Environmental credentials of waterproof membranes

Waterproof membranes are key components for geoengineering projects: a November conference "Waterproof Membranes 2008" will review products, applications and trends

Waterproof membranes provide leak proof seals for protection of structures and for water storage.

Integrity is an absolute requirement and production technology (for example, from Davis Standard) must have high quality standards to avoid pinholes or regions of weakness.

In addition, membranes must withstand weathering, installation, extremes of temperature, foot traffic and plant growth.

Chemical stabilisation is achieved through correct formulation of the membrane polymeric materials (such as those from Dow); Chemtura Vinyl Additives and Ciba are well-known suppliers of additives to the industry.

Sustainability is the big issue in construction.

EURAC has looked at the use of solar power cells in membranes, such as those provided by Solar Integrated Technologies, as part of an overall energy management strategy.

Optigruen is a leader in the field of cultivated roofs and is now looking at water conservation using green roofing: in some areas the roof is used to collect and purify rainwater.

Professor Tanaka has developed a test method for evaluating root resistance of membranes, an essential property in garden roofs.

Water storage is another application of membranes including reservoir covers (studied by the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering).

Underground construction involving geomembranes, such as tunnel linings, has been studied by Agru Kunststofftechnik and Flag UK, both major producers of membranes.

GSE Lining Technology (also a manufacturer) has researched the durability and lifetime of HDPE membranes in the environment.

Deltares is also involved in this field and has experience of troubleshooting and repair of leakage.

European building regulations are changing and BRE is looking at the fire performance of roofing membranes.

Grace Construction Products is a key manufacturer of adhesive membranes for roofing and Lexcan is entering the European market with EPDM membranes.

YSM for Building has worked on innovative roofing membranes.

Markets for membranes are dynamic and have been studied by Applied Market Information.

AMI is organising a conference on trends in membranes: Waterproof Membranes 2008 is scheduled to take place from 3-5 November 2008 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany.

The conference features papers on European markets by Jon Nash, the United Arab Emirates by Water Seal Company LLC and the Russian market by NTC "Gidrol-Krovlja".

Back to top