the term waterproof is used for many products, each of them has a very specific area of application, and when manufacturer specifications and installation procedures are not followed, the consequences can be severe. Another factor is the impact of expansion and contraction on waterproofing systems for decks. Decks constantly move with changes in temperatures, putting stress on the waterproofing systems. One of the leading causes of waterproof deck system failures is the movement of underlying substrates (plywood) that cause too much stress on the membranes resulting in a failure of the system. While beyond the scope of this reference document, waterproofing of decks and balconies is a complex of many complimentary elements. These include the waterproofing membrane used, adequate slope-drainage, proper flashing details, and proper construction materials.
The penetrations through a building envelope must be built in a way such that water does not enter the building, such as using
Also, many types of geomembranes are available to control water, gases, or pollution.
From the late 1990s to the 2010s, the construction industry has had technological advances in waterproofing materials, including integral waterproofing systems and more advanced membrane materials. Integral systems such as hycrete work within the matrix of a concrete structure, giving the concrete itself a waterproof quality. There are two main types of integral waterproofing systems: the hydrophilic and the hydrophobic systems. A hydrophilic system typically uses a crystallization technology that replaces the water in the concrete with insoluble crystals. Various brands available in the market claim similar properties, but not all can react with a wide range of cement hydration by-products and thus require caution. Hydrophobic systems use concrete sealers or even fatty acids to block pores within the concrete, preventing water passage.
Sometimes the same materials used to keep water out of buildings are used to keep water in, such as a pool or pond liners.
New membrane materials seek to overcome shortcomings in older methods like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Generally, new technology in waterproof membranes relies on polymer-based materials that are very adhesive to create a seamless barrier around the outside of a structure.
Waterproofing should not be confused with
The standards for waterproofing bathrooms in domestic construction have improved over the years, due in large part to the general tightening of building codes.
In clothing
Some
Waterproof garments are intended for use in weather conditions which are often windy as well as wet and are usually also wind resistant.
Footwear can also be made waterproof by using a variety of methods including but not limited to, the application of beeswax, waterproofing spray, or mink oil.[2]
In other objects
Waterproofing methods have been implemented in many types of objects, including paper packaging, cosmetics, and more recently, consumer electronics. Electronic devices used in military and severe commercial environments are routinely conformally coated in accordance with IPC-CC-830 to resist moisture and corrosion but encapsulation is needed to become truly waterproof. Even though it is possible to find waterproof wrapping or other types of protective cases for electronic devices, a new technology enabled the release of diverse waterproof smartphones and tablets in 2013.[3] This method is based on a special nanotechnology coating a thousand times thinner than a human hair which protects electronic equipment from damage due to the penetration of water. Several manufacturers use the nano coating method on their smartphones, tablets, and digital cameras.
A 2013 study found that
Applications
Waterproof packaging or other types of protective cases for electronic devices can be found. A new technology enabled the release of various waterproof smartphones and tablets in 2013.[6] A study from 2013 found that nano-textured surfaces using cone shapes produce highly water-repellent surfaces. These "nanocone" textures are superhydrophobic.[7][8]
Standards
- ASTMC1127 – Standard Guide for Use of High Solids Content, Cold Liquid-Applied Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane with an Integral Wearing Surface
- ASTM D779 – Standard Test Method for Determining the Water Vapor Resistance of Sheet Materials in Contact with Liquid Water by the Dry Indicator Method
- ASTM D2099 – Standard Test Method for Dynamic Water Resistance of Shoe Upper Leather by the Maeser Water Penetration Tester
- ASTM D3393 – Standard Specification for Coated Fabrics Waterproofness
- D6135 – Standard Practice for Application of Self-Adhering Modified Bituminous Waterproofing
- ASTM D7281 – Standard Test Method for Determining Water Migration Resistance Through Roof Membranes
- British Standards InstitutionBS.8102:2009 – "Protection of Below Ground Structures against Water from the Ground".
- IEC 60529– Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
- ISO 2281– Horology — Water-resistant watches
See also
References
- ^ Lucy Shakespeare, 09-09-2016 (9 October 2016). "The Difference Between Waterproof & Water Resistant – Inside the Outdoors". Mountain Warehouse. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "How to Waterproof Shoes". wikiHow. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
- ^ "Waterproof phones and tablets make a splash". CNN. March 5, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- U.S. Department of Energy/Brookhaven National Laboratory (October 21, 2013). "Nano-cone textures generate extremely 'robust' water-repellent surfaces". ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- S2CID 27585827.
- ^ "Waterproof phones and tablets make a splash". CNN. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- ^ U.S. Department of Energy/Brookhaven National Laboratory. "Nano-cone textures generate extremely 'robust' water-repellent surfaces". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- S2CID 27585827.
External links
Media related to Waterproofing at Wikimedia Commons