Below Grade

Standards

• Below-Grade Waterproofing

  Waterproofing of below-grade walls and slabs that retain earth and enclose interior space, where a groundwater investigation confirms a hydrostatic pressure condition or where the Owner requires waterproofing-level protection regardless of the groundwater finding. Covers the membrane families used below grade (self-adhering modified bituminous sheet, cold fluid-applied elastomeric, hot-applied rubberized asphalt, sodium bentonite geotextile composite, pre-applied bonded sheet, and surface-applied cementitious crystalline coating), positive-side, negative-side, and pre-applied blindside application, substrate preparation and priming, application temperature limits, laps and terminations, detailing at penetrations and joints, the protection course, the drainage layer bearing on the membrane, field watertightness verification, backfill against waterproofed surfaces, and warranties.

• Building Thermal Insulation

  Thermal insulation installed in the opaque building envelope of commercial, institutional, multifamily, and residential buildings, covering above-grade wall cavity and continuous insulation, low-slope and steep-slope roof and attic insulation, floors and ceilings over unconditioned space, crawl space enclosures, below-grade foundation walls, and under-slab and slab-edge insulation. Covers all principal insulation forms sold in the North American market: mineral fiber batt, blanket, and board; loose-fill and dense-packed cellulose, fiberglass, and mineral wool; extruded, expanded, and graphite-enhanced polystyrene board; polyisocyanurate board; cellular glass; wood fiber and cellulosic board; spray-applied polyurethane foam; and reflective insulation and radiant barriers. Also covers the thermal resistance basis used to demonstrate energy code compliance, surface burning and foam plastic fire requirements, vapor retarder classification and placement, air barrier coordination, thermal bridge mitigation, and field verification before assemblies are concealed.

• Fluid-Applied Waterproofing

  Seamless membranes built up in place from a liquid on concrete and masonry surfaces that enclose or protect occupied space: plaza and amenity decks, planters and landscaped areas, split-slab and topping-slab assemblies, between-slab and under-topping interior conditions, parking structure intermediate and roof levels with an exposed traffic-bearing membrane, and below-grade walls where a monolithic bonded membrane is selected instead of sheet. Covers hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt and the cold liquid-applied chemistries (polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate, polyurea, and polymer-modified asphalt emulsion), in both the buried configuration under a separate wearing course and the exposed configuration with an integral wearing surface, together with substrate preparation, primer, reinforcement, thickness control, protection course, drainage composite, root barrier, terminations, drains and penetrations, integrity testing, and warranty.

• Foundation Drainage

  Perimeter and sub-slab drainage protecting below-grade structures on commercial, institutional, and residential projects. Covers the design groundwater basis, perforated thermoplastic perimeter drain pipe, open-graded aggregate envelopes, geotextile filtration, prefabricated wall drainage composites, sub-slab drainage layers and collector piping, crawl space drainage, cleanouts, sump pits with pumps and alarms, gravity and pumped discharge, sequencing with below-grade waterproofing, and field verification before concealment.

• Sanitary Waste and Vent Piping

  The sanitary drain, waste, and vent piping inside a building and the building drain out to five feet beyond the foundation wall, in commercial, institutional, industrial, and multifamily buildings: the pipe, fittings, joints, and couplings in cast iron, PVC, ABS, copper, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and polyethylene; the fixture traps, trap arms, and the venting that protects them; the slope and the changes of direction of horizontal drainage; the indirect waste receptors that take equipment discharge; the connections to fixtures, floor drains, cleanouts, grease interceptors, sumps, and ejectors; hangers, vertical support, seismic restraint, thermal movement, acoustic treatment, sleeves, and firestopping; below-slab bedding and backfill; and the rough-in and final tests that prove the system tight.

• Site Utilities

  Exterior underground wet and dry site utilities for commercial, institutional, and industrial building projects, beginning 5 feet outside the building footprint and extending to the point of connection at the public main, meter, or utility owner's facility. Covers the site domestic and fire water service and on-site water distribution (ductile iron and PVC pressure pipe, valves, hydrants, service fittings, thrust restraint), the site sanitary sewer (gravity collection mains and laterals, and pressurized force mains and low-pressure sewer), and the underground dry-utility infrastructure for electrical and telecommunications service (direct-buried and concrete-encased duct banks, conduit, and manholes/handholes). Also covers the common trenching, bedding, embedment, backfill, separation, tracer-wire and marking-tape locating, pressure and leakage testing, deflection and air testing, and water-main disinfection that apply across these systems.

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