If you haven’t complied with BS8102, chances are its your liability.

• Form of construction
• Intended use and contents. And potential future use
• What environment is required for the intended use. Wet, damp dry and controlled?
• What systems are most suitable? What is the client’s attitude to risk? What guarantees do they want? and what insurance companies? What do the insurance companies require?
• How will the system be installed so as it is continuous?
• How can it be repaired if there is an issue,  after the basement is complete including finishes?

All this and much more needs to be discussed and agreed with the waterproofing specialist before the technical design is even begun by the architects and engineers.

And yet every day we get tender and design requests where none of this has been agreed with the client or a waterproofing design specialist and all the building design is done.

An appointment is not just sending drawings, The designer should have 10 million PI and take design liability for the whole waterproofing process including installation.

They should be either paid as a consultant or named on the drawings and in the tender documents as similar or approved along with strict clients directions insisting all tendering contractors ensure  design and installation  is carried out in accordance with BS8102 and by a qualified design specialist with insured installers.

That’s how the client and the design team are protected.