Basement waterproofing and BS 8102: how to achieve compliance with the Building Regulations

Building Regulations Approved Document C recommends using BS 8102 to design basements where walls and floors are subject to water pressure.

Three methods of basement waterproofing are defined in the standard:

• “Type A” (barrier protection) which requires a tanking membrane
• “Type B” (structurally integral protection) relies on the quality of the concrete structure only and is not suitable for all applications
• “Type C” (drained protection) allows water into the structure, but collects it and drains it away from the occupied areas.

The standard requires that a waterproofing system be kept accessible for maintenance and servicing to ensure it continues to perform. But while there are fewer maintenance issues with Type A and Type B systems, Type C requires maintenance to prevent the build-up of limescale in the drainage channels as these images show.

Fig. 1 - Membrane completely blocked                        Fig. 2 Trapped water escaping from behind the membrane

Important considerations with basement waterproofing

• Where such channels are provided, it’s essential that any limescale can be cleared either by dissolving, flushing or rodding.
• Without accessibility, there’s a risk the cavity drainage system will be blocked and fail to perform, so consider the effect of the remedial works - the entire system generally would need to be replaced.
• For a “Type C” cavity drainage system to meet BS 8102, the system must be accessible for servicing and maintenance. The best way to achieve this is by providing access to perimeter drainage channels.

A well designed basement waterproofing system that’s been correctly installed will provide years of good performance if adequately maintained.

For more information on how to get it right, see Chapter Six of the free-to-download LABC Warranty Technical Manual and read our Better basement design and construction guide. Also take a look at our page about working with basements and building regulations.

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the user’s professional judgement. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder or person carrying out the work to ensure compliance with relevant building regulations or applicable technical standards.