Technical Specifications 5

FOUNDATIONS

Waterproofing works in contact with the ground

Waterproofing works in contact with the ground should be planned and carried out with great care, bearing in mind that the life of the coating must be the
same as that of the protection work, and that it is most unlikely that any remedial work will be possible, so a lack of waterproofing or defective waterproofing
could be very costly indeed.
So the selection of materials should focus on products that maintain their characteristics - impermeable to water and water vapour, rot resistance and me-
chanical resistance over time, even when subject to site traffic. Nor should it be forgotten that the problem if damp in structures that are underground or in
contact with the ground is often related to thermal insulation, and that very frequently damp is attributed to the non-impermeability of the structure, rather
than to condensation of damp air due to the inadequate thermal resistance of floors and walls in contact with the ground.
So the designer must ensure that the following aspects are checked:
• the water that rises from the ground through capillary action, from an unconfined aquifer or by rainwater washout.
and also:
• the water contained as vapour in the telluric area that migrates with changes in barometric pressure and temperature, and that can condense on cold sur-
faces.
• the water produced and contained in the form of vapour in air of basement spaces that can condense on cold surfaces.
To resolve these problems, INDEX SpA has developed a polymer-bitumen membranes reinforced with “non-woven” single-strand polyesters, Flexter Tes-
tudo and Helasta POLYESTER. The sheets are rotproof and resistant to traction and perforation. They have good resistance to vapour diffusion, and may
therefore be successfully used in waterproofing systems in underground closures both against rising damp due to capillary action and in the presence of an
unconfined aquifer.
ARMODILLO is the most recent waterproofing membrane designed to protect underground walls. It is an armoured and draining membrane that provides
waterproofing, drainage and protection in a single product.
FLUXAN and SATURFIX additives for concrete and mortar , together with EXPAN BENTONITICO water expanding cord, produced by INDEX SpA., permit
homogeneous and impermeable foundations and screeds to be laid which, in synergy with the membranes, ensure that the desired objective is achieved.
This publication also suggests insulating systems and accessory works appropriate to the varying uses of the spaces with walls or floors in contact with the
ground.

1a DIVISIONE
Technical Specifications FOUNDATIONS
1 LINEA
a 1

Masonry in direct contact with the ground is
subject to the entrance and diffusion of damp
inside them, due to the physical phenomenon
of capillary action.
The strength of the capillary action is enhanced
by porous construction materials (clay blocks),
the presence of salts dissolved in the water,
and low temperatures.
Dampness in the ground may be due to:
– dispersed rain water
– water from an unconfined aquifer
In particular situations, with sufficiently drained
ground over deep unconfined aquifers, and for
spaces that are not underground, it may be
enough to install only an impermeable layer to
waterproof the walls in elevation, i.e. a damp
proof course, or DPC.
Damp Proof Course
When building in areas with a shallow uncon-
fined aquifer or in the presence of possible
accumulations of infiltration water, it should
be recalled that the ground of different sites
differs in its capacity to draw water, depending
on its nature.
Water can rise by capillary action from 0.3m
up to a maximum of 1.5m through sandy soil
over an aquifer, while in clay soil water it can
rise from 3m to 8m.
HEIGHT OF RISE BY CAPILLARY ACTION
SANDY SOIL CLAY SOIL
2 FOUNDATIONS
INTRODUCTION
It is evident that in these cases all the sur-
faces in contact with the ground must be
damp-proofed, not just the accessory works
mentioned above.
These damp proofing solutions will block the
passage of the damp dispersed in the ground,
but often the damp that affects works in con-
tact with the ground is not solely due to capil-
lary action phenomena, but is related to the
hygrothermal problems of the spaces created
by these works.
The water present in the form of vapour in
the air of the premises may condense on the
so-called “cold wall”, in this case the sur-
faces in contact with the ground, and cause
an anti-hygienic situation even if proper damp
proofing has been done; condensation is char-
acteristic of underground spaces in the spring
and summer in premises that are not heated
during the winter, due to the thermal inertia of
the ground and the structure.
So the structure needs adequate thermal pro-
tection in addition to water-proofing.
The problem of damp is particularly accentu-
ated in poured concrete structures, and so
in this case it is always best to check that
the concrete is perfectly dry before using the
underground spaces.
ambient air
Cold wall
Waterproofing
condensate.
ambient air
insulation +
vapour barrier
Another phenomenon, albeit a rarer one,
which occurs in particular situations (large
underground spaces on filtering ground and
a deep aquifer) is the damp contained in the
telluric area between the level of the aquifer
and the structure, which may, after a sharp
fall in atmospheric pressure, in winter or on
summer nights when the ground I at a higher
temperature than in the unheated space, may
be drawn to the surface and condense on the
coldest surfaces.
In this case the damp-proofing will act as a
“vapour barrier” since these materials have
good resistance to the spread of vapour.
Technical Specifications
 A FLOOR IN CONTACT WITH GROUND
1. FLEXTER TESTUDO
membrane
2. PROTEFON
3. Draining pipe
1 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE
This will be composed of a 4 mm thick bitu-
men polymer elastoplastomer waterproof mem-
brane, based on distilled bitumen, plastom-
ers and elastomers, reinforced with Spunbond
“non-woven” single-strand polyesters stabi-
lised with glass fibre, FLEXTER TESTUDO
SPUNBOND POLIESTERE 4, certified by
Agreement with ITC-CNR (ex ICITE). The mem-
brane will have L/T tensile strength (EN12311-
1) of 850/700 N/50 mm, elongation at rupture
(EN 12311-1) of 50/50%, nail tear strength
(EN12310-1) of 150/150 N, dimensional sta-
bility when hot (EN1107-1) ±0.3/±0.2%, cold
2 VERTICAL DRAINAGE LAYER
The vertical drainage layer will be created
with PROTEFON, a studded drainage sheet in
HDPE, resistant to chemical agents, bacteria
and soil moulds. The sheet will have 8 mm thick
studs, compression resistance of 19,000 kg/m2
and drainage capacity of 3 m3/h m.
The sheet is applied with the studded face
Technical Specifications
ON DAMP SOILS
SITUATION
Floor in contact with the ground, on clay
soils in which rainwater pockets accumulate,
on sloping ground
The dispersed water will be collected in drain-
age channel laid under a pavement The use of a
prefabricated drainage layer to cover the vertical
Floor
portion may be advantageous when there is not
enough draining filler.
Insulation
The damp that rises by capillary action will
Clay
be blocked by a continuous damp-proof layer
applied to weak-mix concrete.
bend (EN1109) of -20°C and flow resistance the floor. The underfloor will be laid over this.
(EN1110) of 140°C. If the hygrothermy of the environments requires
The sheets are laid dry on wet-mix concrete it (premises in which large amounts of steam
and with 10 cm overlaps. The overlap will be are produced), for steam-proof insulation a
bonded with a propane gas burner flame and vapour barrier must be applied over the sub-
the sheets will be turned back and flame- floor.
bonded to the edge of the foundation, to
prevent water rising through capillary action in
vertical walls.
The membrane may be covered with a layer of
expanded clay granules (granulometry 8-15)
or a compression-resistant insulation panel, of
sufficient thickness to prevent condensation on
against the cement surface, with overlaps of
approximately 10 cm, joined by interlocking
the studs of the studded sheet. The sheets will
recover the foundation block to connect with
the perimeter drainage pipe and continue 10 –
15 cm over the ground, attached mechanically
using the special profile.
FOUNDATIONS 3
 B CELLARS, BASEMENTS AND WALLS AGAINST THE GROUND
ON DRAINING SOILS

SITUATION

1. ARMODILLO Buried works in draining soils protected with reinforced and draining
POLYESTER membrane.
The proposed technical solution concerns the underground part of buildings
constructed on soil that drains sufficiently, in the absence of an unconfined
aquifer, and so the impermeable coating only involves the masonry against
the ground, not the flooring of the basement spaces, since it is believed that
rainwater will be dispersed by gravity from the drainage belt. To protect the
walls against the dampness of the soil, bituminous paints or molten bitu-
2. Polyester men are often applied. To be truly efficacious, the layer applied should be
TNT filter around 3-4 mm thick, but very often it is hard to apply a uniform layer, and
Floor
in addition the protective film is not reinforced, and fissures when the first
hairline crack appears in the cement surface, so it is much more effective
to use a prefabricated membrane reinforced with a polyester non-woven
fabric that can offer superior elasticity, uniform thickness, and resistance to
punching and crazing. The coating should then be protected to ensure it is
not pierced during the backfill phase, and adequate vertical drainage should
be provided, connecting to the perimeter drainage system laid at the foot of
3. Drainage the building to avoid standing rain water next to the waterproofing. The use
pipe of a specialised prefabricated layer to provide waterproofing, drainage and
protection may be advantageous when there is not enough draining filler.

1 PRIMER
The surface of the wall against the ground will nous primer: this is a bituminous solution based a dry residue of 40% and viscosity (UNI EN-ISO
first be treated with a coat of INDEVER bitumi- on bitumen oxidate, additives and solvents, with 2431) of 12 - 17 s

2 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE
After the primer has dried, ARMODILLO
POLIESTERE, a special multifunctional water-
proofing membrane, a protective and draining
reinforced elastoplastomer bitumen polymer,
reinforced with high resistance non-woven
polyester fabric will be applied by torch to full
adherence.
ARMODILLO is the multifunctional waterproof-
part of the work and the part most exposed
to water, is a useful precaution in areas with
heavy rainfall.
The upper surface of the membrane will be
reinforced with 6 mm thick rhomboid plaques
of bitumen polymer mix at a density of 1,567
plaques/m2. The thickness of the membrane, in
flat parts, must be 2.5 mm, and it must resist
dynamic punching by a 1 kg hammer falling
from a height of 50 cm onto a two blade punch
compliant with UNI8202.
The membrane must adhere to the concrete
with a force of over 100 Kpa. The reinforced
Plaques on the
reinforced
surface of
ARMODILLO
membrane should be bonded in total adher-
ence by torch to the wall to be coated, with
the studded side outermost. The sheets are
overlapped and sealed laterally along the over-
lap line marked in the membrane, while the top
edges of the sheets will be sealed by bonding
the top of the membrane to a 14 cm wide strip
of polyester reinforced membrane DPC previ-
ously bonded to the wall. The more difficult
connections and details will be made using
TESTUDO smooth surface membrane rein-
forced with non-woven polyester fabric.
The waterproof membrane will extend above
ground for at least 20 – 30 cm.
To avoid blocking the drainage space by finer
soil elements, a filter layer of Filtro non-
woven polyester fabric of 200 g/m2 will be
attached to the gently torched thermoadhesive
studs of the membrane. The filter will then be
lapped on the drainage pipe at the foot of the
underground wall.

ing membrane that performs all the functions

listed above on its own.
Using additives in the concrete mix, as indicat-
ed in the subsequent cases only the perimeter
foundation slab, which constitutes the deepest

EXAMPLES OF FOUNDATIONS WATERPROOFED WITH “ARMODILLO” REINFORCED MEMBRANE

4 FOUNDATIONS Technical Specifications

 C CELLARS, BASEMENTS AND WALLS AGAINST THE GROUND
ON DRAINING SOILS

SITUATION
Buried works in draining soils protected with self-adhesive membrane.
The proposed technical solution concerns the underground part of buildings
constructed on soil that drains sufficiently, in the absence of an unconfined
1. SELFTENE BASE aquifer, and so the impermeable coating only involves the masonry against
POLYESTER membrane the ground, not the flooring of the basement spaces, since it is believed that
rainwater will be dispersed by gravity from the drainage belt.
2. PROTEFON•TEX To avoid using a torch or hot spreading techniques, bituminous paints or emul-
sions that can be applied cold are used, applied at 2- 3 kg/m2.
The thickness of the layer was no more than 2 mm after drying, and often it was
Floor
not hard to apply a uniform thickness. In addition, the unreinforced bituminous
film crazed when the first hairline crack appears in the cement surface So it is
much easier to use a self-adhesive prefabricated membrane reinforced with
polyester non-woven fabric that can offer superior elasticity, uniform thickness,
resistance to punching and crazing, and can be applied cold. The coating
should then be protected to ensure it is not pierced during the backfill phase,
and adequate vertical drainage should be provided, connecting to the pe-
3. Drainage pipe rimeter drainage system laid at the foot of the building to avoid standing rain
water next to the waterproofing. The use of a specialised prefabricated layer
to provide drainage and protection may be advantageous when there is not
enough draining filler.

1 PRIMER
The surface to be treated must be clean and blobs of cement protruding from the wall that m2 depending on the porosity of the surface. The
dry, with no release agents present that might might pierce the waterproof membrane must be primer has a dry residue (UNI 8911) of50% and
interfere with the adhesion of the primer and removed. a viscosity in a DIN viscosity cup (UNI EN ISO
the membrane. All the metal spacers must be A coat of INDEVER PRIMER E is applied to the 2431) of 20 – 25 s.
cut and nipped from the shuttering, and any whole of the surface to be treated, at 300-500 g/

2 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE
From the top of the wall to a level of at least
20÷30 cm above ground, a waterproof mem-
brane in elastomer bitumen polymer with com-
posite reinforcement in non-woven polyester
fabric stabilised with glass fibre, and its lower
surface spread with a 2 mm thick layer (EN 1849-
1) of SELFTENE BASE POLIESTERE, a self-
adhesive mix is bonded in total adherence by
pressure at ambient temperature. The membrane
has L/T tensile strength (EN12311-1) of 400/300
N/50 mm, elongation at rupture (EN 12311-1)
of 40/40%, nail tear strength (EN12310-1) of
130/130 N, cold bend (EN1109) of -25°C, and transverse overlaps, or to overlap parts of sheets
adhesion (Tack Adhesion Test) of 400 N/cm2 at without silicon banding, they will be overlapped
20°C and 350 N/cm2 at 5°C. at least 12 cm and bonded in the same way. The
The membrane sheets are cut to size and adhesion of the top of the sheets, above ground,
arranged vertically on the wall to be coated, will be finished by torch or hot air and the tops
removing the silicone film covering the underside of the sheets fixed mechanically with 3 nails per
and pressing them by hand to adhere to the linear metre, with washers of at least 20 mm.
treatment surface.
The sheets are overlapped 8 cm longitudinally
along the special overlap area; after removing
the double-sided silicon protective band they
are carefully pressed together, using a roller. For

3 DRAINING AND FILTERING PROTECTIVE LAYER

The vertical protection and drainage layer will
be created with a studded sheet in HDPE com-
bined with a polypropylene non-woven filter-
ing fabric resistant to chemical agents, bacteria
and the mould present in the ground, such as
PROTEFON•TEX, with surface mass of 775 g/m2.
The sheet must cover all the waterproof cover-
ing, and the stud studs will be 8 mm thick. The
sheet will have compression resistance of 19,000
kg/m2 and draining capacity 16.6 m3/h·m. The
sheet is applied with the face covered with the
non-woven fabric against the earth fill, with over-
laps of approximately 10 cm, joined by interlock-
ing the studs of the studded sheet.
The tops of the sheets will cover the part of the
waterproof membrane protruding above ground,
and will be attached mechanically and protected
using the special plastic profile.
At the foot of the wall against the ground, the
non-woven fabric will be separated from a 40-50
cm high strip of studded sheet and turned onto
the perimeter drainage pipe to avoid blockage
caused by the finer parts of the fill soil.

4 PREPARATION OF CONCRETE FOR POURING FOUNDATIONS AND WATERPROOF SLABS

The concrete for waterproof foundations must be
made of low hydration heat cement with a ce-
ment content of 350 kg/m3 or more, and at least
5% of the total weight consisting of fine grain
(0.2 mm granule) aggregate with perfect granu-
lometry (UNI 7163). The water/cement ratio must
be no more than 0.45. Waterproof concrete will
be obtained by adding 1.5% by weight of cement
of FLUXAN superfluidising additive and 1% by
weight of cement of SATURFIX waterproofing
additive. Appropriate amounts of the additives
will be added during mixing, and the concrete
mixture must be mixed for a further three min-
utes. Excessive vibration times during pouring
must be avoided, and the concrete must be ma-
tured properly. FLUXAN additive must have the
following characteristics and properties: product
density 1.15±0.01 kg/l, dry residue to UNI 7111-
72 standard 32%; surface tension of the prod-
uct in aqueous solution in a 0.5 ratio of water to
cement according to the UNI 7117-72 standard:
0.078 N/m; chlorine free content according to
UNI 7117-72; quantity of water required to obtain
a normal mix (according to DM 3/8/86 Chapter
II, section I, article 7): 120 cc; reduction of wa-
ter in mix with FLUXAN additive content 1.5%
of cement mass: 15%. SATURFIX additive must
have the following characteristics and properties:
product density at 20°C, 1.03±0.01 kg/litre; pH 9.

Technical Specifications FOUNDATIONS 5

 D CELLARS, BASEMENTS AND WALLS AGAINST THE GROUND
ON DRAINING SOILS

SITUATION
Underground spaces in clay soils
This is a situation with a high risk of damp penetration.  Clay soils are able to
draw water from an aquifer from 3 to 8 m deep, and during rain they retain
rainwater for long periods of time.
1. FLEXTER TESTUDO The proposed solution involves coating the walls against the ground and
membrane the horizontal masonry under the floors with a 4 mm thick membrane rein-
forced with non-woven polyester fabric, plus fluidising and waterproofging
2. PROTEFON TEX additives in the poured foundations. Particular attention must be paid in
the design stage to the level that a sudden rise in the unconfined aquifer
Floor might reach, since, if the layers laid on top of the waterproof membrane on
Membrane the horizontal part is not able to counterbalance the thrust this could cause
shear failure in the floor and the membrane.  If the level of the aquifer is vari-
able, the next solution should be adopted.

3. Drainage pipe

1 PRIMER
The surface of the wall against the ground will nous primer: this is a bituminous solution based a dry residue of 40% and viscosity (UNI EN-ISO
first be treated with a coat of INDEVER bitumi- on bitumen oxidate, additives and solvents, with 2431) of 12 - 17 s

2 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE
After the primer has dried, a 4 mm thick bitu-
men polymer elastoplastomer waterproof mem-
brane, based on distilled bitumen, plastom-
ers and elastomers, reinforced with Spunbond
“non-woven” single-strand polyesters stabi-
lised with glass fibre, FLEXTER TESTUDO
SPUNBOND POLIESTERE 4, certified by
Agreement with ITC-CNR (ex ICITE) will be
bonded in full adhesion by torching. The mem-
brane will have L/T tensile strength (EN12311-
1) of 850/700 N/50 mm, elongation at rupture
(EN 12311-1) of 50/50%, nail tear strength parts for at least 10 cm above floor level.
(EN12310-1) of 150/150 N, dimensional stability
when hot (EN1107-1) ±0.3/±0.2%, cold bend
(EN1109) of -20°C and flow resistance (EN1110)
of 140°C. The considerations made in the pre-
ceding chapters apply to the issue of thermal
insulation.
The sheets are spread dry on a weak mix, and
overlapped approximately 10 cm.  The overlap-
ping sheets will be carefully torched and the
overlap turned and torch bonded to the vertical

3 DRAINING AND FILTERING PROTECTIVE LAYER

The vertical protection and drainage layer will be
created with a studded sheet in HDPE combined
with a polypropylene non-woven filtering fabric re-
sistant to chemical agents, bacteria and the mould
present in the ground, such as PROTEFON•TEX,
with surface mass of 775 g/m2.
The sheet must cover all the waterproof cov-
ering, and the stud studs will be 8 mm thick.
The sheet will have compression resistance of
19,000 kg/m2 and draining capacity 16.6 m3/ At the foot of the wall against the ground, the
h·m. The sheet is applied with the face covered non-woven fabric will be separated from a 40-
with the non-woven fabric against the earth fill, 50 cm high strip of studded sheet and turned
with overlaps of approximately 10 cm, joined onto the perimeter drainage pipe to avoid
by interlocking the studs of the studded sheet. blockage caused by the finer parts of the fill soil.
The tops of the sheets will cover the part of
the waterproof membrane protruding above
ground, and will be attached mechanically and
protected using the special plastic profile.

4 PREPARATION OF CONCRETE FOR POURING FOUNDATIONS AND WATERPROOF SLABS

The concrete for waterproof foundations must
be made of low hydration heat cement with a
cement content of 350 kg/m3 or more, and at
least 5% of the total weight consisting of fine
grain (0.2 mm granule) aggregate with perfect
granulometry (UNI 7163). The water/cement ra-
tio must be no more than 0.45. Waterproof con-
crete will be obtained by adding 1.5% by weight
of cement of FLUXAN superfluidising additive
and 1% by weight of cement of SATURFIX wa-
terproofing additive. Appropriate amounts of
the additives will be added during mixing, and
the concrete mixture must be mixed for a fur- ing to DM 3/8/86 Chapter II, section I, article 7):
ther three minutes. Excessive vibration times 120 cc; reduction of water in mix with FLUXAN
during pouring must be avoided, and the con- additive content 1.5% of cement mass: 15%.
crete must be matured properly. FLUXAN addi- SATURFIX additive must have the following
tive must have the following characteristics and characteristics and properties: product density
properties: product density 1.15±0.01 kg/l, dry at 20°C, 1.03±0.01 kg/litre; pH 9.
residue to UNI 7111-72 standard 32%; surface
tension of the product in aqueous solution in a
0.5 ratio of water to cement according to the
UNI 7117-72 standard: 0.078 N/m; chlorine free
content according to UNI 7117-72; quantity of
water required to obtain a normal mix (accord-

6 FOUNDATIONS Technical Specifications

 E UNDERGROUND SPACES CONSTANTLY
UNDER UNCONFINED AQUIFER OR NEAR THE AQUIFER

1 HELASTA
3 to the pumping station
shuttering

2. HELASTA POLYESTER
membrane 1. Concrete
weak mix Probe
3. Protefon

E1 2
sheet
2. HELASTA POLYESTER
membrane
Aquifer

hood

1 removable protective skim

shuttering
3 to the pumping station

3. HELASTA POLYESTER
membrane 1. Concrete with
hood additives
Probe
4.PROTEFON

2. EXPAN BENTONITICO
polyester

E2
weak mix
3. HELASTA POLYESTER
2 reinforcement membrane
Aquifer

Underground spaces constantly or
periodically under unconfined aquifers
Coordination of the various phases and opera-
tors on a site is essential for successful works
and also because a defect in the primary water-
proofing system can make the underground
spaces unusable. In the presence of an aquifer,
waterproofing should be supplemented by add-
ing additives to pouring concrete and inserting
cords in expanded polyethylene in the interface
of the construction joints. This waterproofing
system is much more challenging than the previ-
ous ones, and particular care must be taken in
selecting the materials, laying the foundation
and designing the accessory works. The next
few sections contain some suggestions. The
material proposed, Helasta POLIESTERE 4,
is a bitumen-elastomer membrane reinforced
with a polyester non-woven fabric; given the
SITUATION
very high elasticity of the compound coating the the water. To level the base of the excavation, a
non-woven, it can absorb hairline cracking of the trowelled smooth concrete bed is created that
surfaces to which it is applied, and any shifts that will constitute the base on which the waterproof
occur between the weak mix and the foundation membrane, and then the main foundation will be
without breaking, remaining waterproof even laid. So the coating, consisting of two Helasta
under strain. The entire load-bearing and water POLIESTERE membranes is applied on top of
pressure resistant foundation is contained by the this bed. Subsequently, after the foundation has
waterproof membrane. To execute the works, the been poured and the perimeter walls erected,
level of the unconfined aquifer surrounding the this will be joined to the horizontal waterproofing
area to be excavated for the foundations must and the same coating will continue vertically up
first be lowered: well point pumping systems to 30-50 cm above ground.
are used, working continuously, and fitted with
backup circuits that cut in if there is a breakdown
in the main system or a power cut.
It is very important to ensure that pumping is
continuous, because if the pumps stop the
aquifer will rise and move or damage the works
that have not yet reached the necessary weight
and resistance to counterbalance the thrust of

Installing waterproof membrane directly on the weak Poured concrete and smoothing of the base to
Detail of pumping phase to lower the aquifer Detail of waterproofing of wall in elevation
mix bed and subsequent protection with hood receive waterproofing

Technical Specifications FOUNDATIONS 7

 1 WATERPROOF MEMBRANE
In the excavation area, the level of the uncon-
fined aquifer will be lowered and maintained
at a level at least 50 cm below the base of the
excavation.
The base of the pit will be levelled with a
carefully trowelled bed in weak concrete, and
the foundation shuttering will be laid on this.
The internal part of the base of the shuttering
will include a triangular-section wooden angle
piece of 5 cm per side, to round off the join
between the horizontal and vertical planes.
Two coating layers will be applied to the weak
concrete, each composed of a 4 mm thick
bitumen polymer elastoplastomer waterproof
membrane, based on radial styrene-butadiene
thermoplastic rubber and distilled bitumen,
with elongation at rupture of 2000% and elastic
recovery of 300%, reinforced with HELASTA
POLIESTERE 4 Spunbond “non-woven” sin-
gle-strand polyesters, certified by Agreement
with ITC-CNR (ex ICITE).
The membrane will have L/T tensile strength
(EN12311-1) of 900/700 N/50 mm, elongation
at rupture (EN 12311-1)  of 50/50%, nail tear
strength (EN12310-1) of 200/200 N, fatigue
resistance at -20°C (UEAtc) of over 1000 cycles
on new material and over 500 cycles on arti-
ficially aged material, cold bend (EN1109) of
-25°C and heat stability (EN1110) of 100°C.
The first layer is laid dry on the weak mix
concrete, with 10 cm overlaps bonded with a
propane gas torch and turned onto the founda-
tion shuttering; the second layer, laid covering
the joins in the previous sheet, will be fully torch
bonded to the first layer to cover the foundation
shuttering, again with 10 cm overlaps.
To avoid tears in the waterproof membrane
while the foundation reinforcement iron is being
2 PREPARATION OF CONCRETE FOR POURING FOUNDATIONS AND WATERPROOF SLABS
The concrete for waterproof foundations must
be made of low hydration heat cement with a
cement content of 350 kg/m3 or more, and at
least 5% of the total weight consisting of fine
grain (0.2 mm granule) aggregate with perfect
granulometry (UNI 7163).
The water/cement ratio must be no more than
0.45. Waterproof concrete will be obtained by
adding 1.5% by weight of cement of FLUXAN
superfluidising additive and 1% by weight of
cement of SATURFIX waterproofing additive.
Appropriate amounts of the additives will be
added during mixing, and the concrete mixture
must be missed for a further three minutes.
3 WATERSTOP
In the interface of the construction joints of
the foundation works, water tightness will
be obtained with a waterstop consisting of
an EXPAN BENTONITICO water-activated
expanding rubber cord with 100% expan-
4 PROTECTION LAYER
The membrane protection layer applied to
the walls against the ground will be created
with PROTEFON, a studded drainage sheet
in HDPE, resistant to chemical agents, bac-
teria and soil moulds. The sheet will have 8
8 FOUNDATIONS
laid, it will be covered with a 3-4 cm thick skim to the non-woven fabric does not adhere to
of concrete, and sheets of wood will be placed the waterproofing and this protection may
to protect the vertical part covering the shut- therefore be removed easily before jointing
tering. After the reinforcement has been laid the horizontal and vertical coatings.
and the foundation slab poured, the protective
wood panels will be removed before the slab
has set, and the protruding edges between the
base of the foundation and the wall in elevation
will be rounded with a trowel.
The foundation shuttering will be left in place
until the walls have been erected. The walls will
be treated with a coat of INDEVER bituminous
primer: this is a bituminous solution based on
bitumen oxidate, additives and solvents, with a
dry residue of 40% and viscosity (UNI EN-ISO
2431) of 12 - 17 s
The shuttering will then be removed and the
band of protruding membrane will be turned in
and bonded to the base of the foundation.
The vertical coating will consist of two mem-
branes of the same joined by torch to the hori-
zontal coating with an overlap of at least 20 cm.
The first layer will be bonded by torch to the
wall up to a height of 30-50 cm above ground,
including a 10 cm overlap, and the second layer
will be laid to cover the joins in the first one, and
fully bonded by torching in the same way.
The only difference between solution “E” and
method ”D” is the different system used to
connect the horizontal and vertical water-
proofing. The membrane spread over the
weak mix foundation bed is left flat and the
part that will not be covered by the resist-
ant foundation will be protected by a loose-
laid 500 g/m2 non-woven polyester fabric. A
2-3 cm thick layer of cement mortar will be
spread over this to provide further mechani-
cal protection. The cement mortar applied
Excessive vibration times during pouring must 1.5% of cement mass: 15%.
be avoided, and the concrete must be matured SATURFIX additive must have the following
properly. characteristics and properties: product density
FLUXAN additive must have the following at 20°C, 1.03±0.01 kg/litre; pH 9.
characteristics and properties: product den-
sity 1.15±0.01 kg/l, dry residue to UNI 7111-72
standard 32%; surface tension of the product
in aqueous solution in a 0.5 ratio of water to
cement according to the UNI 7117-72 stand-
ard: 0.078 N/m; chlorine free content according
to UNI 7117-72; quantity of water required to
obtain a normal mix (according to DM 3/8/86
Chapter II, section I, article 7): 120 cc; reduction
of water in mix with FLUXAN additive content
sion after 7 days’ immersion. The cord will be applied immediately before pouring, attached
attached at 20-30 cm intervals with steel nails, 7-8m from the edge, joined by laterally over-
although a POLIBOND PUR polyurethane lapping the two ends of the cord to be joined
adhesive should be used if the surface is 10 – 15 cm.
irregular. The EXPAN BENTONITICO should be
mm thick stud and compression resistance of sheet.  The sheets will be attached mechanical-
19,000 kg/m2. The sheet is applied with the ly, using the special profile, at 10-15 cm above
face covered with the non-woven fabric against the ground, and will entirely cover the water-
the soil, with overlaps of approximately 10 cm, proof membrane to the foot of the foundation.
joined by interlocking the studs of the studded
Technical Specifications
 DETAILS OF INSTALLATION

Waterproofing with bituminous membrane has been carried out for

heads of water of up to 25 m. It is generally considered that water-
proofing with bituminous membrane can resist vertical pressure of
0.8 N/mm2, which can be increased to 1.2 N/mm2 if deformation is
The materials prevented.
The foundation waterproof membrane may be subject to notable
strain by the concrete structures covering it, and cracks can appear on
the walls. An 8 mm double layer system as proposed in the preceding
pages is considered able to sustain cracks up to 20 mm wide.

Preparation of All the surfaces destined to receive the waterproof membrane must
the surface to be trowelled smooth, all the angles and joints between layers must be
be covered rounded with a radius of curvature of at least 5 cm.

The system of covering the vertical wall of the foundation by bond-

ing the waterproof membrane to it is the safest, since the membrane
adheres fully to the works it is protecting. But this requires a lot of Existing foundation
space. Often the breadth of the excavation does not permit work on Liner
the outside of the vertical foundation wall, and hence it is not possible
to cover it using the procedure indicated in the preceding chapters. In
this case a liner must be installed along the perimeter of the founda-
tion, to which the waterproofing will be bonded.
weak mix

On some soils it may also be necessary to reinforce the weak mix

concrete and any liner installed. Foundation

Reinforced
weak mix
concrete

On the piling, the weak mix concrete must be thicker on the head
of the piles to distribute the load better, and the weak mix must be
suitably shaped in the presence of irregular foundation slabs. When
foundations are built on non-load bearing soils, it is common practice Foundation
to consolidate them with a piling; but if adequate precautions are not
taken the weak mix concrete can break in the area between the soil
The foundation and the piles, threatening the integrity of the coating. To avoid this
problem the remaining concrete must also be reinforced, connecting
it to the piling.
Thickening

Foundation
Foundation Pile

Reinforced
weak mix
concrete
Reinforcement
Weak mix
concrete
breakage
point

In certain situations, when the thrust of the aquifer is expected to raise Reinforcement
the resistant foundation, it may be necessary to connect the foundation
reinforcement to a reinforcement sunk into the piles, and so the iron
must pass through the waterproofing. These points can constitute weak
points in the membrane, and so the problem must be resolved with joining
special metal elements with a broad bed to connect to the coating and plate
possibly also a flange and counterflange system. The membrane that
will subsequently be gripped by the flange will be torched to the joining
bed, which has been previously coated in primer. If poorly executed,
this solution can cause major problems and so should only be used in
situations that cannot be resolved in any other way.
Technical Specifications FOUNDATIONS 9
 This device may also be used when the continuity of the membrane
Iron Membrane
under the pillars of a framework must be guaranteed without having bars
to attach the membrane with a flange. To resist damp due to capillary joining plate
action only, it is sufficient for the membrane to be well bonded to the
joining bed.
Plate

weld

Connection
devices
Iron
bars

joining
plate

The number of points at which the walls against the ground are
breached must be reduced to the indispensable minimum. The device Membrane stop ring for
gasket welded to pipe
to connect to the waterproof membrane may consist of a metal sleeve
with a large flange and welded bolts to be sunk into the concrete.
The flange will be coated with primer and a piece of membrane 15 Gasket
Through cm wider bonded to it. This will serve as joint with the waterproof
pipes covering.
The sleeve will be fitted with a metal ring for a gasket.
The internal part of the sleeve will also be fitted with a flange and bolts Flange Pipe
Counterflange
to tighten the gasket against the pipe.

Joints between constructed parts that might settle in different ways

must be avoided as far as possible. If unavoidable, the possible solu-
tions are: Protective plate

HELASTA POLYESTER

Joints
In the case of large joins, the vertical waterproofing will rest on a liner.
rubber strip/band

compressible
cord

high
pump

elastic joint

To avoid penetration of damp due to rain water bouncing off pave-

ments, two damp proof courses should be installed, linking them with
a vertical coating.

Damp Proof
Course

10 FOUNDATIONS Technical Specifications

 If the soil permits, it is always preferable to construct a shaft that is
grating
not attached to the wall without a reinforced concrete base, with the
bottom full of gravel connected to the vertical and perimeter drainage.

Membrane
drainage

Basement
windows
This will ensure that the body of the shaft does not detach from the
wall due to settling of the building, breaking the continuity of the
waterproof membrane. If the shaft needs to be attached to the con-
struction, the side walls as well as the bottom need to be connected:
the side walls must be tied into the walls of the construction. The
membrane will cover it completely, and the adequately waterproofed
bottom will be built with a slope towards the rain guttering connected
to the perimeter drainage system.
drainage

Steps must be built after the wall against the ground has been water-
proofed, and will be separated from the wall by a gap of at least 2
cm. The bottom will be fitted with a drainage grating linked to the
perimeter drainage system.
External cellar
steps

A well-designed drainage system may in many cases constitute a true

security system, avoiding the passage of water inside the construction vertical
also in the presence of waterproof covering. It is important to include drainage
effective drainage to reduce hydrostatic pressure close to the mem- horizontal
drainage
brane, so that even in the presence of faults in the covering the amount
of water passing through will be reduced considerably.
The drainage network generally consists of:
perimeter
• horizontal drainage (subfloor) drainage
• perimeter drainage system (at the foot of the foundation) system
• vertical drainage (close to the walls against the ground).
Drainage The horizontal drainage will be joined to the perimeter drainage through
and protection perforated pipes, and will be maintained at a higher level. The perimeter
of the drainage system with perforated pipes, will be connected at a constant
waterproof slope of 1% to a discharge manifold.
membrane The vertical drainage, connected to the perimeter system, will also act
as a layer protecting the waterproofing during backfilling. It will consist
of porous cement blocks loose laid against the vertical wall and draining
polystyrene panels or sheets of PROTEFON•TEX.
It may also consist of gravel; in this case the waterproof membrane
needs first to be protected with a non-woven polyester fabric of
300±500 gr/m2 or with PROTEFON.
In clay soils, to avoid blocking the drainage system, all three of the
elements of which it is composed should be protected with a filtering
layer of Filter non-woven polyester of 200 gr/m2 with a 10 cm overlap
of the sheets.

Waterproofing masonry against the ground with cement-based materials, rectification of damp walls and waterproofing of underground rooms
from the inside are dealt with in the division 4 publications.
• Technical Specifications 01 – Rectifying damp walls with dehumidifying plasters
• Technical Specifications 02 – Waterproofing with osmotic cements
Technical Specifications FOUNDATIONS 11
 03/2011ing

©
12 INDEX S.p.A.
FOUNDATIONS
Technical
Specifications

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Technical Specifications
The figures shown are average indicative figures relevant to current production
and may be changed or updated by INDEX S.p.A at any time without previous
warning. The advice and technical information provided, is what results from our
best knowledge regarding the properties and the use of the product. Conside
ing the numerous possible uses and the possible interference of conditions or
elements beyond our control, we assume no responsibility regarding the results
which are obtained. The purchasers, of their own accord and under their own
responsibility, must establish the suitability of the product for the envisaged use.