Waterproofing is the most common building defect in Australia with waterproofing failures present in approximately 30% of apartment buildings. Property owners and industry professionals are highly concerned as moisture damage and water ingress issues often do not manifest until well into a building’s life and can be extremely costly to remediate. With Australia in the middle of another waterproofing crisis, we need to revisit how to improve the design of facade systems for waterproofing and compliance.
Lessons from Leaky Homes: Designing Weatherproof Facades for Modern Australian Buildings is an informative analysis of the current waterproofing crisis and the impact on facade design, the causative factors and what lessons can be learned from similar crises in New Zealand and Canada. First, we look at why waterproofing issues occur, highlighting the role of inappropriate facade design, lack of build quality and regulatory failures. We then look at the waterproofing requirements in Australia as set out in the National Construction Code. Finally, we draw some lessons from New Zealand and Canada and highlight design solutions that can improve waterproofing performance in modern facades.
Fairview specialises in the design, manufacture and distribution of a suite of quality, aesthetically pleasing and safe cladding products to the construction industry. With almost 30 years’ experience in the facade industry, Fairview is dedicated to delivering innovative facades that meet the requirements and vision of each project. Importantly, Fairview cladding products meet the requirements of AS/NZS 4284:2008 with test results demonstrating industry-leading performance.
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