What Applications Have Become Mandatory Under the Waterproofing Regulation?

Water-proofing applications became a legal requirement with the Regulation on Water-Proofing published on 27 November 2017. While water-proofing in buildings became mandatory with the Regulation on Urban Planning in Planned Areas published by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security on 3 July 2017, the Regulation on Water-Proofing in Buildings, which would determine the principles of application, was also published in the Official Gazette on 27 October 2017. The "Regulation on Water-Proofing in Buildings," signed by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and published in the Official Gazette, will enter into force on 1 June 2018. The purpose of this Regulation is to regulate the procedures and principles regarding measures to be taken in design and construction and rules to be followed against conditions that pose risks in terms of sustainability, health and use, such as corrosion, durability and strength losses resulting from the exposure of building elements to water or moisture in various ways. The following decisions have been taken after 1 June 2018.

1-Water-proofing details of load-bearing sections of the building will now be shown in the project:

• Water-proofing details, drainage systems and the relevant standards of materials to be used will be shown in architectural and installation projects. • Water-proofing details related to load-bearing elements such as foundation depth, excavation surfaces and expansion joints will also be specified in the static project.

2-Application and design rules have been established:

• Water-proofing to be carried out in new buildings will be applied from the side where building elements are exposed to water (positive). • Rules concerning surface preparation prior to water-proofing application will be followed.

3-Special conditions have been introduced from the building as a whole to design and material selection:

• The Regulation will introduce special conditions for the building as a whole, as well as for water-proofing applications to be carried out on foundations, slabs and wall panels, balconies and roofs, wet areas, water tanks and pools, both regarding design and material selection, and application. • Water-proofing materials specified in project details and intended for use must meet the minimum performance characteristics defined in the relevant national application standard rules, technical specifications and this Regulation. • The thickness and/or consumption information for which the performance properties of materials are ensured must be shown in project details. 4- Requirement for insulation up to basement level in all buildings: • Water-proofing applications to be carried out on foundations and wall panels shall continue with the continuity of insulation up to at least basement level in all buildings with or without basements. • The water-proofing design of surfaces in contact with soil (foundations, wall panels, slabs, etc.) shall be carried out taking into account the intended use of the building, structural properties, type and depth of foundation, along with soil properties indicated in the soil and foundation survey report (permeability, groundwater level, chemical properties of soil/water and similar) and the seasonally highest groundwater level.

5-Requirement for water-proofing against pressurized water effects in tall buildings:

• In basements of buildings with structure height exceeding 51.50 metres or closed usable area exceeding 10,000 m2, water-proofing against pressurized water effects has become mandatory in all cases.

6-Water-proofing has become mandatory in buildings with foundations below water level:

• In buildings where the foundation and/or wall panels are located below the groundwater level, water-proofing measures against pressurized water effects acting externally shall become mandatory regardless of soil permeability.

7-Water-proofing will be designed in accordance with roof type, slope and intended use:

• In water-proofing details to be applied to balconies and roofs, the slope of the surface, area, intended use, roof type, whether vegetation will be planted, the lowest and highest temperatures it will be exposed to, wind loads, precipitation amount and climate-dependent effects such as harmful sun rays will be taken into account. • For sloped roofs in contact with soil or external air, terrace roofs (accessible or non-accessible) and water-proofing measures in balconies and similar areas, non-pressurized water effects will be taken into account. • The drainage system installed on roof and balcony surfaces to prevent water accumulation and direct it away from the building will be designed taking into account the intended use and dimensions of the roof, precipitation amount and similar properties. • Rain water on roofs will be directed away from the building exterior facade at the shortest distance without being admitted into the building.

8-Water-proofing in wet areas will be designed taking into account the impact class of water:

• Water-proofing measures to be applied in wet areas will be determined taking into account usage intensity, wet area water impact classes and application base surfaces. • In the design, water-proofing in individual showers, bathrooms, kitchens and similar wet areas in residential buildings will take into account non-intense non-pressurized water effects. • In wet areas such as toilets, showers and baths open to collective use in buildings such as schools and hospitals, water-proofing will take into account intense non-pressurized water effects. • Drainage systems will be designed to direct water away from the building without accumulation.

9-In applications to be carried out internally and externally in water tanks and pools, attention will be paid to the volume of water, pressure characteristics and quality of material, and structural impermeability will be ensured in all cases:

• In water tanks, pools located inside or outside the building (decorative, swimming, etc.), in large-volume structures containing water and where pressure differences can form on wall perimeters between full and empty conditions, water-proofing details and coating materials to be used will be considered as a whole in a manner compatible with each other and will be designed and applied together. • Against water effects requiring external insulation, surfaces in water-proofing applications to be carried out internally according to the quantity and pressure characteristics of water will be covered with materials that will not compromise water quality. • Structural impermeability will be ensured in water tanks and pools in all cases.

10-Water-proofing application rules and minimum criteria for materials have been defined:

• Water-proofing materials specified in project details and intended for use must meet the minimum performance characteristics defined in the relevant national application standard rules, technical specifications and this Regulation, and in addition to application details, the minimum criteria that materials must meet must be defined.   Semagül Köprülü Architect Technical Product Manager FİXA Yapı Kimyasalları