June 2025 Leakfix Newsletter: Navigating Waterproofing Compliance with Performance Solutions

ALL THINGS WATERPROOFING - APRIL 2025

Hi All,

Please find our monthly roundup, based on our activity in June. We will also share a few tips and tricks, and talk about some interesting products.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING?

In June we have been working less in the field and more in the office, predominantly working on some design work and writing Waterproofing Performance Solutions. I focus best in isolation so apologies to all for unanswered messages and emails. I will try to be better in July.

WHAT IS A PERFORMANCE SOLUTION?

In Australia, there are 3 ways for a building element to comply with the NCC - Deem to Satisfy provisions, Performance Solutions or combination of both.

Figure 1 - A2G1 Compliance

Waterproofing is undeniably a building element so it must comply one way or another.

The nature of DTS ought to be such that there is a set of instructions, a manual of sorts, that tells you exactly how to put something together.

DTS (Deemed-to-Satisfy) provisions are typically Australian Standards developed by various Technical Committees. For external waterproofing, the current DTS is AS4654, authored by Technical Committee BD-013, which includes representatives from various industry associations and the ABCB. It's important to note that no DTS provisions currently exist for below-ground waterproofing.

DTS COMPLIANCE CAN BE TRICKY.

Especially in remedial work, compliance with DTS is tricky. When building element waterproofing fails, it is typically due:

Poor design or/and poor installation (most cases), Lack of maintenance or damage caused by building upgrades (more often than you’d think) The End of design life of waterproofing systems. Because waterproofing fails very often, engineers, designers and builders naturally become more nervous about waterproofing and compliance is now on top of everyone's mind now.   Is it always practical to require remedial waterproofing to be compliant with DTS? While some circumstances may allow for this, the retrospective application of DTS provisions is often challenging and it can impose a significant financial burden on homeowners, particularly those whose homes were built long before the relevant DTS provision was developed.

HOW CAN PERFORMANCE SOLUTION SAVE YOU MONEY ON A REMEDIAL PROJECT?

As a practical example, consider a project from last year: A multi-residential building in Bondi, constructed in the 1970s, was planned for a significant roof renovation. A new exposed roof sheet membrane system was proposed, necessitating adherence to AS4654, which mandates a 1:100 fall towards the drain for the substrate receiving waterproofing. Even though the roof didn't pond a significant amount of water after the rainfall, it was only approximately 1:120. To meet compliance requirements, two options are available:

A) Correct falls with a sand cement screed, or tapered insulation. (extra 50k to the project cost)

B) Leave falls as they are after carefully assessing the risk (Extra 5k for a performance solution)

Now if you are as good at math as I am, you can see that we saved Body Corporate 45k simply by assessing the risk and evaluating the impact of “non-compliance”.

The risk was very low, the roof was proposed to be waterproofed with a 2 layer torchon membrane system, that ought to be watertight up to at least 25-30 meters of hydrostatic head. The roof is and will remain exposed and easy to maintain. If anything ever goes wrong with the membrane on the roof, it can be remediated very easily and at relatively low cost, but even if the membrane system does locally fail, It can easily be fixed for less than 5k spent to assess the risk.

So I guess it shows that what it all comes down to is buying and selling risk.

Are you happy to pay 45k for something you don't necessarily need, only to tick the compliance box more easily?

Ask us about Performance Solution Documentation Development at hello@leakfix.com.au, we provide solutions for every budget.

NEW PRODUCTS/SOLUTION.

eRex from Ellis Tech Australia

Finally we have a small portable ELD device suitable for every specialty membrane installer pocket.

Book your own demo here, we will visit your facilities and demonstrate exactly how you can use this device to your advantage on your next membrane/liner installation project.

Watch the video here.	Buy the goodies here.

Sealing Collars from Soba Inter.

Having trouble finding reliable pipe sealing collars? Soba Inter has made something very special for you. This Swiss made pipe sealing collar is as flexible as you would expect the best quality rubber to be and it will fit very tightly around penetrations in your roof or basement walls. Works with ALL modified bitumen membranes.

 Currently available in three sizes: ⌀110, ⌀90 and ⌀42. The first three customers will receive free delivery and installation across South East QLD or Northern NSW.

See installation video here.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS.

Jerzyniak Consulting trading as Leakfix© 2025. All rights reserved.
You're receiving this newsletter because you subscribed or interacted with Leakfix.

Website| LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

If you no longer wish to receive these updates, please unsubscribe.