Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that the various waterproofing systems and activities required on projects have been installed in accordance with relevant project documentation, Standards and in compliance with other Hansen Yuncken HYer Standards and procedures.

When read in conjunction with the Design Drawings, specifications, and Australian Standards, there are requirements for each type of waterproofing system used in the following areas:

Types:

• Liquid Membrane

• • Water (Acrylic)
  • Bitumen
  • Cement

• Bitumen
• Rubber
• PVC

Areas:

• Internal wet areas (Refer to Wet Area Construction Procedure)
• Walls and floors
• Plant rooms
• Paved areas
• Planters
• Roofs
• Slabs
• Lift pits
• Balconies
• Tanks

Responsibilities

Project Manager

• Ensuring design changes are assessed for constructability risks.
• Ensure any design constructability risks are assessed, controlled, and documented in the Project’s Risk Register.
• Ensuring any constructability risks identified are communicated to workers performing the work and the HY project team.

HY Project Team

• Obtaining and reviewing project documentation, drawings, and specifications.
• Managing workflows to document RFIs and design changes.
• Managing the project’s document registry and communicating documentation to relevant parties.
• Communicating requirements for submittals, warranties, and inspection and test plans to Subcontractors and other parties as applicable.
• Ensure nominated subcontract users are registered in the QA platform and invited to the Project Profile.
• Ensuring relevant quality control pre-work checks are complete prior to starting works.
• Ensuring any applicable hold and witness points are in place and adhered to.
• Receiving and controlling submittals, warranties, and inspection and test plans.

Subcontractor Supervisor

• Ensure personnel responsible for using the QA platform are registered and have means to access the platform via mobile or desktop devices.
• Ensuring relevant quality control pre-work checks are complete prior to starting works.
• Ensuring any applicable hold and witness points are adhered to.
• Providing any required submittals, warranties, and inspection and test plans.

Quality Verification 

Hansen Yuncken predominantly utilises Autodesk platforms (BIM360 and ACC) to carry out quality control checks and verifications. Subcontractor supervisors or nominated representatives must have a registered Autodesk account and be invited onto the Project Profile by the HY project team. 

The Waterproofing Checklist in the QA platform is to be completed prior to and throughout the relevant stages of works.  HY representatives are responsible for completing the header and site preparation sections. The subcontractor representatives are responsible for completing their respective sections. All hold points must be adhered to and verified by the HY representative to proceed.

Guidance on the use of software for Subcontractor users can be accessed via the Onboarding Induction and Training Procedure.

Note: Defence Projects and select Government Projects may have unique requirements regarding Quality Control and the use of software packages to carry out verifications.  The agreed methods and software packages will be determined at Project Commencement considering the specific project needs and client requirements.

Preparation

Project drawings and specifications will detail the locations and requirements of the waterproofing system and materials to be installed. The latest revisions of drawings and specifications are to be referenced for the works, which are to be provided to the subcontractors carrying out the works.

Approvals

Submittals, samples, and materials are to be identified, reviewed, and approved by the respective responsible parties in accordance with project specifications prior to works beginning. Any changes are to be captured via appropriate channels for the project (e.g., Aconex Workflow) and communicated to workers. Hansen Yuncken also are required to confirm the following items:

1. Each type of membrane is to be installed by the respective manufacturer’s approved installer 
2. All personnel completing works for the preparation and installation process are to be trained and familiar with the products
3. Technical specifications and SDS provided for waterproofing products
4. Primer, membrane, sealants, and bond breaker materials comply with project specifications and are approved for use
5. Inspection and Test Plans – The subcontractor is to provide their ITP for review and approval by Hansen Yuncken

Substrate Preparation

For waterproofing of wet areas, this procedure is to be read in conjunction with the Wet Area Construction procedure.

Prior to the installation of the waterproofing system, the following activities are required for the substrate works.

1. Substrate is to be clean, dry, smooth, and free of undulations or protrusions
2. Inspect and test all substrates to ascertain whether the concrete curing compound has been removed, and slab made ready to receive membrane system.  Materials such as silicone based waterproofing treatments, hydrophobic waterproofing treatments, concrete curing agents, heavy-duty sealers, other additives and applications, grease, paint, oil or other similar substances must be removed as they will prevent correct adhesion of the waterproofing system to the substrate.
3. Substrate falls are correct and as specified. 
4. Moisture content of substrate has been checked prior to installation of waterproofing system and is in accordance with specified levels. 
5. The substrate has been accepted by the waterproofing subcontractor. 
6. Concrete substrates to be tested according to ASTM D4263 to ensure they are properly cured.

Installation / Curing

During installation of the waterproofing system, associated materials, and fixings, the following is to be confirmed:

1. Bond breakers installed and in place prior to application of membrane.
2. Fabric reinforcement used as specified – to manufacturer’s details.
3. Waterproofing has been laid with a minimum of joins/laps.
4. Lap distance complies with manufacturers specification.
5. Upstand/perimeter detail has been installed as specified.
6. Membrane film thickness (wet/dry) checked – conforming to manufacturer’s specified requirements for each coat.
7. Waterproofing membrane has been applied to all areas required by the specification and approved plans.
8. Waterproofing membrane curing requirements have been observed in accordance with Technical Specification.

Protection of Works

Areas where the applied membrane is curing must have restricted access and be physically delineated. Clear signage must be put in place such as “No Entry” or “No Unauthorised Access”.

Works are to be sequenced in such a way that other trades do not need to enter the area to carry out works or place materials on the waterproof membranes until it is covered over by subsequent planned works. If this is not possible, then the waterproofing subcontractor is to place physical protection that will not cause damage to the waterproofing membranes.

Testing

Refer to the project’s waterproofing specification for each type of system testing, dependent on the type of system or material used. If requested by the superintendent, each manufacturer’s materials type test data, completed specified tests, and copies of test reports are to be submitted.

Any of the below tests may be required to confirm the waterproofing system complies:

• Waterproofing and watertightness testing

• Undertake all required tests, confirming watertightness and performance requirements of the installation. All test locations and results to be documented for future reference and will become part of the warranty documentation.
• Sequence the testing to precede any concealment of the tested area. The Contractor is to obtain manufacturer’s sign off for the test results and compliance with the project specific specification.
• Irrespective of the above, as a minimum, all installations must be tested for the following unless alternative test methods are approved by the Superintendent and recommended by the manufacturer in writing.
• Conduct test preparations in conjunction with the manufacturer and the Superintendent prior to concluding the tests. Provide Shop Drawings of test locations.
• Promptly investigate leakage, identified by testing or other inspections, report on the cause of the defect with rectification proposal for the Superintendent’s approval. Document rectification methods and include in warranty documentation.
• Rectify the defective area in a method agreed with the manufacturer and the Superintendent. Repeat the tests until compliant performance is achieved and confirmed. Verify and confirm that the cause of the identified defect is unlikely to reoccur at other treated areas.

• Dry film thickness test: Confirm minimum thickness specified area with Elcometer or equivalent.
• Pin hole detection test: Test the entire area with a holiday tester.
• Elongation tests: For two-part elastomeric spray-on waterproofing membranes provide elongation test results from samples taken on-site.
• Moisture content test: Substrate is to be tested as specified before applying waterproof membranes, test to be carried out in accordance with ASTM F2170.
• Adhesion testing: Adhesion to substrate to ASTM D7105. 
• Substrate preparation testing: Inspect and test all substrates to ascertain whether the concrete has been treated in any way which may affect the membrane.  Concrete substrates to be tested according to ASTM D4263 to ensure they are properly cured.
• Slip-resistance and slip-resistance testing: Installed surfaces are to be stable, safe and minimise risk of slipping or tripping due to slippery surfaces. Slip-resistance is to comply with AS 4586. Slip-resistance test certificates are to be provided in accordance with the relevant codes (AS 4586, AS 4663, HB 197 and HB 198) to confirm slip-resistance ratings are as per that specified for each relevant membrane. Batch testing to be carried out in accordance with the requirements of AS 4586 and provision of certification that the batches provided to the project have been tested not more than 12 months prior to their installation into the project.  No material is to be supplied or installed until the manufacturer’s slip-resistance test results have been submitted and approved by the Superintendent.
• Accelerated wear test:  Accelerated wear tests are to be carried out by a registered testing agency to verify that the slip-resistance requirements specified are met after the accelerated wear tests were conducted.
• Flood testing:  Flood test completed membranes to ASTM D5957.

Specifications and Compliance

Current Project Specifications are to be used to confirm all approvals, samples, warranties, and submittals required for the project. Project Specification requirements are to be entered into the Project’s Compliance Schedule.

The following approvals/samples may be required:

• Waterproof membrane
• Adhesives

The following supporting documentation or submissions may be required from the subcontractor:

• Subcontractor ITPs
• Product technical data sheets and warranties
• Waterproofing material certificate of compliance/records
• Adhesive certificate of compliance/records
• Slip Resistance Test Certificate
• Manufacturer’s Warranty Certificates
• External Finishes material certificate of compliance
• Certificates of Installation for completed works

Hold/Witness Points to be adhered to throughout Waterproofing works:

• Primer, membrane, sealants, and bond breaker materials comply with specification and are approved for use
• The substrate has been approved for product application
• Primer application has been inspected by HY representative prior to Waterproofing Membrane installation
• Waterproofing Membrane application has been inspected by HY representative prior to any testing
• Testing of Waterproofed areas completed, and no failures are evident

Definitions

ITP – Inspection and Test Plan

RFI – Request for Information

SDS – Safety Data Sheets

References

• NCC – Volume 1, Section F
• AS 4586 – Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials
• AS 4663 – Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces
• AS 1884 – Resilient sheet and tiles
• ASTM D4263 – Standard Test Method for Indicating Moisture in Concrete
• ASTM F2170 – Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes.
• ASTM D7105 – Standard Test Method for the Determination of Gassing Characteristics of Insulating Liquids Under Thermal Stress.
• ASTM D5957 – Standard Guide for Flood Testing Horizontal Waterproofing Installations
• HB 197 – An introductory guide to the slip resistance of pedestrian surface materials
• HB 198 – Guide to the specification and testing of slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces

Associated Checklists and Documents

• Waterproofing Checklist (Autodesk)
• Hazardous Chemicals Procedure