constructive solutions

Waterproofing below-ground with

Proofex Engage
 Our profile
Since the company’s beginnings over 50 years ago, Fosroc has developed into an International leader in delivering Constructive
Solutions for projects across a broad range of market segments including transport, utilities, industrial and general buildings.

Fosroc has an extensive network of offices and manufacturing locations across Europe, the Middle East, India, North and South
Asia, and is further represented in other regions across the world by distributor and licensee partners.
For details of your local offices, please refer to www.fosroc.com.

Selecting from the full portfolio of Fosroc products and services and integrating expert technical support, world class customer
service and innovation, Fosroc goes beyond just product selling to ensure that we partner with our customers to deliver complete
constructive solutions.

• Cement Grinding Aids

• Concrete Admixtures
• Surface Treatments
• Grouts & Anchors
•
•
Waterproofing
Joint Sealants
International leader
•
•
Concrete Repairs
Surface Coatings
in delivering
• Industrial Flooring Constructive Solutions

FOSROC quality is appreciated worldwide in the most

demanding of construction applications; the result of
decades of experience delivering solutions to many
iconic structures.

The Burj Al Arab, one of the world’s most recognised

structures, is a good example of where Fosroc
worked hand in hand with the contractors and project
consultants to identify the best product systems that
would provide optimal performance in the difficult
construction circumstances.

Careful consideration needed to be given in the

selection of concrete admixtures and other product
systems to provide comprehensive solutions in key
areas such as waterproofing and pile heads.

The result was >4.5 Million litres of Fosroc Conplast

admixtures and various Fosroc Proofex waterproofing
membranes being successfully applied surpassing the
stringent specifications required for the project.

how we can help you

For a tailored project solution please contact your local Fosroc office
where experienced staff will assist and provide you with a high level
of support, including;

• Seminars
• Project specifications
• CAD details
• Site support

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FOSROC’s vast experience in providing waterproofing solutions to many famous structures
around the world has been built on a broad range of products. These include pre-applied, loose-
laid, liquid-applied, cementitious, drainage, self-adhesive and spray-applied membranes;
along with PVC, swellable, composite PVC/swellable waterstops.

Fosroc offers the most comprehensive range of below-ground waterproofing product systems,
manufactured to the highest quality standards backed by independent test certificates. Our
wealth of experienced technical experts and specification managers will help you find the best
system solution for your project.

successful over
a long number
of years

Proofex Engage waterproofing

The Proofex Engage system is proven technology and has
successfully waterproofed millions of sqm of below-ground structures
since its launch. It can be found in projects in many countries around
the world and is quite simply one of the best performing cost-effective
below-ground waterproofing solutions available today.

Brochure contents
• Innovative technology
• BS8102:2009
• The benefits of using Proofex Engage
• Typical applications
• A system-based solution

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 Proofex Engage

Innovative anti-tracking, pre-applie

The solution that stands the test of time

Walls Floors
4
lied waterproofing system

Precast concrete
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 Below-ground waterproofing
For below-ground structures where the exterior face of the structural concrete is inaccessible, the waterproofing must be applied
prior to pouring the concrete. Conventional systems are either loose-laid or self-adhering to the substrate not the structural
concrete, this means there is no seal between the waterproofing and the structural concrete which can lead to water travelling
between the waterproofing and the structure from any leakages that may occur. BS8102:2009 highlights this problem and
recommends that a fully-bonded pre-applied waterproofing system be used to mitigate this risk. A similar problem occurs where
ground settlement takes place.

Fosroc have developed an innovative system, Proofex Engage, which incorporates a unique cell mesh which mechanically
bonds to freshly placed concrete giving a tenacious waterproof seal, preventing water migration even if ground settlement occurs.
It is installed rapidly with no need for blinding concrete, priming or protection and can be trafficked immediately after application.
It is also a gas barrier, highly durable and is unaffected by contaminants within the ground. Quality is assured through BBA and
EN13967:2004 and the system is suitable for use in accordance with BS8102:2009 Grades 1, 2 and 3.

• Rapid installation - no blinding concrete or

protection required.
• Assured watertight integrity even in the event of
ground settlement.
• No water-tracking.
• Easy jointing and compatible full range of
ancillaries.
• Integrity assured at pile heads.
• Excellent solution for precast concrete.
• Protects structure against ground
contaminants.
• Long term watertight durability.

Proofex Engage - saves time and money

Proofex Engage pre-applied premium waterproofing system

• Structural concrete
• Steel reinforcement
• Proofex Engage membrane

Self-adhesive / Torch-on waterproofing system

• Structural concrete
• Steel reinforcement
• Screed or board protection
• Self-adhesive / Torch-on membrane
• Blinding concrete

PVC waterproofing system

• Structural concrete
• Steel reinforcement
• Screed or board protection
• Geotextile
• PVC loose laid membrane
• Geotextile
• Blinding concrete

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BS8102:2009
The recently revised BS8102:2009 standard for waterproofing below-ground structures, gives
recommendations and provides guidance on methods of dealing with and preventing the
entry of water from surrounding ground into a structure below ground level. Designers are
encouraged to follow a process chart, to ensure that the correct waterproofing system will be
selected. Some of the recommendations are highlighted below;

• To help mitigate risk, specify a combination of various types of compatible protection

sourced from the same manufacturer.
• Where a waterproofing barrier is required for a structure supported on piled foundations,
special consideration should be given to the detailing so that structural continuity is not
compromised.
• Strategies for dealing with groundwater, soil gases and contaminants should be
considered from the earliest stages of the planning and design processes.
• Products that are both water and gasproof are more cost-effective.
• Where waterproofing admixtures are used, these should be in conjunction with other
waterproofing components supplied by the same manufacturer, e.g. waterstops,
membranes and sealants.
• Fully bonded systems allow potential defects to be located and made good more easily.
• Each project structure should be designed to its particular Grade

Grade Example of use of structure Performance level

1 Car parking; Plant rooms Some seepage and damp areas

(excluding electrical equipment); tolerable, dependent on the intended
Workshops. use.
Local drainage might be necessary to
deal with seepage.

2 Plant rooms and Workshops No water penetration acceptable.

requiring a drier environment (than Damp areas tolerable; ventilation might
grade 1); Storage areas. be required.

3 Ventilated residential and No water penetration acceptable.

commercial areas, including Ventilation, dehumidification or air
offices, restaurants etc ; Leisure conditioning necessary, appropriate to
centres. the intended use.

One, or a combination, of the following types of waterproofing protection should be selected:

Type A – (barrier) protection
Protection against water ingress which is dependent on a separate barrier system applied to
the structure.

Type B – (structural integral) protection

Protection against water ingress which is provided by the
structure.

Type C – (drained) protection

Protection against water ingress into usable spaces which
is provided by the incorporation of an appropriate internal
water management system.

Proofex Engage is an excellent choice for fully-bonded Type A barrier protection for below-
ground structures for basement Grades 1, 2 and 3. It is fully compatible with the Fosroc
Proofex Cavitydrain internal drainage systems and Conplast WP grades of waterproof
concrete admixtures assuring best system performance sourced from the one supplier.

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 Fosroc below-ground waterproofing solution

Construction applications
• Single-sided formwork concrete walls
• Double-sided formwork concrete walls
• Pile caps
• Lift pits
• Pipe penetrations
• Expansion and construction joints

Fosroc system solutions

• Proofex Engage pre-applied anti-tracking waterproofing membrane
• Proofex “L” section, Proofex Detail Strip, Proofex LM and Polyurea WCS - ancillary products
• Proofex WG - waterproof grout for pile heads
• Supercast SW - swellable hydrophilic waterstops for joints
• Supercast Rearguard / Hydrofoil - PVC waterstops for joints
• Supercast Twinstop - composite PVC and Hydrophilic waterstop for joints
• Nitoseal MS300 - one-component flexible sealant for joints
• Hydrocell XL - rot-proof non-absorbent filler board for joints
• Conplast and Structuro - concrete admixtures
• Auramol - mould release agents

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ions

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 Proofex Engage benefits

Non water-tracking
In the unlikely event of damage to the membrane during
installation, the smart anti-tracking mesh design of Proofex
Engage will prevent water tracking between the membrane
and the concrete.

Proofex Engage has been tested to ASTM D5385 and

shows no lateral water migration when tested at 70m
hydrostatic water pressure.

This high performance means that unlike loose-laid

membrane systems, there is no requirement for expensive
PVC waterstop and injection compartment systems.

Strong mechanical bond

The unique mesh design of Proofex Engage gives a
permanent tenacious mechanical bond to freshly placed
concrete.

This bond is not dependent on any chemical reaction and

can be assured each time concrete is cast.

The heavy-duty mesh design and properties result in a

robust, proven membrane which is ideally suitable for
project conditions.

Permanently bonds to structural concrete

PVC membranes, self-adhesive and torch-on membranes
can collapse where ground settlement takes place.

This can lead to stretching and tearing of the membrane

and can result in leakages.

Proofex Engage however, will remain in place fully bonded

to the structural concrete assuring complete waterproof
integrity even if ground settlement occurs.

solutions
through
innovation

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No blinding concrete required
Blinding concrete is preferred,
however Proofex Engage can be
placed directly on top of a well
compacted smooth granular fill
substrate. A broadcast of damp sand
on top of the granular material is
useful.

Removal of the blinding concrete

means less concrete and less labour
time but also means less concrete
truck movements which not only
saves time and money but is more
environment friendly.

No membrane protection required

Proofex Engage is a robust, heavy
duty membrane with millions of sqm
in projects throughout the world.

The structural steel reinforcement is

laid directly on top of the membrane
ready for the structural concrete
placement.

There is no requirement for screed

protection which saves valuable
time and money.

Benefits to owners / designers

An ever increasing level of importance is being placed by owners and designers
with regards to structural integrity, cost-effectiveness and durability. Fosroc
recognise this, and Proofex Engage with its proven history, excellent holistic
cost benefits and independent certification offers an unparalleled system
solution for below-ground structures to combat these demands. It provides
owners, clients and designers with a high performance system backed by
excellent customer/technical service delivered through a comprehensive
international network.

Benefits to contractors / installers

Proofex Engage is designed for typical site conditions. It is heavy duty, robust
and can be rapidly installed, with easy to apply jointing ancillaries which are
system-compatible. The system has a proven track record and Fosroc can
offer on-site training assistance for specific projects, delivered through local
experts. Contact your local Fosroc office for more details. 11
 Typical details
Floor/Wall transitions are easily achieved using Proofex
“L” section rolls. The blue release film is peeled off leaving
a sticky butyl adhesive on to which the Proofex Engage is
attached.

The seal is completed with a seam of Polyurea WCS or

Proofex LM.

Pile Head waterproofing integrity is critical in deep

basement construction and careful attention must be given
to ensure that no leakages occur.

The Fosroc solution has proven successful over a number

of years with Proofex WG waterproof epoxy grout providing
continuity with the Proofex Engage.

The free-flowing grout forms a secure connection with the

mesh of the Proofex Engage. The seal is complete with a
seam of Polyurea WCS or Proofex LM.

Lapping of Proofex Engage is simple. Along the length

of each roll there is a selvedge strip consisting of a blue
release film and a sticky butyl adhesive.

The blue release film is peeled off and adjacent rolls are
laid on top of the butyl adhesive.

At roll ends the Proofex Engage is butted together on a

strip of Proofex Detail Strip then sealed with a seam of
Polyurea WCS or Proofex LM.

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CAD drawings

Standard CAD drawings are available for the Proofex Engage system, covering the typical
construction methods encountered in below-ground waterproofing projects.

Should you require bespoke CAD drawings for your project then please contact your local
Fosroc office where we can put you in contact with one of our local specification managers.

Specification clauses
Full specification clauses are available for below-
ground waterproofing with the Proofex Engage
system, including waterstops, pile cap grouting and
ancillaries.

Specification formats are; CSI and NBS

Please contact your local Fosroc office for full

details.

Case studies and references

Proofex Engage has been successfully waterproofing many structures across the world since
its launch in 1999.

Case studies are available along with project references, please contact your local Fosroc
office for full details.

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 Fosroc product systems
A successful, fully waterproof below-ground structure complying to the recognised standards, can only be delivered through
holistic design of a complete system. Inappropriate interfaces, poor installation, and inadequate product selection can create
weak points that are expensive to correct. The Fosroc systems-based approach is essential in creating and maintaining structural
durability and assured internal protection against water, gases and other contaminants for below-ground structures.

Fosroc’s comprehensive range of below-ground waterproofing products are innovative, high quality and have been developed
as compatible systems to help reduce the risk of basement leakages. Dedicated specification managers, fluent in the content of
BS8102:2009 are available to give you technical support and to guide you through the various system options for your specific
project.

Supercast waterstops
Every sizeable concrete retaining wall, basement floor slab, buried roof slab,
length of tunnel or reservoir wall must have joints. These may be a mixture
of construction or expansion joints but all such joints in direct contact with
water or wet ground, even when shielded by a membrane, need protection
by waterstops.

Waterstops can be found in the form of PVC profiles or swellable strips,

both types are installed to prevent the passage of water through joints in the
structure.

The Fosroc Supercast SW range of swellable waterstops are “basic polymer”

type strips which provide class-leading wet/dry cycling and hydrostatic
pressure vs time performance giving assured long term watertight integrity.

For critical applications and extra protection, Fosroc have developed

Supercast Twinstop, a composite PVC / swellable waterstop which utilises
both technologies and is fully compatible with the Proofex membrane portfolio.

Supercast Rearguard Twinstop

Composite PVC / swellable waterstop giving an extra
level of protection.

class-leading
wet/dry cycling

Supercast SW 10 / 20
Basic polymer swellable waterstop strips with class-
leading wet/dry cycling long term performance.

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Proofex drainage membranes
External drainage
Where sub-surface drainage is deemed necessary to lower the potential for
hydrostatic pressure on the waterproofing system and lessen the risk of water
ingress through defects, it can be provided by means of an externally placed HDPE
geosynthetic drainage membrane. Proofex Sheetdrain 80 and 100 can provide up
to 3.5L/s/m water flow capacity and are suitable for soil depths up to 20m.

• Cost effective - no need for up to 500mm thick stone drainage layer behind
retaining walls.
• Easy site application.
• Reduced environmental impact - no need for vehicular removal and
transportation of spoil off site and subsequent replacing with expensive stone
drainage layer.
• Secondary waterproofing.
• Protection to the main waterproofing.
• Single solution for both drainage and protection.

reduced
environmental impact

Internal drainage
For BS8102:2009 Type C drained cavity waterproofing, the structural
concrete is designed to minimise water penetration and a suitable HDPE
studded drainage membrane is installed to collect groundwater seepage.
The groundwater is then directed to suitable discharge points.
Proofex Cavitydrain 80 and 200 drainage membranes can provide up
to 10L/s/m water flow capacity.

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 www.fosroc.com

Fosroc offers a full range of construction chemical solutions, helping to protect structures
throughout the world. Please refer to our other brochures, which include:

Fosroc Limited Fosroc N. Ireland

Drayton Manor Business Park 22 Trench Road

Fosroc Limited
Coleshill Road Mallusk, Newtonabbey
Drayton County Antrim
Tamworth
Staffordshire Northern Ireland
B78 3TL: BT36 8TY
Tel: 01827 262222 Tel: 028 90 848 315
Fax: 01827 262444 Fax: 028 90 342 521
email: enquiryuk@fosroc.com
www.fosroc.com

Important Note
Fosroc products are guaranteed against defective materials and manufacture and are sold subject to its standard terms
and conditions of sale, copies of which may be obtained on request. Whilst Fosroc endeavours to ensure that any advice,
recommendation, specification or information it may give is accurate and correct, because it has no direct or continuous
control over where or how its products are applied, it cannot accept any liability either directly or indirectly arising from the
use of its products, whether or not in accordance with any advice, specification, recommendation or information given by it.

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