Page 460 - Construction Waterproofing Handbook

11.16 CHAPTER ELEVEN
Often the major expense involved in repairs to building envelope waterproofing arises
out of gaining access to the leakage area. High-rise and below-grade structures are diffi-
cult areas to access positive-side waterproofing repairs. Warranties that pass the access lia-
bility to the building owner should be carefully reviewed and rarely accepted, as stated in
the above examples.

Escape clauses

“Warranty is void if material not installed in strict compliance with the specifications and
instructions.”

“Warranty void if material not applied with temperature above 40 degrees F and below
60% relative humidity.”

Many manufacturers and contractors will attempt to include stipulations that can create
sufficient means for them to deny any responsibility for the repairs. Keep in mind the
90%/1% and 99% principles when reviewing warranties. Often manufacturers will negate
their warranty coverage if the material was not installed in strict compliance with their
instructions.
Actual site conditions encountered at the site are rarely ideal, and the manufacturer can
often point to improper application methods regardless of how minor. For instance, tem-
perature and humidity conditions documented by the National Weather Service might not
meet the manufacturer’s standards although they have no relationship to the actual leakage
problem encountered.
After project completion, warranties are typically an owner’s only recourse and protec-
tion against faulty work and materials. With this in mind, warranties should be given the
same close scrutiny and review as the original design and installation procedures to pro-
tect the owner’s best interests.
Finally, recalling the 90%/1% percent principle, all too often transitions and termina-
tions are not specifically included in each of the envelope component warranties. By
making contractors and manufacturers responsible for the 1 percent of a building’s area
that creates 90 percent of leakage problems, their attention is directed to this most
important waterproofing principle. By including these areas in warranties, contractors
and manufacturers are prompted to act and to ensure that these details are properly
designed and installed. This prevents numerous problems during the life-cycling of a
building or structure.