Basement Waterproofing Design

Basements, particularly in cities, are progressively being used for activities that are much more sensitive and susceptible to damp and water ingress. The complexity and potential risks are compounded at contaminated sites where deep basements are proposed, due to the additional contamination and potential vapour intrusion human health risks.

Basements and other substructures can leak both during and after construction and invariably result in often significant costs associated with remedial works, delays to programme in construction, delays to building occupation and expenditure and disruption after construction.

Therefore, the significance and benefit of a detailed risk assessment and appropriate waterproofing design is extremely important to all development stakeholders. Waterproofing design needs to consider a broader range of parameters that will impact on the below ground structure and requires a collaborative approach with the associated designer, structural engineer and construction team.

Currently there is no Australian Standard for the construction of ‘watertight’ basements in Australia. In the absence of such guidance, Core Environmental Projects adopt parts of the British Standard 8102:2022. This approach is then adjusted for Australian-specific building methods and available materials.

Our design creation considers the associated inputs of the broader design team including, but not limited to, the structural engineer and architect along with the needs and requirements of the contractor and client. We provide basement waterproofing design services for both greenfield and brownfield (contaminated) sites.