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SynC · Editorial revision

Fluid-Applied Waterproofing

Revision7
EditedOct 12, 2026
StatusCurrent
Contents

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Current revision. This is editorial revision 7, the current text of this standard. Read it on the standard's page.

SynC Standards Team — Specifier (Platform Standards) ✓ OfficialDiscloses employment SynC (SynC Platform Team)
Datasheet constraints: every range, checkbox and listbox field now states its direction

1 Scope

NOTE This standard governs the materials, substrate preparation, application, protection, testing, and warranty of waterproofing membranes that are built up in place from a liquid and cure to a monolithic, fully bonded film on concrete and masonry surfaces. (1.1)
NOTE The work comprises the membrane, its primer, the reinforcing fabric and detail reinforcement at joints, transitions, and penetrations, the protection course, the drainage composite, the root barrier where soil and planting bear on the assembly, and the terminations and flashings that close the membrane at its edges. (1.2)
NOTE A fluid-applied membrane has no field laps or seams, so at the re-entrant corners, clustered penetrations, drains, and irregular geometry where lapped sheets concentrate their failures it forms one continuous skin; the price of that continuity is that the film thickness is established by the applicator on the deck rather than by a factory, and a membrane applied too thin fails under head even though nothing about it looks wrong. (1.3)
NOTE Thickness control, substrate preparation, detail reinforcement, and protection before overburden therefore carry the same weight in this standard as the membrane chemistry, because field failure investigations locate leaks at those conditions far more often than in the field of the membrane. (1.4)
NOTE The standard covers two families that share an installation logic and differ in field method: hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt, melted in a kettle and applied as a thick self-healing mass, and the cold liquid-applied chemistries, which are applied without a kettle and cure by moisture reaction, catalysis, or evaporation. (1.5)
NOTE Each waterproofed area is configured by what bears on the membrane: a membrane buried under a separate wearing course such as a protection slab, topping, pavers, insulation, or soil never sees traffic or sunlight, while a membrane with an integral wearing surface is itself the trafficked, weathered surface, and the two configurations are governed by different product standards and different performance requirements. (1.6)
NOTE The following are governed elsewhere and are outside this standard: (1.7)
  • sheet waterproofing on decks, under Self Adhering Sheet WaterproofingSelf-Adhering Sheet WaterproofingResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/self-adhering-sheet-waterproofing; bentonite and pre-applied blindside waterproofing, under Below Grade WaterproofingBelow-Grade WaterproofingResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/below-grade-waterproofing
  • dampproofing without a waterproofing function, under DampproofingDampproofingResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/dampproofing
  • liquid-applied roof coatings and membranes, under Fluid Applied RoofingFluid-Applied Roofing and CoatingsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/fluid-applied-roofing and Membrane RoofingMembrane RoofingResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/membrane-roofing
  • the growing medium, drainage, and plants above the root barrier, under Vegetated RoofingVegetated (Green) RoofingResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/vegetated-roofing
  • perimeter, sub-slab, and deck drainage design and the drains themselves, under Foundation DrainageFoundation DrainageResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/foundation-drainage and SubdrainageSubdrainageResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/subdrainage
  • building expansion joint assemblies and field-molded sealants, under Expansion JointsBuilding Expansion JointsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/expansion-joints and Joint SealantsJoint SealantsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/joint-sealants
  • waterstops, crystalline admixtures, and the concrete substrate itself, under Concrete Joints And WaterstopsConcrete Construction Joints and WaterstopsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/concrete-joints-and-waterstops and Cast In Place ConcreteCast-in-Place ConcreteResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/cast-in-place-concrete
  • above-membrane insulation in a protected membrane assembly, under Building Thermal InsulationBuilding Thermal InsulationResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/building-thermal-insulation
1.8 The extent of each waterproofed area and its wearing course configuration shall be as indicated on the waterproofing plans and building sections.
1.9 The substrate slope, finish, joint layout, and cure shall be coordinated with Cast In Place ConcreteCast-in-Place ConcreteResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/cast-in-place-concrete before the substrate is accepted for membrane.
1.10 Where the contract documents, the adopted building code, and the membrane manufacturer's published instructions conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.

2 Referenced Standards

2.1 Materials, testing, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
2.2 Where two referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
Standard Title
ASTM C836/C836M High Solids Content, Cold Liquid-Applied Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane for Use with Separate Wearing Course
ASTM C957/C957M High-Solids Content, Cold Liquid-Applied Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane with Integral Wearing Surface
ASTM C898/C898M Use of High Solids Content, Cold Liquid-Applied Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane with Separate Wearing Course
ASTM C1127/C1127M Use of High Solids Content, Cold Liquid-Applied Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane with an Integral Wearing Surface
ASTM C1305/C1305M Crack Bridging Ability of Liquid-Applied Waterproofing Membrane
ASTM D412 Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers — Tension
ASTM D624 Tear Strength of Conventional Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers
ASTM D4263 Indicating Moisture in Concrete by the Plastic Sheet Method
ASTM D5295/D5295M Preparation of Concrete Surfaces for Adhered (Bonded) Membrane Waterproofing Systems
ASTM D5385/D5385M Hydrostatic Pressure Resistance of Waterproofing Membranes
ASTM D5957 Flood Testing Horizontal Waterproofing Installations
ASTM D7234 Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers
ASTM D7832/D7832M Performance Attributes of Waterproofing Membranes Applied to Below-Grade Walls and Vertical Surfaces
ASTM D7877 Electronic Methods for Detecting and Locating Leaks in Waterproof Membranes
ASTM E96/E96M Gravimetric Determination of Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Materials
ASTM F1869 Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride
ASTM F2170 Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes
CGSB 37.50-M Hot Applied, Rubberized Asphalt for Roofing and Waterproofing
ICRI 310.2R Selecting and Specifying Concrete Surface Preparation for Sealers, Coatings, Polymer Overlays, and Concrete Repair
ANSI/SPRI VR-1 Procedure for Investigating Resistance to Root Penetration on Vegetative Green Roofs
ACI PRC-515.2 Guide to Selecting Protective Treatments for Concrete
NRCA Waterproofing Manual Construction Details for Plaza, Split-Slab, and Below-Grade Waterproofing
NFPA 51B Fire Prevention During Welding, Cutting, and Other Hot Work
IBC Chapter 18 International Building Code — Soils and Foundations (Section 1805, Dampproofing and Waterproofing)

3 Submittals

3.1 Action Submittals

3.1.1 The Contractor shall submit the following for review before any waterproofing material is procured or installed:
  • product data for the membrane, primer, reinforcing fabric, detail and flashing materials, protection course, drainage composite, and root barrier, giving for each liquid product the published application rate, the wet-film and dry-film thickness per coat, the solids content, the cure time to rain resistance and to overburden, the recoat window, the service temperature range, and the substrate moisture limit
  • the membrane manufacturer's written statement that the membrane, primer, reinforcement, sealants, protection course, drainage composite, root barrier, and any insulation in contact with the membrane are mutually compatible and are compatible with the substrate
  • test reports demonstrating that each membrane conforms to the product standard this standard assigns to its configuration, and the supporting reports for crack bridging, tensile properties, tear strength, water vapor transmission, and hydrostatic pressure resistance where those properties are part of the basis of selection
  • a thickness-control plan stating the specified dry-film thickness, the wet-film thickness and application rate that produces it, the number of coats or lifts, and the method and frequency of wet-film and cured-film verification
  • the membrane manufacturer's written approval of the applicator for the specific system on this project
  • shop drawings and project-specific details for every termination, expansion joint, control joint, construction joint, drain, penetration, curb, planter edge, and horizontal-to-vertical transition, coordinated with the structural and architectural drawings
  • a mock-up plan identifying the location, the size, and the conditions the mock-up will include
  • an integrity test and inspection plan identifying the test method for each area, the water head and duration or the electronic test parameters, the structural load verification for flooded areas, and the party performing the test
  • for hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt, the kettle operation and hot-work plan
  • sample warranty forms for the manufacturer's warranty and the installer's warranty, in the form proposed for execution
Action Submittal Packagecheckbox
☑ Membrane and accessory product data
☑ Manufacturer compatibility statement
☑ Product standard conformance test reports
☑ Thickness-control plan
☑ Manufacturer approval of the applicator
☑ Project-specific termination, joint, drain, and penetration details
☑ Mock-up plan
☑ Integrity test and inspection plan
☐ Kettle operation and hot-work plan
☑ Sample warranty forms
3.1.2 A reference to the manufacturer's standard details in place of a project-specific detail drawing shall not be accepted at any termination, joint, drain, or penetration.
3.1.3 No portion of the waterproofing shall be installed until the submittals covering it have been reviewed and returned.

3.2 Samples

3.2.1 The Contractor shall submit a cured sample of each membrane system, built on a substrate coupon to the specified dry-film thickness and showing the primer, the reinforcement, the membrane, and any wearing surface.
3.2.2 The Contractor shall submit a sample of the protection course, the drainage composite, and the root barrier for each system.
NOTE The cured sample fixes the color, texture, and built thickness against which the field work is judged, and it is the reference the thickness-control plan is checked against. (3.2.3)

3.3 Closeout Submittals

3.3.1 The Contractor shall submit the following before the waterproofing is accepted:
  • the manufacturer's written warranty, countersigned by the Contractor and running to the Owner
  • the installer's written workmanship and watertightness warranty, running to the Owner
  • integrity test reports and thickness verification records for every tested and inspected area, signed by the party that performed the test
  • a record of every area repaired after testing or inspection, giving the location, the cause, the repair method, and the re-test result
  • as-installed drawings showing the membrane extent, every detail reinforcement, termination, drain, penetration, and joint, and every deviation from the reviewed details
  • maintenance data describing the installed system, the location of every termination, drain, joint, and penetration, and the inspection interval the manufacturer publishes
Closeout Submittal Packagecheckbox
☑ Manufacturer's warranty, countersigned
☑ Installer's workmanship and watertightness warranty
☑ Integrity test reports and thickness verification records
☑ Repair record for every repaired area
☑ As-installed drawings
☑ Maintenance data

4 Quality Assurance

4.1 Applicator Qualification

4.1.1 The membrane shall be installed by an applicator currently approved by the membrane manufacturer to install the specific system, so that the manufacturer's warranty is available for the installation.
4.1.2 The applicator shall have completed not fewer than the number of comparable projects indicated in the datasheet using the selected membrane family, where a comparable project is one of similar configuration, chemistry, and area.
Comparable Projects Completed by the Applicatorrange
projects
13510
4.1.3 Where a fast-curing catalyzed chemistry is selected, the personnel who mix and apply it shall have been trained by the manufacturer in the mixing ratio, pot life, and timed application that chemistry requires.
NOTE Thickness, primer condition, reinforcement embedment, and recoat timing are all controlled in the field and all concealed once the next material is placed, which is why the manufacturer's approval of the applicator is required on top of the applicator's general waterproofing experience. (4.1.4)

4.2 Manufacturer Technical Representative

4.2.1 The membrane manufacturer shall provide a technical representative on site at the occasions indicated in the datasheet.
Manufacturer Technical Representative Site Presenceselect
At substrate acceptance and on the first day of application
At substrate acceptance, on the first day of application, and at each integrity test
At substrate acceptance and weekly during application
Full time during application
4.2.2 The representative shall confirm in writing that the substrate condition, the application method, and the environmental conditions observed meet the manufacturer's published requirements.
4.2.3 The representative's written confirmation at substrate acceptance shall be delivered before primer is applied to the accepted area.

4.3 Pre-Installation Conference

4.3.1 A pre-installation conference shall be held at the site before any waterproofing work begins, attended by the Owner's representative or the Engineer of Record, the General Contractor, the applicator, and the manufacturer's technical representative.
4.3.2 The conference shall review the substrate acceptance criteria, the concrete age and moisture limits, the temperature and dew point limits, the sequence of detail reinforcement relative to the field membrane, the thickness verification method, the timing of protection and overburden, the integrity test plan, and the responsibility for inspection and repair.
4.3.3 Minutes of the conference shall be recorded and distributed to every attendee.

4.4 Mock-Up

4.4.1 The Contractor shall install a mock-up of the complete system before production work begins, at a location accepted by the Engineer of Record and of not less than the area indicated in the datasheet.
Mock-Up Arearange
sq ft
2550100200400
4.4.2 The mock-up shall include the conditions indicated in the datasheet.
Conditions Included in the Mock-Upcheckbox
☑ Inside corner
☐ Outside corner
☑ Horizontal-to-vertical transition
☑ Drain
☑ Pipe penetration
☑ Vertical termination
☐ Construction joint
☐ Expansion joint
☐ Treated crack
4.4.3 The mock-up shall be reviewed by the Engineer of Record and the manufacturer's technical representative and accepted in writing before production application proceeds.
4.4.4 An accepted mock-up may remain as part of the work where its location becomes part of the finished installation.
NOTE The mock-up is the standard of workmanship for thickness, reinforcement embedment, detail execution, and finish, and a production area that does not match it is deficient. (4.4.5)

4.5 Inspection Before Concealment

4.5.1 The installed membrane shall remain available for inspection, thickness verification, and integrity testing until those have been completed and recorded, and shall not be concealed by protection course, drainage composite, insulation, wearing course, soil, or pavers before then.
4.5.2 The Contractor shall schedule these inspections and tests, and the inspection by the Authority Having Jurisdiction where one is required, before any concealing work proceeds.
NOTE Concealing the membrane before it is tested converts a repair made with a brush into a repair made with a demolition crew. (4.5.3)

5 Hydrostatic Exposure and Design Head

5.1 Whether the membrane shall carry a hydrostatic head rating shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Hydrostatic Head Rating Required of the Membraneradio
○ Membrane tested to ASTM D5385 for the design head
○ No hydrostatic head rating required
Derived — Seasonal High Groundwater ElevationSeasonal High Groundwater ElevationParameterEach project supplies its own value.seasonal-high-groundwater-elevation relative to the lowest membrane elevation on walls, and whether any deck or planter assembly can hold standing water on the membrane (by default)
5.2 Where a hydrostatic head rating is required, the design head shall be as indicated on the foundation and waterproofing sections.
5.3 Where a hydrostatic head rating is required, the membrane shall have demonstrated resistance to not less than the design head when tested to ASTM D5385.
5.4 For below-grade walls the hydrostatic determination shall be based on a geotechnical investigation as required by IBC Section 1805, and the membrane shall be selected for the head that Seasonal High Groundwater ElevationSeasonal High Groundwater ElevationParameterEach project supplies its own value.seasonal-high-groundwater-elevation imposes at the lowest point of the membrane.
NOTE A deck that drains freely sees water only in transit, while a planter that retains irrigation water, a deck whose drains can be blocked by overburden, or a wall below the water table sees standing water on the membrane for days at a time; relieving head with a drainage layer is part of the design, and it does not remove the requirement that the membrane itself resist the head that reaches it. (5.5)

6 Membrane Chemistry

6.1 Chemistry for Buried Areas

6.1.1 The membrane chemistry for areas buried under a separate wearing course shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Membrane Chemistry for Buried Areasselect
Hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt
Single-component moisture-cure polyurethane
Two-component polyurethane
Polymethyl methacrylate
Spray-applied polyurea
Cold-applied polymer-modified asphalt emulsion
Not applicable
NOTE Hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt is melted in a kettle and applied as a thick, self-healing monolithic mass that bonds aggressively to dry concrete and tolerates a coarser substrate than the cold chemistries; it needs a kettle, trained hot-work personnel, and a dry substrate, and it is applied only in the buried configuration. (6.1.2)
NOTE Single-component polyurethane cures by reaction with atmospheric moisture, which makes its cure time depend on humidity and temperature, while two-component polyurethane cures by catalyst on a schedule set by the mixing ratio; both give high elongation and crack bridging and are applied in both configurations. (6.1.3)
NOTE Polymethyl methacrylate cures within an hour of application across a wide temperature range and bonds and reinforces well at complex details, at a higher material cost and with a strong odor during cure that governs where and when it can be applied in an occupied building. (6.1.4)
NOTE Spray-applied polyurea sets within seconds through plural-component spray equipment, builds thickness in one pass, and resists abrasion well; it depends entirely on equipment calibration and substrate preparation, because nothing about the film can be adjusted once it has set. (6.1.5)
NOTE Polymer-modified asphalt emulsion is water-based and low in odor, cures by evaporation, and is applied in buried and below-grade conditions that do not carry traffic; it is vulnerable to rain and to freezing until it has cured, and it does not reach the tensile and crack-bridging values of the reactive chemistries. (6.1.6)

6.2 Chemistry for Exposed Traffic Areas

6.2.1 The membrane chemistry for areas with an integral wearing surface shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Membrane Chemistry for Exposed Traffic Areasselect
Single-component moisture-cure polyurethane
Two-component polyurethane
Polymethyl methacrylate
Spray-applied polyurea
Not applicable
NOTE The exposed chemistries are the same resins used buried, built up with a wear coat and a topcoat that carry the abrasion, ultraviolet exposure, and tire loading the buried membrane never sees; where a deck must return to service within hours, the fast-curing chemistries shorten the closure, and where an area is occupied during the work, the odor and ventilation demands of each chemistry decide which can be applied. (6.2.2)

6.3 Product Standard by Configuration

6.3.1 Each membrane shall conform to the product standard assigned to its configuration and chemistry in the following table:
Configuration and chemistry Product standard
Buried, cold liquid-applied ASTM C836/C836M
Exposed traffic, cold liquid-applied ASTM C957/C957M
Buried, hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt CGSB 37.50-M
NOTE There is no ASTM product standard for hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt waterproofing membrane; CGSB 37.50-M is the standard the North American market tests that product to, and the ASTM C898 design guidance for buried membranes applies to its assembly. (6.3.2)
6.3.3 A buried-configuration product shall not be installed as an exposed wearing surface, and an exposed-configuration product shall not be substituted for a buried one without the Engineer of Record's written acceptance.

7 Membrane Performance

7.1 The membrane shall demonstrate crack-bridging ability when tested to ASTM C1305 at the low temperature that ASTM C836 or ASTM C957 prescribes for its configuration.
NOTE Concrete cracks with shrinkage and thermal movement, and the crack is widest at the same low temperature at which the membrane is least flexible, which is why the crack-bridging test is run cold and why it is the single elastomeric property that most reliably separates a membrane that leaks over a moving crack from one that does not. (7.2)
7.3 Tensile strength and elongation shall be reported to ASTM D412 and tear strength to ASTM D624 for each membrane, and the values shall meet or exceed those the assigned product standard requires.
7.4 Water vapor transmission shall be reported to ASTM E96 for each membrane installed where the assembly design relies on the membrane as a vapor retarder.
7.5 A membrane installed on a below-grade wall shall additionally meet the performance attributes of ASTM D7832 that apply to the selected chemistry.

8 Reinforcement

8.1 Hot Rubberized Asphalt Reinforcement

8.1.1 Where hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt is selected, its lift and reinforcement configuration shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Hot Rubberized Asphalt Lift and Reinforcement Configurationradio
● Two lifts with full-coverage reinforcing fabric embedded between the lifts
○ Single lift without field reinforcing fabric
NOTE The reinforced two-lift system is the configuration the product's published test data and warranties are built around, and the fabric between the lifts is what holds the membrane together across a moving crack; the single-lift system is offered for conditions with little expected movement where a thinner, faster installation is acceptable to the Engineer of Record. (8.1.2)

8.2 Cold Liquid-Applied Field Reinforcement

8.2.1 Where a cold liquid-applied chemistry is selected, the extent of fabric reinforcement in the field of the membrane shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Cold Liquid-Applied Field Reinforcementradio
● Detail reinforcement only
○ Full-coverage reinforcing fabric embedded in the field membrane
NOTE Full-coverage fabric raises the tear resistance and the built thickness of the field membrane and is used where the substrate is expected to crack broadly, where the membrane is thin relative to the movement, or where the manufacturer's warranty for the selected term requires it; it adds a saturation step across the whole area and a place for voids to hide if the fabric is not fully wetted. (8.2.2)

8.3 Reinforcing Fabric Material

8.3.1 The reinforcing fabric shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Reinforcing Fabric Materialselect
Spunbond polyester
Woven fiberglass
Polyester and fiberglass composite
Chopped-strand fiberglass mat
Manufacturer's standard (by default)
8.3.2 The fabric shall be a product the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected membrane, and a fabric from another source shall not be substituted.
8.3.3 Detail reinforcement shall be installed at every inside and outside corner, horizontal-to-vertical transition, construction joint, control joint, drain, penetration, and treated crack, whether or not full-coverage reinforcement is selected.
NOTE The fabric spreads the movement at an edge or crack across a wider zone of membrane and adds local thickness where the film would otherwise thin over an arris, which is why it belongs at every location where the substrate changes plane or can open. (8.3.4)

9 Membrane Thickness

9.1 Buried Cold Liquid-Applied Thickness

9.1.1 The dry-film thickness of a cold liquid-applied membrane in a buried area shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
Buried Cold Liquid-Applied Membrane Dry-Film Thicknessrange
mils
40608090100120150180215250
9.1.2 Where the datasheet leaves the buried cold liquid-applied thickness unselected, the thickness shall be the minimum the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry and the hydrostatic exposure, and the thickness-control plan shall state that value.

9.2 Exposed Traffic Membrane Thickness

9.2.1 The total dry-film thickness of an exposed traffic membrane, measured through the base coat, wear coat, and topcoat and excluding the broadcast aggregate, shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
Exposed Traffic Membrane Total Dry-Film Thicknessrange
mils
304050607590100120
9.2.2 Where the datasheet leaves the exposed traffic thickness unselected, the thickness shall be the minimum the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry and traffic grade, and the thickness-control plan shall state that value.

9.3 Hot Rubberized Asphalt Thickness

9.3.1 The total applied thickness of hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt, measured through both lifts and the embedded fabric where the two-lift configuration is selected, shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
Hot Rubberized Asphalt Total Applied Thicknessrange
mils
90125180215250
Default: Not less than 215 mils
NOTE The published thickness for the reinforced two-lift system is 215 mils, made up of a 90 mil first lift, the fabric, and a 125 mil second lift; a single-lift system is published at a lower total, and the datasheet value governs the configuration selected. (9.3.2)

9.4 Thickness as the Governing Variable

9.4.1 The Contractor shall apply each membrane to the specified thickness by applying the corresponding wet-film thickness at the published application rate, verified during application with a wet-film gauge and after cure by the method this standard requires.
9.4.2 A membrane found below the specified thickness, whether by spreading the material too thin, by over-rolling, or by applying fewer coats or lifts than specified, shall be brought to thickness with additional material applied within the recoat window or over a re-primed surface, at the Contractor's expense.
NOTE Dry-film thickness is the performance variable most often deficient in the field, because it cannot be judged by eye and because every pail spread a little thinner than the published rate looks exactly like one spread correctly. (9.4.3)

10 Primer

10.1 Whether primer is applied shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Primerradio
○ Primer applied over the full substrate receiving membrane
○ No primer
Manufacturer's standard (by default)
10.2 Where the datasheet is left in the manufacturer's state, primer shall be applied wherever the membrane manufacturer's published data requires it for the selected membrane on the substrate present, and the applicator shall record the published basis for any area left unprimed.
10.3 Primer shall be the product the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected membrane and substrate.
10.4 Primer shall be applied at the published rate to a clean, dry, prepared substrate, and the membrane shall be applied within the primer's published recoat window.
10.5 Primer applied beyond its recoat window shall be re-applied before membrane is placed over it.
NOTE The primer wets and seals the pores of the concrete, binds residual dust, and forms the bond the whole system hangs on; primer applied too heavily cures to a weak glossy film that reduces adhesion rather than improving it, which is why the rate is verified and not merely the coverage. (10.6)

11 Exposed Traffic Wearing Surface

11.1 Traffic Grade

11.1.1 The traffic grade of the exposed membrane shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Exposed Membrane Traffic Gradeselect
Pedestrian
Light vehicular
Heavy vehicular
Not applicable
Per drawings — the parking and deck plans (deferred by default)
11.1.2 Ramps, turning lanes, drive aisles at entries, and areas where vehicles stop and start shall receive the heavy vehicular grade regardless of the grade selected for the field of the deck, because the tire scrub at those locations wears through a lighter wear coat first.

11.2 Wearing Surface Construction

11.2.1 The integral wearing surface shall be built as indicated in the datasheet.
Integral Wearing Surface Constructionselect
Aggregate broadcast into a wear coat and sealed by a topcoat
Aggregate broadcast to refusal into a wear coat and sealed by a topcoat
Textured topcoat without broadcast aggregate
NOTE Broadcast aggregate carries the abrasion and gives the surface its skid resistance; broadcast to refusal produces the most durable surface for vehicular wear at the cost of a rougher texture and a heavier topcoat, while a textured topcoat without aggregate gives a smoother surface suited to pedestrian areas where a rough finish is unwanted. (11.2.2)
11.2.3 Aggregate shall be clean, dry, kiln-dried silica or the aggregate the membrane manufacturer publishes for the wear coat, in the gradation published for the selected traffic grade.
11.2.4 Loose aggregate shall be removed before the topcoat is applied, so that the topcoat bonds to seated aggregate and to the wear coat rather than to loose grains.
11.2.5 The topcoat shall be ultraviolet-stable and shall be the product the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected system.

12 Protection Course

12.1 Protection Course Type

12.1.1 The protection course over buried membranes shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Protection Course Typeselect
Semi-rigid asphaltic protection board
Modified bitumen protection sheet set into the hot membrane
Extruded polystyrene insulation serving as protection
Cementitious protection board
Drainage composite with an integral protective facing
NOTE An asphaltic board is the general protection layer over cold membranes; a protection sheet set into the still-warm hot rubberized asphalt bonds to it and protects it from the moment it is placed; insulation doubles as protection in a protected membrane assembly; a cementitious board is used where the overburden is placed with equipment that would crush a softer board; and a composite with a protective facing combines the protection and drainage layers where the overburden load allows. (12.1.2)
12.1.3 The protection board thickness shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Protection Board Thicknessrange
in.
0.06250.1250.25
NOTE A thicker board resists the point loads of reinforcing chairs, pedestal feet, and wheelbarrow traffic during overburden placement, and a thinner one conforms more readily at transitions; the thickness that suits the overburden being placed is the one to select. (12.1.4)
12.1.5 Where extruded polystyrene serves as the protection course, it shall be installed under Building Thermal InsulationBuilding Thermal InsulationResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/building-thermal-insulation and shall be compatible with the membrane in contact with it.

12.2 Protection Course Requirement

12.2.1 A protection course shall be installed over every buried membrane before any wearing course, topping slab, drainage composite, insulation, soil, or pavers is placed on it.
12.2.2 Overburden shall not be placed directly on the membrane.
NOTE Placing overburden directly on a membrane is a known cause of puncture, and the puncture is discovered as a leak after the overburden is in place. (12.2.3)

13 Drainage Composite

13.1 The drainage layer over buried membranes shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Drainage Compositeselect
Prefabricated drainage composite with filter fabric
High-flow drainage composite with filter fabric
None
NOTE A high-flow composite is used where the overburden is deep or where irrigation and storm flows exceed what a standard core carries, and a composite is omitted only where the assembly above the protection course, such as a pedestal-supported paver system or a free-draining granular layer, already provides an open drainage path to the drains. (13.2)
13.3 Where a drainage composite is selected, it shall be installed over the protection course with the filter fabric facing the overburden and shall be carried to and lapped into every drain, so that water reaching the membrane plane is conveyed to the drain rather than trapped against the membrane.
13.4 The drainage layer and the deck drains it serves shall be coordinated with Foundation DrainageFoundation DrainageResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/foundation-drainage.
NOTE A membrane holding standing water is a membrane under sustained head; the drainage layer keeps the head off the membrane between storms, and it is part of the waterproofing system rather than an accessory to it. (13.5)

14 Root Barrier

14.1 A root barrier shall be provided wherever soil and planting are placed over the membrane, as indicated on the landscape plans.
14.2 Where a root barrier is required, its form shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Root Barrierselect
Separate root barrier sheet over the protection course
Membrane certified root-resistant with no separate sheet
Drainage composite with an integral root barrier facing
14.3 A membrane relied on as its own root barrier shall have passed the root penetration procedure of ANSI/SPRI VR-1, and the manufacturer shall state that resistance in writing for the installed thickness.
14.4 The root barrier shall be continuous under every planted area, with laps and upturns at planter walls made in the manner the barrier manufacturer publishes, and shall be installed before soil is placed.
NOTE The growing medium, the drainage and water retention layers above the root barrier, and the plants themselves are governed by Vegetated RoofingVegetated (Green) RoofingResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/vegetated-roofing. (14.5)
NOTE Roots follow water, and over years they find any path through a protection course to the membrane below it; the barrier is the only element of the assembly whose job is to stop them. (14.6)

15 Substrate Preparation

15.1 Substrate Condition

15.1.1 Every surface to receive membrane shall be sound and free of standing water, frost, ice, oil, grease, form release agent, laitance, dust, efflorescence, incompatible curing compound, and loose or unsound material before primer or membrane is applied.
15.1.2 Concrete surface preparation shall conform to ASTM D5295.
15.1.3 The Contractor shall inspect every portion of the substrate and shall not apply primer or membrane over an area that fails the acceptance criteria of this standard.
15.1.4 Where the parties disagree whether a substrate area is acceptable, the Engineer of Record shall make the initial determination.
NOTE An unprepared substrate is the most common root cause of adhesion failure, and preparation is the least expensive quality investment in the system by a wide margin. (15.1.5)

15.2 Concrete Age and Moisture

15.2.1 New concrete shall have reached the age indicated in the datasheet before primer or membrane is applied.
Concrete Age Before Membranerange
days
357142128
15.2.2 Where the datasheet leaves the concrete age unselected, the age shall be the minimum the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry.
NOTE A fast-curing reactive chemistry with a moisture-tolerant primer can be applied to concrete only a few days old, while a moisture-sensitive chemistry or a thick, wet-cured section needs the full drying period; the age that suits the chemistry and the section is the one to select, and the manufacturer's published minimum governs where it is longer. (15.2.3)
15.2.4 Substrate moisture shall be verified by the method indicated in the datasheet, and not by visual inspection.
Substrate Moisture Test Methodcheckbox
Any of:
☐ Plastic sheet method to ASTM D4263
☐ In situ relative humidity probe to ASTM F2170
☐ Anhydrous calcium chloride to ASTM F1869
☐ Electronic moisture meter per the membrane manufacturer's procedure
15.2.5 Where the in situ relative humidity probe is selected, the substrate relative humidity shall not exceed the value indicated in the datasheet at the time of application.
Substrate Relative Humidity (ASTM F2170)range
%
7580859095100
15.2.6 Where the datasheet leaves the substrate relative humidity unselected, or where a method other than the probe is selected, the substrate moisture shall not exceed the limit the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry by the selected method.
15.2.7 Curing compounds on the substrate shall be of a type the membrane manufacturer accepts in writing, or shall be removed by mechanical preparation.
15.2.8 Hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt shall not be applied over a damp substrate.
NOTE Most chemistries will not bond to a damp slab or will blister over one, and a slab that looks dry can hold enough internal moisture to drive a blister once the film skins over; under molten rubberized asphalt, trapped moisture flashes to steam and blows pinholes and blisters through the membrane. (15.2.9)
NOTE A curing compound that prevented the primer from bonding is one of the most frequently identified causes of membrane debonding, and it is invisible once the membrane is on. (15.2.10)

15.3 Surface Profile and Preparation Method

15.3.1 The prepared concrete shall present a surface profile not less than the minimum indicated in the datasheet, referenced to the ICRI 310.2R concrete surface profile scale.
Concrete Surface Profile, Low End (ICRI 310.2R CSP)range
CSP
12345678910
Default: Not less than 3 CSP
15.3.2 The prepared concrete shall present a surface profile not greater than the maximum indicated in the datasheet.
Concrete Surface Profile, High End (ICRI 310.2R CSP)range
CSP
12345678910
15.3.3 Where the datasheet leaves the maximum profile unselected, the profile shall fall within the range the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry.
15.3.4 Where the datasheet range and the manufacturer's published range do not overlap, the Contractor shall report the conflict to the Engineer of Record before preparation begins.
NOTE A profile too smooth gives the membrane no mechanical key; a profile too coarse cannot be filled at the specified thickness, and the membrane thins over every peak. A thick hot-applied membrane tolerates a coarser profile than a cold membrane applied at a fraction of the thickness. (15.3.5)
15.3.6 The surface preparation methods permitted on the project shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
Permitted Surface Preparation Methodscheckbox
Any of:
☑ Steel shot blasting
☑ Diamond grinding
☐ Scarifying
☐ Abrasive blasting
☐ High-pressure water jetting
☐ Acid etching
15.3.7 A method not selected in the datasheet shall not be used, and an area prepared by an unselected method shall be re-prepared by a selected method at the Contractor's expense.
15.3.8 Acid etching leaves the surface salts it produces in the pores and does not open a mechanical profile in dense concrete, so where it is selected the substrate shall be flushed and tested for residual acid and the profile verified against the datasheet minimum before primer is applied.
NOTE Water jetting and abrasive blasting introduce water or grit that has to be removed before primer, and both leave a wetted substrate that must dry to the moisture limit before application. (15.3.9)

15.4 Defect Repair and Corners

15.4.1 Form-tie holes, bug holes, honeycomb, spalls, and voids shall be filled with a patching material compatible with the membrane, finished flush with the surrounding surface, and cured before membrane is applied.
15.4.2 The membrane shall not be used to bridge an unrepaired void.
15.4.3 Fins, ridges, and projections shall be ground flush with the surrounding surface.
15.4.4 Inside corners and re-entrant angles shall be treated as indicated in the datasheet.
Inside Corner Treatmentselect
Mortar fillet of compatible patching material
Sealant cant bead compatible with the membrane
Fabric-reinforced membrane cove without a fillet
NOTE A fillet or cant gives the membrane a gradual change of plane so that the film does not thin and crack over a sharp arris; a fabric-reinforced cove achieves the same continuity with membrane alone, which suits a thick hot-applied system and a detail where a mortar fillet would not cure before the membrane is due. (15.4.5)
15.4.6 Sharp outside corners shall be eased to a radius or chamfer before membrane is applied.

15.5 Crack Treatment

15.5.1 Substrate cracks wider than the width indicated in the datasheet shall be treated before the field membrane is applied.
Crack Width Requiring Treatmentrange
in.
0.0160.0310.06250.125
15.5.2 Cracks and non-working joints expected to move shall be treated as indicated in the datasheet.
Moving Crack Treatmentselect
Bond-breaker tape over the crack under a fabric-reinforced membrane band
Routed, sealed with a compatible sealant, and covered by a fabric-reinforced membrane band
Treated as a joint with a preformed movement detail
15.5.3 Cracks that do not move shall be treated as indicated in the datasheet.
Static Crack Treatmentselect
Fabric-reinforced membrane stripe over the crack
Routed and filled, then covered by a fabric-reinforced membrane stripe
NOTE A membrane bonded tightly across a moving crack with no bond-breaker splits at the crack on the first thermal cycle, because the whole strain of the crack opening is taken by the film at one line; a bond-breaker lets the strain spread across the width of the unbonded zone. (15.5.4)
15.5.5 Whether a crack is moving or static shall be determined by the Engineer of Record where the drawings do not indicate it.

16 Application Conditions

16.1 Temperature and Dew Point

16.1.1 Primer and membrane shall not be applied when the air temperature or the substrate temperature is below the value indicated in the datasheet.
Air and Substrate Temperature at Applicationrange
°F
202532404550
16.1.2 Where the datasheet leaves the minimum temperature unselected, the minimum shall be the value the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry and formulation.
16.1.3 Primer and membrane shall not be applied when the air temperature or the substrate temperature is above the maximum the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry.
NOTE Polymethyl methacrylate and cold-weather polyurethane formulations are applied at temperatures well below freezing with an adjusted catalyst, while a water-based emulsion cannot cure below freezing at all, so the minimum temperature is a property of the chemistry and formulation rather than a single number; cold slows cure and raises viscosity, and heat shortens the working time of a catalyzed system and can flash solvent or moisture before the film levels. (16.1.4)
16.1.5 The substrate temperature shall be not less than the margin indicated in the datasheet above the dew point during application and until the membrane has reached its published rain-resistance cure.
Substrate Temperature Margin Above Dew Pointrange
°F
3510
Default: Not less than 5 °F
NOTE Condensation forming on the substrate or within the curing film produces the same blistering and debonding as a damp slab, and it forms without anyone seeing it whenever the surface is colder than the dew point of the air above it. (16.1.6)

16.2 Weather

16.2.1 Application shall not proceed during rain, snow, or fog, or onto a wet or frost-covered substrate.
16.2.2 Application shall stop when precipitation is forecast to arrive before the membrane already placed has reached its published rain-resistance cure.
16.2.3 The Contractor shall not apply more membrane in a working period than can reach rain resistance before the next forecast precipitation.
16.2.4 Membrane wetted by rain before it has reached rain resistance shall be evaluated by the manufacturer's technical representative and shall be removed and re-applied where the representative finds it damaged, at the Contractor's expense.
NOTE A water-based emulsion wetted before cure re-emulsifies and washes off the deck, and a moisture-cure polyurethane wetted before it skins foams and blisters; neither can be repaired by overcoating. (16.2.5)

17 Detailing

17.1 Detail Reinforcement Sequence

17.1.1 Detail reinforcement at corners, transitions, joints, drains, and penetrations shall be installed and cured, or for hot rubberized asphalt embedded in the first lift, before or integrally with the field membrane, so that the highest-stress conditions receive their reinforcement and added thickness first.
17.1.2 Reinforcing fabric shall be fully embedded in wet membrane with no dry spots, wrinkles, fish-mouths, or unsaturated edges.
17.1.3 Fabric found unsaturated, bridged, or wrinkled shall be cut out and re-made at the Contractor's expense.
17.1.4 The field membrane shall lap onto and bond fully to the cured detail reinforcement.

17.2 Terminations

17.2.1 The membrane shall be terminated at its upper and outer edges so that water cannot enter behind it.
17.2.2 At a buried deck or planter, the membrane shall be turned up at every wall, curb, and upstand to not less than the height above the finished wearing surface indicated in the datasheet.
Membrane Upturn Height Above the Finished Wearing Surfacerange
in.
24681012
Per drawings — the wall sections and waterproofing details (deferred by default)
NOTE A higher upturn keeps splash, ponded water, and drifted snow above the finished surface from bypassing the membrane; a lower one is used where the finished surface is set close to a door sill or where the wall finish above cannot accept the membrane. (17.2.3)
17.2.4 Vertical terminations shall be made by the method indicated in the datasheet.
Vertical Termination Methodselect
Termination bar, mechanically fastened and sealed at the top edge
Reglet or saw cut, membrane embedded and sealed
Counterflashing reglet, membrane lapped behind metal counterflashing
Membrane carried over the top of the wall or curb
Per drawings — the termination details (deferred by default)
17.2.5 Every termination shall be mechanically secured or embedded so that the edge cannot peel back, and sealed so that water cannot enter behind the edge.
NOTE A membrane edge left feathered or folded over without a secured, sealed termination is a common entry point, and the leak it produces appears far from the edge that admitted it. (17.2.6)

17.3 Drains

17.3.1 Deck drains shall be of the type indicated in the datasheet.
Deck Drain Typeselect
Clamping-ring drain with the membrane clamped in the drain body
Flange drain with the membrane bonded and reinforced onto the flange
Two-level drain with a clamping ring at the membrane and a grate at the wearing surface
Per drawings — the plumbing drawings (deferred by default)
17.3.2 The membrane shall be carried into the drain bowl and clamped beneath the clamping ring or bonded and reinforced onto the flange, so that the seal is made within the drain and not at its rim.
NOTE In a split-slab or paver assembly, a drain that collects only at the wearing surface leaves the water that reaches the membrane plane with nowhere to go; the two-level drain collects at both planes. (17.3.3)
17.3.4 Drain locations shall be as indicated on the plumbing drawings.

17.4 Penetrations

17.4.1 At every pipe, conduit, and sleeve penetration, the membrane shall be reinforced with fabric, dressed up the penetration to the height the detail shows, and sealed at the annulus with a sealant compatible with the membrane.
17.4.2 Where a penetration moves relative to the structure, the seal shall be a flexible detail that accommodates the movement without tearing the membrane.
17.4.3 Penetrations shall be grouped and held to the number the design requires, and clustered penetrations too close to flash individually shall be resolved on the drawings before membrane work begins.
NOTE Every drain and penetration is a hole in the membrane surrounded by a detail, and the details are where the leaks are found. (17.4.4)

17.5 Expansion and Construction Joints

17.5.1 Expansion joints in the structure shall be carried through the waterproofing with a movement detail designed for the joint, and shall not be bridged by field membrane alone.
17.5.2 The expansion joint detail shall be coordinated with the building expansion joint assembly under Expansion JointsBuilding Expansion JointsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/expansion-joints and with the sealants under Joint SealantsJoint SealantsResolves to the current adopted revision.sync/joint-sealants.
17.5.3 The design movement at each expansion joint shall be as indicated on the structural drawings.
17.5.4 Construction joints and control joints shall receive detail reinforcement across the joint before the field membrane is applied.

18 Application

18.1 Cold Liquid-Applied Application

18.1.1 A cold liquid-applied membrane shall be applied in the number of coats the thickness-control plan states, each coat within the published recoat window of the coat below it.
18.1.2 Successive coats shall be applied in a direction crossing the previous coat where the method allows, so that thin spots and holidays in one coat are covered by the next.
18.1.3 A coat applied after the recoat window has closed shall be preceded by the surface preparation or tie coat the manufacturer publishes for an overcoated cured film.
18.1.4 Two-component and catalyzed materials shall be mixed in the published ratio with mechanical mixing for the published time, and material that has exceeded its pot life shall be discarded.
18.1.5 Spray-applied polyurea shall be applied with plural-component equipment calibrated to the published ratio and temperature at the start of each shift and after any interruption.

18.2 Hot Rubberized Asphalt Application

18.2.1 Hot fluid-applied rubberized asphalt shall be heated in a double-jacketed, oil-bath, thermostatically controlled kettle fitted with a mechanical agitator and a calibrated thermometer.
18.2.2 The material shall be applied within the temperature range the manufacturer publishes, and material heated above the published maximum, or held at application temperature longer than the published time, shall be discarded.
18.2.3 Where the two-lift configuration is selected, the first lift shall be applied to its published thickness, the reinforcing fabric rolled into it while the lift is still hot, and the second lift applied over the fabric to bring the membrane to the datasheet thickness.
18.2.4 The protection sheet, where selected, shall be set into the second lift while the membrane is still warm enough to bond it.
NOTE Overheating degrades the rubber that gives the membrane its elasticity and drives off volatiles as fume; the material that comes out of an overheated kettle looks the same going onto the deck and cracks in service. (18.2.5)

18.3 Kettle Operation and Hot Work

18.3.1 The kettle shall be located on a stable, non-combustible base, clear of building air intakes, exits, and combustible storage, at a location acceptable to the Owner and the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
18.3.2 The kettle shall be operated only by personnel trained in its operation.
18.3.3 The kettle shall be attended continuously while it is operating.
18.3.4 A fire extinguisher rated for the hazard shall be kept at the kettle throughout its operation.
18.3.5 Personnel handling hot material shall wear heat-protective gloves, face protection, and clothing.
18.3.6 Hot work shall comply with NFPA 51B and with the project's hot-work permit program.
18.3.7 The hot transfer route from the kettle to the point of application shall be planned and accepted before hot rubberized asphalt work begins.
18.3.8 Fume control at the kettle shall be as indicated in the datasheet, and where no control is selected the kettle location is the only fume provision.
Kettle Fume Controlscheckbox
☐ Afterburner-equipped kettle
☐ Low-fume asphalt formulation
NOTE Asphalt fume at a kettle running above 350°F is an irritant and an odor that carries into occupied buildings through air intakes and open windows; an afterburner consumes the fume at the kettle and a low-fume formulation reduces it at the source, and which is needed depends on how close the kettle sits to occupied space. (18.3.9)

19 Testing and Inspection

19.1 Visual Inspection

19.1.1 The applicator's foreman and the manufacturer's technical representative shall inspect the entire membrane after cure and before any protection or overburden is placed, confirming continuity, full fabric embedment, the absence of pinholes, blisters, and holidays, the specified thickness at corners and details, the termination and upturn heights, and the drain and penetration treatment.
19.1.2 Every deficiency found shall be repaired before integrity testing and before the membrane is concealed.

19.2 Thickness Verification

19.2.1 Membrane thickness shall be verified by the methods indicated in the datasheet, at the frequency stated in the thickness-control plan.
Thickness Verification Methodscheckbox
☑ Wet-film gauge readings recorded during application
☐ Cured dry-film measurement by coupon or destructive gauge
☑ Material consumption reconciled against the area covered
☐ Non-destructive electronic dry-film gauge
19.2.2 Wet-film readings shall be taken at not less than the frequency indicated in the datasheet.
Wet-Film Reading Frequencyrange
readings per 100 sq ft
124510
19.2.3 Each destructive thickness measurement shall be repaired with membrane applied within the recoat window or over a re-primed surface, and the repair shall be inspected.
19.2.4 Thickness records shall identify the area, the reading, the date, and the person who took it, and shall be included in the closeout submittals.

19.3 Integrity Testing

19.3.1 Every horizontal membrane area shall be integrity-tested by the methods indicated in the datasheet before the protection course or any overburden is placed.
Integrity Test Methods for Horizontal Areascheckbox
☑ Flood test to ASTM D5957
☐ Low-voltage electronic leak detection to ASTM D7877
☐ High-voltage electronic leak detection to ASTM D7877
NOTE A flood test finds a leak by showing water on the underside and confirms the drains and terminations under head, but it needs the structure to carry the water, edges to be dammed, and the drains to be plugged; electronic leak detection locates a breach to the inch without loading the structure and can be run on a deck the flood test cannot reach, but it requires a conductive substrate or a conductive medium under the membrane and does not load the terminations. (19.3.2)
19.3.3 Where a flood test is selected, the membrane shall be flooded to the head indicated in the datasheet, measured above the high point of the area, and not exceeding the structural load capacity or the upturn height.
Flood Test Head Above the High Pointrange
in.
1234
19.3.4 Where a flood test is selected, the head shall be held for not less than the duration indicated in the datasheet.
Flood Test Durationrange
hours
244872
Default: Not less than 24 hours
NOTE A longer hold finds a slow leak that a 24-hour hold cannot separate from evaporation, and is used where the membrane will carry standing water in service; a deeper head loads the terminations and drains harder, and is limited by what the structure and the upturn can hold. (19.3.5)
19.3.6 A flood test shall not begin until the membrane has reached its published cure for water exposure.
19.3.7 Before a flood test, the Contractor shall confirm in writing that the structure can carry the dead load of the test water, shall dam every edge, and shall plug every drain.
19.3.8 During a flood test, the underside of the deck and every termination and penetration shall be observed for leakage at the start of the hold, at intervals during it, and at its end.
19.3.9 Vertical membrane areas shall be integrity-tested by electronic leak detection where the datasheet selects it for horizontal areas, and otherwise by the visual inspection this standard requires.
19.3.10 Any breach found shall be located, repaired, and re-tested by the same method until the area passes, and the cost of every repair and re-test shall be borne by the Contractor.

19.4 Adhesion Testing

19.4.1 Pull-off adhesion of the cured membrane shall be tested to ASTM D7234 in the areas indicated in the datasheet.
Areas Requiring Pull-Off Adhesion Testingcheckbox
☐ Mock-up
☐ Exposed traffic areas
☐ Buried areas
☐ Vertical areas
☐ Areas over repaired substrate
19.4.2 Where adhesion testing is selected, tests shall be made at not less than the frequency indicated in the datasheet.
Adhesion Test Frequencyrange
sq ft per test
50010002500500010000
19.4.3 Where adhesion testing is selected, the tensile bond shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
Pull-Off Adhesionrange
psi
50100150200250300400
19.4.4 Where the datasheet leaves the minimum adhesion unselected, the bond shall be not less than the value the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected membrane on the substrate present.
19.4.5 A failure within the concrete rather than at the bond line shall be recorded as a pass.
19.4.6 Each adhesion test site shall be repaired with membrane applied within the recoat window or over a re-primed surface.
NOTE A flood test proves that the membrane is continuous; it does not prove that the membrane is bonded, and an unbonded membrane that passes a flood test lets water travel behind it to the nearest termination once a breach occurs anywhere. Adhesion testing is what shows that the preparation and primer produced the bond. (19.4.7)

19.5 Test Reports

19.5.1 Integrity, adhesion, and thickness results shall be recorded on signed reports stating the method, the date, the air and substrate temperature, the area covered, the head and duration or the electronic test parameters, the instrument and its calibration, a map of every breach or deficiency keyed to the as-installed drawing, the repair made at each, and the result of each re-test.
19.5.2 Reports shall be included in the closeout submittals.

20 Protection and Overburden Installation

20.1 Sequence

20.1.1 The work shall be sequenced so that each step is complete and verified before the next conceals it: substrate preparation and acceptance, defect repair and corner treatment, primer, detail reinforcement, field membrane to the specified thickness, cure, inspection and thickness verification, integrity and adhesion testing, repair and re-test, protection course, drainage composite and root barrier, and then the wearing course, topping, soil, or pavers.
20.1.2 No trade shall work on, store material on, or move equipment across the unprotected membrane.
NOTE Placing the protection course or overburden before the membrane is tested is the most damaging sequencing error in this work, because it makes a breach that a brush could have fixed unreachable without removing the overburden. (20.1.3)

20.2 Exposure Limit Before Protection

20.2.1 A buried membrane shall be covered by its protection course within the number of days after application indicated in the datasheet.
Exposure of a Buried Membrane Before Protectionrange
days
1371430
20.2.2 Where the datasheet leaves the exposure limit unselected, the membrane shall be covered within the ultraviolet exposure period the membrane manufacturer publishes for the selected chemistry.
NOTE A buried membrane is not formulated for sunlight, and hot rubberized asphalt in particular is protected the same day by the sheet set into it; the exposure limit that suits the chemistry is the one to select, and it is shorter than any construction schedule finds convenient. (20.2.3)

20.3 Protection Course Installation

20.3.1 The protection course shall be installed as soon as the membrane has reached its published cure for overburden and has passed inspection and integrity testing.
20.3.2 Protection board joints shall be butted tight, and where the detail shows it, staggered from membrane detail seams.
20.3.3 Fasteners that would penetrate the membrane shall not be used to secure the protection course; the board shall be adhered, set into the hot membrane, loose-laid under ballast, or held by the overburden as the assembly allows.

20.4 Drainage Composite and Root Barrier Installation

20.4.1 The drainage composite shall be installed with its filter fabric facing the overburden, with joints lapped in the direction of flow, and carried into every drain so that the core is open to the drain.
20.4.2 The root barrier shall be installed continuously over the protection course or drainage composite in every planted area, with laps and upturns made as the barrier manufacturer publishes, before any soil is placed.

21 Delivery, Storage, and Handling

21.1 Materials shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original sealed containers with labels, lot numbers, and expiration dates intact.
21.2 Materials shall be stored within the temperature range the manufacturer publishes, under cover, and out of direct sunlight.
21.3 Material past its published shelf life shall not be used and shall be removed from the site.
21.4 Material stored beyond the interval the manufacturer publishes for re-testing shall not be used until the manufacturer has re-tested it and confirmed in writing that it meets its published properties.
21.5 Catalysts, primers, and solvent-bearing materials shall be stored away from sources of ignition and in the quantities the adopted fire code permits at the storage location.
21.6 Water-based emulsion materials shall be protected from freezing.
21.7 Hot rubberized asphalt cakes shall be stored off the ground and kept clean, and a cake contaminated with soil, water, or debris shall not be charged into the kettle.
NOTE Reactive materials and their catalysts lose cure performance past their expiration date, and an emulsion that has frozen separates and does not recover; neither failure is visible in the container. (21.8)

22 Warranty

22.1 Manufacturer's Warranty

22.1.1 The membrane manufacturer shall provide a written warranty to the Owner of the type indicated in the datasheet.
Manufacturer's Warranty Typeradio
○ Materials-only warranty
○ System warranty covering labor and materials
NOTE A system warranty is offered by the manufacturer only where an approved applicator installed the membrane and the manufacturer's representative inspected the work, which is why this standard requires both; a materials-only warranty covers the product in the pail and leaves workmanship to the installer's warranty alone. (22.1.2)
22.1.3 The manufacturer's warranty shall run for not less than the period indicated in the datasheet from the date of substantial completion.
Manufacturer's Warranty Periodrange
years
51015202530
22.1.4 The warranty shall identify the membrane system, the configuration of each area, the areas covered, and the warranted scope as documented by the test reports and the as-installed drawings.

22.2 Installer's Warranty

22.2.1 The applicator shall provide a written warranty to the Owner against defects in workmanship and against water infiltration through the installed system for not less than the period indicated in the datasheet from the date of substantial completion.
Installer's Workmanship Warranty Periodrange
years
1235
Default: Not less than 2 years
22.2.2 The installer's warranty shall be in addition to the manufacturer's warranty and not in place of it.
22.2.3 Work performed under the installer's warranty shall itself be warranted for a full new term equal to the original period measured from the date the correction is completed, or for the remainder of the original period, whichever ends later.
22.2.4 The Contractor's cost of a warranty correction shall include removal and replacement of the overburden, protection course, drainage composite, and root barrier needed to reach the membrane, and repair of finishes damaged in gaining access.

22.3 Exclusions

22.3.1 Warranty exclusions shall not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for a failure caused by substrate preparation, application, or material handling that deviates from the reviewed submittals or from this standard.
22.3.2 The Contractor shall submit the proposed exclusion language with the sample warranty forms, and the Owner shall accept or reject it before the warranty is executed.
NOTE Exclusions for structural failure of the building, for damage by other trades after the membrane was protected and accepted, and for alterations to the assembly by others are customary. (22.3.3)

23 Maintenance

23.1 Deck drains, planter drains, and overflow paths shall be kept clear by the Owner, and the maintenance data shall say so.
23.2 An exposed traffic membrane shall be inspected by the Owner at the interval the manufacturer publishes for wear, loss of skid resistance, and damage, and shall be recoated before the wear coat is worn through.
23.3 Any future penetration of the membrane for new work shall be made and re-flashed by an applicator approved for the installed system, and the repaired area shall be integrity-tested.
NOTE A blocked drain turns a free-draining deck into a membrane under sustained head, and it is the most common cause of distress in an otherwise sound installation. (23.4)