How a waterproofing membrane works in a floor
Where a floor must also keep water out, the membrane is a layer of the floor. Hychem Deckproof PU-2-SL is certified to AS 4654.1 as a Class III external trafficable membrane for car parks, ramps, balconies and stadiums; Hyclad E is a Class II wet-area membrane to AS/NZS 4858 and AS 3740.
What the floor has to handle
- Water
- ponding, rain and washdown over occupied space
- Movement
- cracks that open and close with temperature — the membrane must bridge them
- Traffic
- vehicles and crowds on the finished surface
- Sunlight
- Deckproof PU-2-SL is non-UV and needs a Hychem topcoat
- Hychem Deck-Seal, Deck-Tuff or Hychem Deck-ProofTrafficable deck coating and waterproofing systemsView system Data sheetFast cureSlip resistantUV stable
- Hychem DeckproofTrafficable waterproof membraneView system Data sheetFast cure
- Hychem Deckproof PUTrafficable waterproof polyurethane membraneView system Data sheetLow VOCSlip resistantUV stable
- Hychem Deckproof PU-1-SLSingle-component self-levelling polyurethane waterproofing membraneView system Data sheetChemical resistantFast cureLow VOC
- Hychem Deckproof PU-2-SLExternal Trafficable Waterproofing MembraneView system Data sheetAS certifiedSlip resistant
- Hychem Hyclad EEpoxy Polyurea MembraneView system Data sheetAS certifiedGreen Star
- Polyac BDM-MElastomeric MMA waterproofing membrane or wear layerView system Data sheetChemical resistantFast cure
Standards that apply
| Standard | Title | What it means for the floor |
|---|---|---|
| AS 4654.1-2012 | Waterproofing membranes for external above-ground use — Materials | Classes a membrane by its extensibility (I–III). Deckproof PU-2-SL is certified as Class III for non-exposed external above-ground waterproofing. |
| AS 4654.2-2012 | Waterproofing membranes for external above-ground use — Design and installation | How the membrane is detailed and installed: falls, upturns, terminations and drainage. |
| AS/NZS 4858:2004 | Wet area membranes | Material requirements for wet-area membranes, Class I–III. Hyclad E is Class II. |
| AS 3740-2021 | Waterproofing of domestic wet areas | Where and how wet areas in homes are waterproofed. Commercial wet areas usually follow it as good practice. |
Which product holds which certificate: certifications and approvals.
FAQs about how a waterproofing membrane works in a floor
What does Class III mean?
AS 4654.1 classes membranes by how far they stretch. Class III is the most extensible — Deckproof PU-2-SL elongates 305 % at 23 °C.
Can you drive on the membrane?
Deckproof PU-2-SL is designed for vehicle traffic when finished with a Hychem wearing course; it is not UV-stable on its own.
Wet area or external membrane?
Inside — bathrooms, kitchens, plant rooms — use a wet-area membrane (Hyclad E, AS/NZS 4858). Outside, above ground, use an AS 4654.1 membrane.
Guides to read next
Decking out the Opera House for 50 years service
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and well-recognised landmarks in Australia.
Waterproof epoxy flooring: all you need to know
Epoxy floors have been a popular choice of flooring in the home or in businesses, for many years.
How to keep an epoxy floor clean and shiny
If you’ve got an epoxy floor in your residential, industrial, or commercial property, it’s good to learn how to best clean and maintain its shine to keep it in top condition.
Specification service
Not sure which system?
Tell us the substrate, the traffic and the service conditions — we recommend the build-up and write the specification.