Data Centre Waterproofing – Oct Newsletter
Waterproofing in Data Centre Construction: A Critical Risk Management Strategy
With the surge in demand driven by AI and recent deals with major US tech giants, the data centre market is set to expand rapidly. But with growth comes risk—and waterproofing is one of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of data centre construction.
Why Waterproofing Matters
Water ingress, moisture migration, and gas penetration are among the most common causes of construction delays and post-completion failures. These issues can lead to costly downtime, especially for data centres where uninterrupted operation is essential. Main contractors risk millions in liquidated damages if waterproofing fails during or after construction.
Data centres require precise environmental control. Even minor leaks or humidity spikes can compromise sensitive equipment, delay commissioning, or breach service-level agreements.
That’s why compliance with British Standards and the Building Safety Act isn’t just a statutory requirement, it’s a vital safeguard for the design team, contractor, and client.
The Myth of Manufacturer Guarantees
British Standards (BS 8102 for waterproofing and BS 8485 for gas protection) and the Building Safety Act demand rigorous design and installation practices. Manufacturer guarantees alone do not meet these standards. In fact, no successful claims have ever been made against a manufacturer’s waterproofing guarantee, liability always falls on the installer. If you're not using a specialist waterproofing contractor with appropriate insurance, you don’t have a valid guarantee, and you’re not compliant, regardless of what the manufacturer promises.
Key Compliance Requirements
To meet British Standards and mitigate risk, the following must be in place:
- Waterproofing design must begin at RIBA Stage 2, led by a qualified waterproofing design specialist
- A Golden Thread of information must be maintained throughout the project lifecycle
- All works must be carried out by trained, insured specialists with a minimum of £10 million Professional Indemnity (PI) cover
- Service entries must be designed and installed early to ensure gas and water tightness from the outset
- Gas protection is mandatory for most below-ground structures, especially in brownfield or contaminated sites
- Inter-floor waterproofing and service penetration detailing must be handled by specialists to avoid weak points in the structure.
Only a specialist design-and-install company with a proven track record and genuine guarantees can deliver fully integrated waterproofing and gas protection systems.
Why MacLennan?
MacLennan has successfully delivered thousands of below-ground projects, including complex multi-storey basements in challenging environments. Our credentials include:
- Full design liability backed by extensive experience
- Insured long-term guarantees on workmanship and materials
- Integrated systems combining structural waterproofing and gas protection
- Qualified, experienced, and insured installers
Unlike manufacturers, MacLennan takes full responsibility for design, supply, and installation using our own trained staff. Our designers have real-world site experience, something manufacturers lack, often resulting in impractical or flawed designs.
We can demonstrate zero basement waterproofing failures across 200+ projects annually. Manufacturers can’t make that claim because they don’t install or guarantee the work.
Ongoing Support & Monitoring
MacLennan offers:
- A dedicated aftercare department with qualified electricians for pump and backup system servicing
- Remote monitoring services for critical components like batteries, floats, and alarms, alerting you to potential issues before they become problems.
Contact our technical design team today to take the risk out of your data centre waterproofing.
Tags: data centre, leak