Waterproofing and Drainage Systems Quiz

Aggregate Drainage Layer

• Pea-gravel or coarse sand is used
• Prefabricated layers use plastic composite drainage cores with geotextile fabrics

Below Grade System - Foundation Walls

• Filter fabrics are used to separate different soil types

Damp Proofing

• Prevents vapor diffusion, which can lead to dampness inside the building
• Bitumen-based coatings are used
• Coatings measure 0.25mm in thickness
• Coatings can be solvent or water based

Waterproofing Membranes

• Post-applied or pre-applied products
• Used in positive, negative, or blind-side applications
• Positive-side: applied to the exterior side of the foundation wall
• Negative-side: applied to the interior side of the foundation wall
• Blind-side: pre-applied to the area where the concrete will be placed

Types of Waterproofing Membranes

• Fluid-applied systems: includes urethanes, rubbers, plastics, and modified asphalts
• Sheet-membrane systems: includes thermoplastics, vulcanizing rubbers, and rubberized asphalts
• Bentonite clays: includes composite sodium bentonite systems with HDPE liners and geotextile fabrics
• Cementitious systems: contains Portland cement and sand, combined with a waterproofing agent

Protection Board

• Shields waterproofing membranes from damage
• Most common: asphalt core between asphalt impregnated glass fiber mats

Aluminum

• Most common material used for walls
• Cost-effective, corrosion-resistant, and durable
• Stainless steel and copper are also used

Steel Panel Systems

• Requires protective coatings to prevent corrosion
• Types:
  • Lap-Seam Metal Panel
  • Composite Metal Wall Panels
  • Flat Plate Metal Wall Panels
  • Metal-Faced Composite Panels

Lap-Seam Metal Panel

• Formed from metal sheets
• Ship-lapping panels

Composite Metal Wall Panels

• Feature two sheets of metal adhered to a core material
• Usually stronger than lap-seam panels
• Provide insulation

Flat Plate Metal Wall Panels

• Made from 1/8-inch-thick metal plate
• High impact resistance and durability

Metal-Faced Composite Panels

• Metal facings adhered to a thermoplastic core

Pre-cast Wall System

• Various shapes, colors, textures, and finishes
• Each panel is independently supported by metal components and anchors
• Joints are filled with sealant
• Panels act as formwork for cast-in-place concrete
• Types:
  • Cladding or Curtain Walls: resist wind, seismic forces, and transfer weight to the support
  • Load-bearing wall units: resist and transfer loads from other elements
  • Pre-cast concrete shear wall panels: provide lateral load resisting system

Thin Stone Wall System

• Stone panels ranging in thickness from 3/4 inches to 2 inches
• Most are made from granite and white marble
• Limestone, travertine, and sandstone are also used

Fenestration Systems

• Defined as openings in the building envelope
• Includes windows, doors, and skylights
• Components:
  • Curtain Wall
  • Exterior Doors
  • Glazing
  • Sloped Glazing
  • Window

Curtain Wall

• Thin, aluminum-framed wall
• Contains in-fills of glass, metal panels, or thin stone
• Framing methods:
  • Stick Systems: frame and glass are installed and connected piece by piece
  • Unitized or Modular Systems: curtain wall is composed of large units, assembled and glazed in the factory, shipped to the site, and erected on the building
• Moisture Protection:
  • Water-managed: no effort is made to create an air barrier, more water is forced into the system
  • Pressure-equalizer: block the forces that drive water across a barrier

Exterior Doors

• Entrance and exit doors: serve as entrances for the general public or service entrances
• Common materials: aluminum. steel, wood, and glass
• Doors integrated with commercial storefronts: aluminum frames with glass in-fills or all glass
• Types:
  • Swing Doors: serve entrance/exit functions
  • Revolving Doors: entrance/exit functions
  • Industrial Doors: for material handling and security

Glazing

• Glass allows daylight and weather protection
• Types:
  • Annealed Glass: most commonly used architectural glass
  • Heat-strengthened Glass: twice the strength of annealed glass
  • Fully-tempered Glass: four times the strength of annealed glass
  • Laminated Glass: two or more lites of glass
  • Coated Glass: covered with reflective or low-emissivity coating
  • Tinted Glass: contains minerals that color the glass
  • Insulating Glass Units (IG Units): consist of two or more lites of glass with a sealed air space

Compression Seal Windows

• Casement: side-hinged, project in or out
• Vertically or horizontally pivoted windows: pivot windows, jal-awning, and jalousie windows are generally less resistant

Roof Systems

• Protects buildings from moisture and weather conditions
• Commercial buildings typically use low-slope or flat roofs
• Materials:
  • Low-slope Roof Coverings Built-up Roofs (BUR)
  • Steep-slope Roof Coverings
  • Roof Deck

Low-slope Roof Coverings Built-up Roofs (BUR)

• Composed of alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcement sheets
• Mesh Reinforced Elastomeric Coatings (MREC): acrylic elastomeric and polyester reinforcing mat applied in multiple layers for a final dry film
• Modified Bitumen (MB): pre-fabricated polymer-modified asphalt sheets with a reinforcing layer:
  • Atactic Polypropylene (APP): APP polymer is blended with asphalt and fillers
  • Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS): SBS polymer is blended with asphalt and fillers
  • Styrene-Ethylene-Styrene (SEBS): SEBS polymer is blended with asphalt
• Single-ply Thermoplastic Single-Plies: sheets are normally 5 to 12 feet wide, welded together in the factory or on the roof:
  • Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
  • Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO)
  • Ketone Ethylene Ester (KEE)

Test your knowledge on various waterproofing and drainage techniques used in construction. This quiz covers key materials like aggregate drainage layers, damp proofing methods, and different types of waterproofing membranes. Understand the applications and properties of these essential building components.