While waterproofing in the Canberra region is traditionally fraught with problems because of a wide variance of temperature, Wolfin membrane systems was specified for the refurbishment of Scarborough House in Woden, ACT because of its perceived superiority in such conditions.
According to local waterproofing contractors S A Sealants, most of the problems occur because of the wide variance in daily temperatures – where a rooftop can experience –10ºC in the early morning and + 45oC that same afternoon. Most membrane systems become brittle with such treatment and ultimately break down.
Accordingly when the refurbishment of Scarborough House in the suburb of Woden was planned, architects MGT Canberra specified the Wolfin system for the waterproofing of the roof.
In addition to the thermal movements, the architects were concerned over the treatment of the cold joints on the roof between the existing roof slab and the new concrete ‘wings’ put in place to increase the roof by just under 50 per cent.
Wolfin S membrane was specified so that the membrane would be bonded to the roof – rather than loose-laid – and a wearing slab was poured over the top of the membrane. The edges of the membrane were welded direct to Wolfinsteel – Wolfins’ steel system with membrane already bonded to it – in such a way that the system was not reliant on any sealant. The Wolfinsteel was mechanically fastened to the substrate and the fixings were covered in membrane. The Wolfin System is designed to withstand constant variations of temperature without being stressed. The cold joints and other areas of movement concern were treated as expansion joints utilising the Wolfinsteel and unreinforced Wolfin membrane.
Scarborough House belongs to Indigenous Business Australia and the building will be tenanted by the Department of Health and Ageing. The builder for the project was Baulderstone Hornibrook.
