Posted on 05/7/21 in Case Studies
On this particular site in Devon, Radon gas was a problem the engineer wanted to combat on this site.
A growing issue when working below ground is not only water ingress but also ground gas issues, whenever we get a set of plans in to design a waterproofing scheme the first question we ask, is if there are ground gas issues on the site.
What is radon?
Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas. It is formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils.
Why is it a risk to our health?
Radioactive elements decay and emit radiation. Any exposure to this type of radiation is a risk to health - radiation is a form of energy and can cause damage in living tissues increasing the risk of cancer.
Once Wykamol were made aware of the geology report and the presence of this gas our waterproofing scheme also had to include for the provision of Radon. Our seven layer thick specialist membrane Titan Bond was installed under the slab to combat any ground gas and waterproofing issues. We will also be including our self adhesive ground gas and waterproofing membrane Titan Bond on the walls once they are built before backfilling this will also be sealed and welded to form a gas free seal. Then our Type C cavity drain membranes will be installed internally to give a dual waterproofing scheme to BS8102.
More and more people are becoming aware of these type of ground gases that are present and remediation needs to be carefully undertaken by a specialist contractor.
On this project registered installer Basement Structures installed the membranes under close guidance from the team at Wykamol. All the membranes were welded and tested to ensure no leaks were evident across the slab area.
Our expansive knowledge in the ground gas industry enables us to work on projects like this. The wykamol group sit on the board of The UK Radon association and have recently been on the steering committee for Ciria for a new document called retrofitting ground gas membranes.
Don’t take a risk when dealing with waterproofing and ground gas issues contact the team at wykamol on 0845 400 6666 and let us help you achieve a complete seal against all potential issues when working below ground.
