Installation
of Waterproofing System to Basement Vaults of British Museum, London
by Newton
Waterproofing Systems
The project was
located in the East Residence of the British Museum, London. The
area was previously used to store artifacts which were becoming wet and
damaged as the system previously applied had failed resulting in water
ingress penetrating through the substrate. The British Museum decided to
change the use of the vaults to changing and storage space for staff.
The waterproofing
specification was designed to provide a dry interior to Grade 3 of BS8102,
the British Standard Code of Practice for Protection of Structures Against
Water from the Ground. Care was taken to choose a scheme which
involved minimal disruption and a sympathetic approach for this listed
building. Newton designed the waterproofing system, supplied the
required products including membranes and supervised the work.
Newton 500 was
applied to the floors, Newton 500 Lath was applied to walls and vaulted
ceilings and the Newton range of fixing plugs, tapes, ropes were used.
The large number of vaulted ceilings made it extremely difficult to fix as
Newton 500 Lath had to be fixed at a minimum of 250mm centres to get
a firm enough fix to accept a plaster finish.
Channels 150mm x 150mm were cut into the floor slab at the wall/floor
junction and laid to fall into a sump chamber with pump system. A
screed was laid on the floor and British Gypsum Hardwall plaster applied
to the Newton 500 Lath in three coats.
The waterproofing
contract was to an area of approximately 1100m and the contract value £2.5m.
It took seven weeks to install the
membrane and four weeks to plaster.
Eighteen vaults
in the East Residence of the British Museum now being used as locker and
rest rooms for male and female security staff.
This case
study has been submitted by a member and the British Structural
Waterproofing Association accepts no responsibility for its content.
