Barn conversion
above ground membrane system
System requirements
Zurich insurance required all wall surfaces to be lined with a plastic membrane system
to prevent contamination of the new plastering system from the wall structures.
Proposed end use
The barn was being converted to a domestic dwelling.
The problem
The rear wall of the barn was partially below ground and a small stream ran adjacent
to the rear of the building.
Internal stonework was contaminated with nitrate, chloride and sulphate salts partly due to the previous use of the building.
Zurich Insurance, who were providing 10-year insurance cover for the whole project, required a solution to the damp and contamination problems that would carry a GPI insurance-backed. It was stipulated that the chosen system should not permanently deface the stonework.
The solution
A cementitious system was considered unsuitable because of the requirement that the stonework
should not be permanently defaced.
A cavity drain plastic membrane system was therefore determined to be the most suitable system.
Design features
As the front of the building was not below ground, it was possible to drain the membrane system to the
front wall via a series of 'weep holes'. The floor slab was sloped towards the front of the building to
eliminate the need for any drains.
The plaster membrane system was installed on all walls of the barn. The membrane system chosen accepted a 'dot & dab' thermal board dry lining system to meet the insulation requirements of Building Control.
This case study also features on the website of Safeguard Europe Ltd who are the distributors of 'Oldroyd' membrane waterproofing systems and 'Vandex' products.
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