Contractors play a major part in the construction process for projects. Learn what contractors need to know about structural waterproofing, BS 8102 compliance, common pitfalls and bespoke design support through our Technical Lead.
Structural Waterproofing: What Contractors Need to Know
By Toby Pearl, Technical Lead
If your project involves anything below ground – a basement, lift pit, retaining wall – structural waterproofing needs to be part of your plan from the start. It’s more regulated than most people realise, and getting it wrong has real consequences for programme and cost.
At Atal, we work alongside architects, engineers, developers and contractors to design and specify waterproofing strategies that meet compliance requirements and get built properly. This page explains what’s involved and how we can help.
What Structural Waterproofing Involves
Structural waterproofing design is governed by BS 8102 – the code of practice for protection of below ground structures against water ingress. Every project requires consideration of site conditions, groundwater risk, the intended use of the space, and the required grade of protection.
We work across Type A, Type B and Type C waterproofing systems, as well as ground gas protection. Because we’re not limited to a single method, we can select the right solution for each project rather than defaulting to the one we always use.
Common Issues That Cause Problems On Site
From the projects we’ve been involved in, the issues that cause delays or Building Control queries tend to be consistent:
- Generic or incomplete waterproofing specifications not tailored to the site conditions
- Incorrect system selection for the actual groundwater risk on the project
- Missing technical documentation: no product datasheets, no third-party certification evidence
- Designs that haven’t been coordinated across the wider design team
- No clear demonstration of compliance with BS 8102 waterproofing requirements
- Ground gas protection omitted or under-specified where it should be present
Each of these can lead to delays or requests for additional information from Building Control. In construction, time is money.
What Atal Provides
We offer a bespoke design service as standard. Most companies either don’t have their own design team or charge separately for bespoke work. We include it, and we can warranty our designs – so you don’t need separate entities for design and approval.
Our waterproofing packages typically include:
- A full structural waterproofing design aligned with BS 8102 waterproofing requirements, with system selection justified by site conditions
- Third party certified product specifications with supporting technical documentation
- Bespoke technical details for the specific geometry and constraints of the project
- Ground gas protection strategy where relevant, with appropriate membrane specification
- Risk assessment and buildability review
- A CSSW-informed approach to specification and documentation throughout
Practical guidance for contractors
Here’s what we’d tell any contractor heading into a below-ground project:
- Involve waterproofing design early. Waterproofing designs need to be coordinated with the whole design team from the outset, not bolted on at the end
- Don’t underestimate the paperwork. The supporting documentation is what Building Control scrutinises. Designs alone won’t cut it
- Use third party certified systems. This is the evidence base that reassures Building Control, principal designers and developers
- Factor in ground gas protection where applicable. It’s an area that can catch teams out, and it needs to be part of the overall strategy from day one
- Get specialist support. Structural waterproofing design is genuinely technical. If your team doesn’t have in-house CSSW expertise, bring in someone who does
CPD Sessions Available
We offer CPD sessions on structural waterproofing for architects, engineers and contractors who want to get up to speed. If a waterproofing CPD would help your team feel more confident, get in touch – we’d be happy to put something together.
Get In Touch
We’ve worked on enough projects to know what works, what Building Control questions, and how to put together a package that gets approved first time.
Give us a call or send us a message. You’ll get through to a person, and we’ll work with you from there.
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