Damp proofing
Part 2
Vedavyasa college of architecture
Building materials and construction
Semester 6- module- 4
Damp proof course (DPC)
Types of Materials for Damp
What is DPC? Proof Course
The materials commonly used to
Damp proof course
(DPC) is generally check dampness can be divided
applied at basement into the following three
levels which restricts
the movement of categories:
moisture through walls Flexible Materials: Materials like
and floors.
bitumen felts (which may be
hessian based or fiber/glass fiber
based), plastic sheeting
Properties of Materials for DPC (polythene sheets) etc.
Semi-rigid Materials: Materials
An effective damp proofing material should have the following properties;
like mastic, asphalt, or
• It should be impervious.
• It should be strong and durable, and should be capable of combination of materials or
withstanding both dead as well as live loads without damage. layers.
• It should be dimensionally stable. Rigid Materials: Materials like first
• It should be free from deliquescent salts like sulphates, class bricks, stones, slate, cement
chlorides and nitrates. concrete etc.
DPC Treatment in Buildings:
[Link]
• Treatment to foundations against
gravitational water:
-Foundation may receive water percolating from
adjacent ground, and this moisture may rise in
the wall.
– This can be checked by providing air drain
parallel to the external wall.
– The width of air drain may be about 20 to 30
cm. The outer wall of the drain is kept above the
ground to check the entry of surface water.
– A RCC roof slab is provided. Openings with
gratings are provided at regular interval, for
passage of air.
[Link]
Treatment to basements:
• Provision of Foundation drains and DPC
• Provision of RCC raft and wall slab
• Asphalt tanking
– Provision of foundation drain and DPC:
• When basement rests on soil which are not
properly drained, great hydrostatic pressure is
exerted and the floor as well as wall receive water
continuously.
• In such a case it becomes necessary to make a
trench all round, up to foundation level and fill it
with gravel, coke and other pervious materials.
• Open jointed drains may be provided to collect
the under ground water or drainage pipes
embedded in gravel bed may also be provided
before foundation concrete.
Provision of RCC floor and wall slab:
• Where underground water pressure is severe, the
drainage system may not solve the problem effectively.
Also, constant pumping out water may be costly.
• In such case, floor slab as well as walls may be
constructed in rigid RCC structure. Horizontal and
vertical DPC treatment is also provided. Atleast, 3 layers
of bituminous felts are used as DPC
• Half brick thick wall protective wall provided at outer
face of RCC wall slab.
[Link]
• Treatments to floors:
– for location where ground moisture is not
present, subsoil is rammed well and a 7.5 to 10
cm thick layer of coarse sand is spread over the
entire area under flooring.
– Alternatively stone soling may first be provided
and then 7.5 to 10 cm thick layer of lean cement
concrete ([Link] or [Link]) may be provided over it
and over this base, flooring may be laid.
– In a damp soil, where water table is near GL, it
is essential to provide membrane DPC over entire
area.
– A layer of flat bricks is laid on a cushion of fine
sand over DPC to protect it from damage during
the construction of floor slab.
[Link]
• Treatments to walls:
– For basement wall, a vertical DPC is laid over the external
face of wall.
– This vertical layer of DPC is laid over the base of water-
cement plaster grouted on the external face of the wall.
– This vertical DPC is further protected by external
protective walls of half brick thickness.
– The vertical DPC should be carried atleast up to a level of
15 cm above GL and similarly, horizontal DPC in external
wall, extending from the floor is provided atleast 15 cm
above GL.
– In the internal walls DPC is provided in level with the
lower surface of concrete floor.
[Link]
Causes of Dampness in roofs
Techniques for treatment of dampness
• Poor quality of construction material. in flat roof
• Bad design. • Grading of Lime concrete.
• Fault in construction. • Grading of lime concrete with tiles.
• Rain water falling on the external walls, parapets also • Grading of mud phuska with tiles.
causes dampness.
• Screed concreting.
• Rain water can also penetrates the roof if the roof is of
low quality .
• Tar-felting.
• Inadequate roof slopes or defective junction between
• EPDM.
roof slab and parapet walls can cause dampness.
• Leakage through downpipes can causes dampness.
Inadequate roof slope Leakage through pipes
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