Solution: Waterproofing

As part of a major refurbishment of The Royal Institute of Great Britain, careful consideration of how to waterproof the basement was required, critically the threat of water ingress had to be eliminated as the basement was to be partly used for archive storage. A BS8102 Grade 4 waterproofing solution was therefore required. Sika 1 pre-bagged waterproofing provided the perfect product.

A £22 million, two and a half year upgrade, the scheme was designed by architects Farrell & Partners and completed by main contractor ISG InteriorExterior Plc. An ambitious renovation of a 200 year old Georgian building, the project aimed to showcase the Royal Institute of Great Britain as the home of innovative and groundbreaking science that is still impacting our lives today.

To ensure the aged basement rooms were 100% watertight, specialist contractor Renderseal installed Sika’s renowned waterproofing Solution, Sika 1 Pre-bagged, on the walls and floors. This was complemented with Sika’s SikaDur Combiflex waterproof expansion joint at wall and floor junction.

Sika 1 is a complete Pre-bagged waterproofing system that incorporates mortars and screeds, plus a specially developed admixture. A colloidal silicate liquid, the Sika 1 admixture is mixed into the system before the system is applied to the substrate. In the event of water ingress, the liquid reacts with the water by turning into a jelly-like substance, blocking all gaps and capillaries, and providing an impregnable and invisible seal.

Ideal for ageing basements, Sika 1 Pre-bagged bonds to the substrate. Once applied, it essentially becomes one with the structure and eliminates the threat of water ingress.

Renderseal installed the Sika 1 Pre-bagged system throughout each of the 25 plus basements rooms, each located two levels below road level. To complete the waterproofing solution, Sika's advanced jointing system, SikaDur Combiflex, was also specified. A high performance joint sealing system, it provides proven protection from water ingress to all gaps between cracks, joints, panels and walls.

Certified by the British Board of Agrément (BBA), Sika 1 Pre-bagged meets the requirements of BS 8102 Grades two, three and four, with grade 4 being the highest recognised standard of waterproofing protection. On completion of the Sika waterproofing works, for additional peace of mind, Renderseal issued a full 10 year insurance backed guarantee.

Now complete, the project has created an extra 40% useable space within the building, which features a signature day-lit atrium, heritage exhibitions, public events, Time & Space café, a bar and a restaurant.