DAMPNESS

1. DAMPNESS Capillarily pulled up dampness This phenomenon is responsible both for absorbing rain water fl owing down the facade and subsurface water by the wall, and for pulling the dampness up from the basement and base course area to upper parts of the wall, against the earthpull. Hygroscopic dampness In case of high content of hygroscopic salts in the wall, it may get damp despite the apparent lack of water access. Condensation dampness Condensation consists in a change of state of aggregation of the water vapour present in the air. Water may condense both on insulated walls, when the air inside the room has high relative humidity (e.g. in laundry, drying room or bathroom), and on capillary walls of the building material (inside the wall). Subsurface water Subsurface water penetrates from aside through untight vertical insulations or from the bottom throughuntight horizontal insulation.

2. 1. Sand, 2. Humus, 3. Made cohesive ground Influence of water on building The water may be present in the ground in a number of forms. Depending on the type of water, aproper protection against the building dampness should be used. Influence of water on building: a) Natural ground dampness In case of well permeable non-cohesive ground (gravel or sand) it may be assumed there is no pressurised subsurface water. Basements should then be secured only against natural grounddampness.

3. 1. clay, 2. sand, 3. humus, 4. fi ne gravel, 5. coarse gravel, 6. made cohesive ground, 7. Banked up water, 8. fi ltration layer, 9. foamed polystyrene drain plate, 10. drain pipe Influence of water on building Influence of water on building: a) The rain water Subsurface waters are particularly dangerous in case of cohesive grounds and location of the buildingon a slope. The rain water penetrating the ground vertically downwards stops on the clay layer. Next, it flows from that layer towards the building and penetrates the ground which was poured around the building after its construction. Since the water cannot penetrate the clay under the building, it accumulates and banks up, exerting hydrostatic pressure on basement walls. If the water insulation of the building is not tight, the water will get inside the building.

4. 1. clay, 2. sand, 3. humus, 4. fi ne gravel, 5. coarse gravel, 6. made cohesive ground, 7. Banked up water, 8. fi ltration layer, 9. foamed polystyrene drain plate, 10. drain pipe Influence of water on building Influence of water on building: b) The rain water Water banking up can be avoided using the surrounding drainage around the building.

5. 1. waterproof tank Influence of water on building Influence of water on building: c) High water level If the subsurface water level is high, the water exerts negative pressure on the building also from the bottom, that is why the building needs to have a waterproof tank. Location of foundations below the subsurface water level is also connected with the necessity of securing trenches against fl ooding and making heavy water insulations and drainages.

6. Insulation foils The height of the basement storey the houses without basementsare always constructed at least 5cm below the ground freezing depth (this is 1meter, and 1.4 m in the coldest regions) Founding a house on such a depth protects the building against damage caused by frost heaves. the houses with a basement to the foundation has to be laid ca. 30 cm below the basement floor level.Foundations should be supported on the base up to the depth of 2.5-2.8 m below the ground level.

7. Damp insulations Hydroinsulation protects building from dampness comming from the ground The horizontal insulation: - insulation of a foundation walls (IZOPLAST) - insulation of the floors (BUDFOL/EKOFOL IZ) The vertical insulation: - insulation of a foundation (basement) walls The vertical insulationis as important as the horizontal one. The insulation foil should be extended on the building base course to the height of min. 30–50 cm above the ground level. The horizontal insulationis required even in houses without basements. Good connection of the wall insulation with the horizontal insulation of the floor is a guarantee of a dry house. Vertical insulation should be tightly connected with horizontal insulation preventing the walls from capillary dampness pullup. In case of buildings with heated basements one has also to remember about the damp insulation and thermal insulation in order to protect walls against dampening of internal surfaces by condensing water vapour.

8. Insulation foils Foundation insulation IZOPLAST foil Installed as horizontal damp insulation of foundation and building walls. Insulation foils - EKOFOL IZ – 150- EKOFOL IZ – 200- EKOFOL IZ – 300- EKOFOL IZ – 500- BUDFOL – 200- BUDFOL – 500 EKOFOL IZ and BUDFOL insulation foils are used as the following: – damp insulation layer under the floors, tiles, screeds; – skid layer, e.g. on terrace surface; – protective layer preventing thermal and acoustic insulation from getting damp.

9. 1. BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ insulation foils, 2. Foundation wall, 3. Damp insulation of a foundation wall made of the IZOPLAST foil, 4. Slanted mortar, 5. Horizontal insulation of a foundation wall made of the IZOPLAST foil, 6. Continuous footing, 7. Subsurface water level Foundations a) Solid foundation of waterproof concrete It is a kind of foundation whose top is located over the subsurface water level and bottom is located below the ground freezing level. Such foundations are usually laid using waterproof concrete since only construction foil is installed in the excavation (BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ). The purpose of that foil is to protect the concrete mix against soiling with the ground. Next, horizontal damp insulation (e.g. IZOPLAST) provided for in the design is laid on the footing and slightly lower foundation walls are built.

10. 1. Ceramic tile footing, 2. BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ insulation foils, 3. Vertical insulation of the foundation wall, 4. Foundation horizontal insulation (folia IZOPLAST), 5. Continuous footing, 6. Gravel or thin concrete, 7. Subsurface water level Foundations b) Foundation above the ground water When the subsurface water is 30–40 cm above the foundation level, it is cost-effective to elevate the whole building to the same height.

11. 1. Reinforcement with rods of steel, 2. concrete slab, 3. BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ insulation foils, 4. Thin concrete ground beam; may be replaced by sand bed, 5. Filtration layer, 6. „groyne”, i.e. local reinforcement under the load-bearing wall, 7.IZOPLAST foil foundation horizontal insulation overlapping by at least 20 cm with the vertical insulation, 8. damp insulation made of BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ foil on the sand base or made of tar board on thin concrete Foundations c) Slab foundation When the subsurface water is as littleas 50 cm below the ground level or more than 40 cm above the foundation level, a slab foundation can be laid. It has to be thermally insulated.

12. 1. Reinforcement with rods of steel, 2. Separating rods, 3. BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ insulation foils, 4. Heating pipes, 5. Thermal insulation, 6. Plaster, 7. BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ foils horizontal damp insulation of the thickness of 0.2 mm, 8. Drainage layer, 9. Subsurface water level Foundations d) Foundation with air heating The subsurface water can be as little as 30–40 cm below the ground level. www.universalconstruct.ro

13. Basements and their insulation Bottom of the building 1. in a building without basements with the floor baseddirectly on the ground 2. in a building with basements 3. in building with wooden frame structure with ventilated subfloor space www.universalconstruct.ro

14. 1. Bottom of the building in a building without basements with the floor based directly on the ground Continuous footings in a building without basements should be made on the depth below the ground freezing zone. The horizontal insulation is installed on underground foundation walls in order to prevent the capillary dampness pullup. The insulation should be above the reach of the range of splashing rainwater, i.e. at least 30cm above the surrounding area. Izolację pionową – układa się na zewnątrz ścian fundamentowych, zapobiegając napływowi wilgoci do ścian fundamentowych i do wnętrza budynku. The most effi cient method of securing foundation walls will be the insulation installedon each side: at the bottom, inside and outside. Houses without basements require also the floor damp insulation. - If the floor is thermally insulated with the foamed polystyrene, the insulation foil has to be installed on the foamed polystyrene - If the floor is thermally insulated with the mineral wool, the insulation foil has to be installed on the wool and underneath it in order to protect the wool against dampness, both from the bottom and from the top. www.universalconstruct.ro

15. 1. Brick, 2. Vertical insulation of the foundation wall, 3. Vertical damp insulation BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ min. 0.2 mm, 4. Brick, 5. Waterproof mortar wedge, 6. Horizontal water insulation made of BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ foil extended to the edge of the continuous footings, min. 0.2 mm, 7. Thermal insulation of the cornice, 8. Water insulation turned up on the wall with the view of additional separation of walls from capillary dampness pullup (IZOPLAST) 2. Bottom of the building in a building with basements In buildings with basement, the horizontal insulation has to be installed twice: -on the continuous footings - above the area under the ceiling over the basements. (The purpose of the insulation is to prevent the dampness from getting to the ceiling and ground floor walls) Vertical insulation outside walls should also be made with due care. If this is a wet area, it is necessary to use additionally the drainage foil with special splines in the form of plugs located on this side of foil that is pressed against the wall. www.universalconstruct.ro

16. 1. Curtain wall made of clinker brick, 2. Ventilation gap, 3. Wind insulation, 4. Glass wool, 5. Sheathing made of waterproof plywood, 6. Glass wool, 7. BUDFOL or EKOFOL PI vapour barrier, 8. Additional layers of glass wool, 9. Gypsum board, 10. Ceiling structure sheathing made of waterproof plywood, 11. Glass wool, 12. Insulation, 13. Ventilated subfl oor space, 14. BUDFOL or EKOFOL PI vapour barrier, 15. Sand bed between foundations, 16. ventilation openings 3. The bottom of the building with wooden frame structure with ventilated subfloor space A solution characteristic for buildings with framework structure is the ceiling over the ground level and ventilated subfloor space. The walls in the frame structure are tight thanks to the application of the vapour-barrier foil. www.universalconstruct.ro

17. Building external walls A modern external wall complying with requirements of building thermal protection consists of the following layers: – Internal finish – Load-bearing layer (construction layer) – Insulation layer (thermal insulation, vapour-barrier) – External board layer Due to dampness-thermal phenomena, external walls should meet the following requirements: – Thermal flux from heated rooms should be blocked as much as possible and directed backwards – Water vapour should be ensured free flow through all wall layers Multilayer walls should be constructed in such a way that layers with big diffusional resistance (poorly vapour-permeable) are as close as possible to the internal, warm surface of the wall. In this configuration, the water vapour may get outside the wall in the same amount it enters the wall, without condensing inside it. www.universalconstruct.ro

18. Building external walls The type of walls: a) Monolithic foundation walls made of concrete and steel b) Two-layer walls thermally insulated using the light-wet method and the foamed polystyrene c) Brick walls with ventilated siding facade („light-dry” method) or stone slabs facade („heavy-dry”method) d) Wooden stud wall e) Curtain walls made of coated profiled metal plates used as a light hall cladding www.universalconstruct.ro

19. Very good, permeable facade layer (small diff usional resistance plaster), Good, tight facade layer – ventilation gap should be used Average, tight facade layer – thanks to the vapour-barrier the vapour does not reach the insulation Bad, the vapour reaches the thermal insulation causing the condensation. Building external walls The water vapour diffusion phenomenon in a wall consisting of the structure, insulation and facade parts: www.universalconstruct.ro

20. 1. Top – made of tightly adhering boards nailed to the posts, 2. Continuous footing – it has to be wider than the foundation wall so it protrudes at least 5 cm on each side, 3. Insulation – the boarding is placed on the footing after installation of the horizontal IZOPLAST insulation 1. Top – made of 2.5 cm thick boards, 2. IZOPLAST horizontal insulation – on continuous footing, 3. Continuous footing Building external walls a) Monolithic foundation walls made of concrete and steel The thickness of those walls are between 20 and 40 cm. Concrete structure elements are made in the boarding. Boarding of the foundation wall up to 1 m high Boarding of the foundation wall over 1 m high www.universalconstruct.ro

21. 1. Siding, 2. Ventilation gap. 3. WIGOFOL wind insulation, 4. Glass wool, 5. Main wall 1. Siding, 2. ventilation gap, 3. WIGOFOL wind insulation, 4. Glass wool, 5. Main wall Building external walls b) Two-layer walls thermally insulated using the light-wet method and the foamed polystyrene The „light-wet” technology consists in gluing (or gluing and fixing by means of pins) thermal insulation material plates to the external surface of the wall, covering the thermal insulation material with a thin layer of the mesh-reinforced mortar and finally in applying the plaster coating. c) Brick walls with ventilated siding facade („light-dry” method) or stone slabs facade („heavy-dry”method) www.universalconstruct.ro

22. 1. Horizontal boards facing, 2. WIGOFOL wind insulation, 3. Structure sheathing made of waterproof plywood, 4. Thermal insulation made of mineral wool, 5. BUDFOL/EKOFOL PI/STROTEX AL vapour-barrier foil, 6. Additional thermal insulation made of mineral wool, 7. Internal sheathing made of gypsum boards Building external walls d) Wooden stud wall www.universalconstruct.ro

23. 1. Coated profiled metal plate, 2. WIGOFOL wind insulation, 3. Stone wool thermal insulation, 4. BUDFOL/EKOFOL PI/STROTEX AL vapour-barrier foil, 5. Coated profiled metal plate, 6. Steel hall structure Building external walls d) Curtain walls made of coated profiled metal plates used as a light hall cladding www.universalconstruct.ro

24. Ceilings and floors Ceilings/floors, i.e. horizontal partitions between storeys fulfil the following functions: – They bear their own weight, operational loads and partition wall loads; – They stiff en building walls; – They constitute a basis for the floor; – They protect against propagation of fire between storeys; – They constitute thermal insulation between storeys, – They act as acoustic insulation between storeys; – They act as the water insulation in damp rooms. www.universalconstruct.ro

25. Ceilings and floors The layers of the floor, which can be used in different combinations in living quarters, arethe following: – Vapour-barrier or water insulation (kitchens, bathrooms); – Thermal insulation layer acting at the same time as the acoustic insulation – Structural layer of the floor – concrete screed, dry jointless floor or wooden joists; – Base under the finish layer – glue, glue mortar, etc.; – Finish layer – wood flooring, wooden boards, ceramic tiles, stone slabs, plasticand carpet covering, floor panels. www.universalconstruct.ro

26. Ceilings and floors Principles of floor designing: 1. In rooms with higher air humidity (e.g. laundries), layers of the thermal insulation should be covered with a vapour-barrier layer (BUDFOL PAROIZOLACJA, BUDFOL 3W, EKOFOL PI or STROTEX AL). 2. In wet and damp rooms, where water may often be spilled (e.g. baths, lavatories), waterproof insulation should be made (BUDFOL or EKOFOL IZ). www.universalconstruct.ro

27. 1. Ceramic or stone tiles, 2. Flexible glue mortar, 3. concrete screed, 4. Heating cables 5. base concrete screed, 6. thermal insulation layer, 7. BUDFOL/EKOFOL PI/STROTEX AL vapour-barrier in case of a floor above a basement, 8. Rib-and-slab floor, 9. Glass wool insulation band, separating the concrete screed from the wall on the whole floor circumference Ceilings and floors Flowing floor with electric floor heating with hydrophobic stone wool insulation. www.universalconstruct.ro

28. 1. dry jointless floor made of gypsum boards, 2. Glass wool hard plate, 3. BUDFOL/EKOFOL PI/STROTEX AL vapour-barrier foil (in case of the floor above a non-heated basement), 4. Floor boards, 5. Thermal and acoustic insulation, 6. Floor beam, 7. Gypsum board, 8. Floor beams wrapped with IZOPLAST insulation foil in the place of support on the brick wall Ceilings and floors Wooden beam floor with blind floor made of wooden boards, finished as a fl owing, dry jointless floor. www.universalconstruct.ro

29. 1. Opening in the wall, 2. Vapour-barrier foil, 3. Min. 15 cm wide vapour-barrier foil stripe, 4. Overlaps of subsequent vapour-barrier stripes min. 15 cm 1. Frame posts, 2. Cut foil, 3. Vapour-barrier foil Windows Methods of securing window openings with vapour-barrier foil www.universalconstruct.ro

30. 1. Horizontal water insulation BUDFOL IZOLACJA/ EKOFOL IZ of the balcony fl oor is turned up on the wall to the height of 30 cm (the range of splashing rainwater) Balcony doors Balcony doors in a building with three-layer cavity walls www.universalconstruct.ro