PERFORMANCE STUDIES ON BITUMINOUS BASED MATERIAL FOR WATERPROOFING IN BUILDINGS

Abstract

There is a growing demand in recent years for more comfortable and hygienic housing environment all over the world. BuildingShave now become more complex specially in town and cities. The stock of older building are also increasing day by day. The tra fitional waterproofing materials are being used in the new ways and so many new materials have been introduced in recent years. Due to faulty design or negligence of prescribed code of practice, the leakage problems Is a common phenomenbt1 even, in new buildings. Bitumen is the oldest material used for waterproofing treatments. The Bitumen felt;.. is a common material, available in - all parts of India and is used for checking of water leakage from the roofs. The object of the present study was to test various physical properties of bitumen felts available in the market and to report the draw=back in these felts and to recommend measures to improve the 'material used for manufacturing of felts as well as their methods of laying to provide better performance. For this the following types of bitumen sheets, available in the market were procured and w-.tre studied. (1) sample A-Bitumen felts Hessian Base Type -3 Grade 1 manufactured by Shalimar Tar Product ( S.T.P.) as per IS 1322-1982 (2:) Sample B-Local made bitumen felts, Hessian Base type 3 Grade 1, (Duplicate on name of S.T.P Brand) 1 (3) Sample C Polyfelt manufactured by Reliable waterproofing Industry, Delhi. Physical characterisation ofalt4ke_ above samples of bitumen felts and polyfelts was done thrpugh determination of their thickness, weight, binder content, water absorption and breaking strength, both in dry and wet conditions. The performance studies on these felts was carried out through pliability, pressure head, storage sticking and heat resistance as per the standard methods. By testing only, above materials it is sure that a lot of substandard and poor quality bitumen felts are in use For this, the provisions for indication of thickness of different types of felts in the relevant Indian standards is — recommended. The asbestos fibre baseffelts should also be included in Indian standard because this type of felts gives better 4 performance in Indian tropical climate.