1. TYPES OF WATERPROOFING MEMBRANES
2016

2. Waterproofing Membranes
Overview of
Types of
Waterproofing Membranes

3. Sheet Membranes Types Torch applied Sheet Membranes PVC Membranes
TPO Membranes
GC1 Membrane

4. Sheet Membranes Bitumen
Bitumen sheet membranes can be used in a multitude of principle external situations with the principal one being exposed roofs. Podium decks, blinding layers, retaining walls, and lift pits have been waterproofed with bitumen sheet membranes.
The modified bitumen compound used to manufacture sheet membranes is internally reinforced for added strength, and dimensional stability. Most bitumen membranes use a combined reinforcement of polyester and fiber-glass for added performance.
Bitumen Sheet Membranes are generally installed by a LPG gas torch, which fuses the membrane to the substrate and to the selvedge edge when joining.
Bitumen sheet membranes should only be applied by experienced tradesmen and is not a job for the inexperienced.
Bitumen is not stable to ultra violet rays unless a bitumen mineral sheet is applied as a cap layer.

5. Bitumen Types Types of “Bitumen membranes” Components of APAO APP SBS
(Amorphous Poly Alpha Propylene)
APP
(Atactic Poly Propylene)
SBS
(Styrene Butadiene Styrene)
Components of
Formulated Bitumen Compound
Fibre Reinforcement
Polymer Modifier
Outline of Bitumen Membranes
► APAO, APP & SBS membranes are all commonly referred to as “bitumen membranes”
► The principal components of “bitumen membranes” are:-
Formulated Bitumen Compound – The bulk component of bitumen membranes.
Fibre Reinforcement – Normally polyester &/or fiberglass provides the strength & dimensional stability.
Polymer Modifier – APAO (Amorphous Poly Alpha Olefin), APP (Atactic Poly Propylene) or SBS (Styrene Butadiene Styrene) are a primary component and provide the performance properties of an effective waterproof membrane

6. Outline of Bitumen Membranes
Formulated Bitumen Compound
Variable Supplier Quality
Low cost polymers likely to embrittle & shrink
Low cost polymers likely to deteriorate on ageing
Filled with fillers
Reinforcement
Fibre reinforcement critical to membrane.
Polyester fibers provide strength
Fiberglass provides dimensional stability
“Combined Reinforcement” provides both strength and dimensional stability
Weight of reinforcement
Formulated Bitumen Compound
 Quality can vary considerably for one supplier to another.
 Low cost polymers loose the low boiling fractions and become more brittle & shrink
 Low cost polymers normally result in the performance properties of the membrane deteriorating significantly on aging.
Reinforcement
 The type of fiber reinforcement is critical to the physical performance of the membrane.
 Polyester fibers provide strength properties.
 Fiberglass provides dimensional stability.
 “Combined Reinforcement” is an optimum blend of fiberglass and polyester to provide the optimum performance properties in both strength and dimensional stability.
 The weight of the reinforcement must be sufficient to provide the properties required of the membrane.

7. Outline of Bitumen Membranes
Polymer Modifier
Critical component of membrane
Provides cold flexibility, heat stability, softening point properties
APAO is formulated under strict quality control
APAO is chemically defined
APP is a by-product and therefore can vary in quality and cost.
APP quality is up to the membrane manufacturer.
SBS softens reducing resistance to mechanical damage.
Polymer gives properties to membrane which have specific advantage for specific installations.
Polymer Modifier
 Major component providing performance properties such as cold flexibility, heat stability, softening point and many other properties.
 APAO is a specifically purpose formulated for bitumen waterproof membranes under strict quality control.
 APAO is a chemical type that is chemically defined.
 APP is a by-product of the manufacture of polypropylene and therefore can vary considerably in quality and cost.
 The quality of APP used in the manufacture of bitumen membranes is up to the membrane manufacturer.
 SBS softens the membrane substantially and reduces the resistance to mechanical damage.
 The properties of the membrane provided by each of the polymer additives have specific advantage for specific installations.

8. APAO Bitumen Compound (Amorphous Poly Alpha Olefin)
Raw materials enable improved quality control
Combined polyester/glass reinforcement
Very wide temperature installation and service range (-30 to 1400C)
Excellent dimensional stability
25 year warranted service life (2 layer - 8mm)
Lower installation costs for high performance systems
Higher material costs than APP
APAO Bitumen Compound (Amorphous Poly Alpha Olefin)
► Manufactured from purpose manufactured raw materials enabling improved quality control.
► Combined polyester/glass reinforcement.
► Stable to service temperatures up to 140°C.
► Stable to service temperatures down to −35°C.
► Flexible to −35°C allowing installation at low ambient temperatures.
► Excellent dimensional stability of ≤ 0.3% ensuring no shrinkage or expansion failures during service.
► Two layer system providing 30 year warranted service life.
► Two layer system normally associated with lower installation costs and lower risks of installation faults.

9. APP Bitumen Compound (Atactic Polypropylene)
Manufactured from by-products.
Lower cost raw material variables can lead to product quality variances between suppliers.
Combined polyester/glass reinforcement
Wide temperature service range (-5 to 1400C)
20 year warranted service life (2 or 3 layer – 7+mm)
15 year warranted service life (2 layer – 6mm)
APP Bitumen Compound (Atactic Polypropylene)
► Manufactured from polypropylene manufacturing waste products raw materials.
► Combined polyester/glass reinforcement.
► Because of variable raw material quality, variability in finished product quality of various suppliers can be substantial.
► Stable to service temperatures up to 110°C.
► Stable to service temperatures down to −5°C.
► Flexible to −5°C limiting installation at low ambient temperatures.
► Three layer system required to provide 30 year warranted service life.
► Three layer system provides opportunity for higher risks of installation faults.

10. SBS Compound SBS membranes are soft membranes.
(Styrene Butadiene Styrene)
SBS membranes are soft membranes.
Combined polyester/glass reinforcement.
Limited high ambient temperature installation.
Low temperature installation & service
Logistical and quality problems at higher temperatures
Can be installed at low ambient temperatures
20 year warranted service life (2 layer – 7mm)
SBS Compound (Styrene Butadiene Styrene)
► SBS membranes are significantly softer than either APAO or APP membrane.
► Combined polyester/glass reinforcement.
► The soft nature of SBS membranes limits the ability to install at higher ambient temperatures.
► Logistical and quality problems can result from transportation and pre-laying positioning of SBS membranes because of the risk of fusion within the rolls supplied.
► Stable to service temperatures up to 90°C.
► Stable to service temperatures down to −20°C.
► Cold flexibility to −20°C allowing installation at low ambient temperatures.
► Three layer system required to provide 30 year warranted service life.

11. Product Type Comparison
Property
APAO
APP
SBS
Heat Stability
140°C
110°C
90°C
Cold Flexibility
−35°C
−5°C
−20°C
Reinforcement
Type
Weight
Combined
180 g/m2
Tensile Strength
Longitudinal
Transverse
900 N/50mm
650 N/50mm
720 N/50mm
420 N/50mm
Tear Resistance
Longitudinal Transverse
180 N
130 N
120 N
160 N
170 N
Break
45%
40%

12. POSITIVE “V” NEGATIVE Positives Negatives Film thickness is constant.
Durable
Multiply layers for greater waterproofing protection.
Less prone to damage by other trades.
20 year warranties.
Will last up to 35 years exposed.
Can be installed in IRMA situations.
Energy saving.
Can be mechanical fixed
Negatives
Labour intensive.
Have to be vented on roof areas when left exposed.
Only suitable for maintenance traffic.
Will not resist hydrostatic situations.
Laps and terminations are the main weakness.

13. PVC MEMBRANES Polyvinyl Chloride
Pvc membrane systems are a thermoplastic system that is reinforced with a fibreglass mat for dimensional stability.
Pvc membrane are a single ply roofing system which can be bonded or mechanically fixed to a substrate..
Like bitumen membranes the laps need to be heated with a Pvc welder to form water tight joint.
Unlike bitumen membranes Pvc membranes are installed in a single ply and have a life span of 35 years.
Pvc membranes are quick to lay due to the roll width being 2.0 meters to – 3.0 meters wide.

14. POSITVE “V” NEGATIVE NEGATIVES Energy efficient.
Good puncture and heat resistance.
Quick to install because of wide rolls.
Constant film thickness.
Can be mechanically fixed.
Less prone to mechanical damage.
Will last up to 35 years.
Colours available
NEGATIVES
May have to be vented.
Only suitable for maintenance traffic
Will not resist hydrostatic situations.
Single ply only.
Laps and terminations a main weakness.

15. TPO MEMBRANES Thermoplastic Polyolefin
The term TPO stands for Thermoplastic Polyolefin. TPO is actually in a broad family of rubber roofing materials which is a blend of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubber.
TPO is probably the most widely used roofing product in the market today because it is cheap and it's white.
TPO membranes have changed over the years due to the issues with rubber membranes.
TPO membranes have issues with seams pulling away, splitting, and crazing on the surface.
Some TPO's membranes are potential susceptibility to deterioration from exposure to high heat and / or UV (solar) loads.
Heat and reflected / focused sunlight are the primary concern for TPO membrane systems in Queensland.

16. POSITIVE “V” NEGATIVE NEGATIVES Cheap membrane system.
White for reflectiveness.
Quick to install because of wide rolls.
Energy efficient.
Constant thickness.
20 year warranty.
Can be mechanically fixed.
High resistance to animal fats
NEGATIVES
Has had issues in high UV areas.
Difficult to heat weld.
Laps and terminations.
May need to be vented.
Only suitable for maintenance traffic.
Single ply.
Durability
Is a laminated membrane system.
Cheap.

17. Chlorinated polyethylene
GC1 MEMBRANES
Chlorinated polyethylene
CPE membranes have been around for over 50 years and are a sheet membrane system.
Chlorinated-Polyethylene is odourless, non-toxic and comes in various colours. CPE membranes have excellent resistance to weathering or age ozone chemicals, and good resistance to oil or flame CPE membranes offers excellent flexibility and resistance to ignition, chemicals, heat, low temperatures and weathering at a low overall system cost.
CPE membranes are easy to install, is light-weight, can be waterproofed or tiled over. Can save up to 50% on labour and installation costs.
Can be installed over timber floors in wet areas saving the builder time and money in not fixing tile underlays.
This will be the membrane system of the future.

18. POSITIVES “V” NEGATIVES
Quick to install.
Constant thickness.
Can be tiled over.
Can have topping installed over.
Can be used internally and externally.
Can be overlaid with a liquid membrane.
No fumes or odours.
Lightweight.
20 year guarantee.
UV stable.
Crack bridging.
Can be installed over timber floors.
NEGATIVES
May require venting externally.

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