Damp-proof course DPC - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 11:05, 23 November 2022

2022-11-23T11:05:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:05, 23 November 2022
Line 63:		Line 63:
	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

−	* Blinding.
−	* Blockwork.
	* Breather membrane.		* Breather membrane.
	* Building damp-free cavity walls.		* Building damp-free cavity walls.
Line 70:		Line 68:
	* Cavity wall.		* Cavity wall.
	* Chemical injected DPC.		* Chemical injected DPC.
−	* Cold bridge
	* Condensation.		* Condensation.
	* Damp.		* Damp.
	* Damp proof membrane.		* Damp proof membrane.
−	* Defects in brickwork
−	* Defects in stonework.
	* Dew point.		* Dew point.
	* Does damp proofing work?		* Does damp proofing work?
	* Flashing.		* Flashing.
	* French drain.		* French drain.
−	* Frost attack.
−	* Glass bottle floor foundation.
	* Humidity.		* Humidity.
−	* Insulation.
	* Interstitial condensation.		* Interstitial condensation.
−	* Parapet.
	* Penetrating damp.		* Penetrating damp.
	* Rising damp.		* Rising damp.
	* Rising damp in walls - diagnosis and treatment (DG 245).		* Rising damp in walls - diagnosis and treatment (DG 245).
−	* Sleeper wall.
−	* Suspended timber floor.
	* Types of damp-proof courses.		* Types of damp-proof courses.
	* Vapour barrier.		* Vapour barrier.
−	* Wall ties.
−	* Wall tie failure.
	* Weep hole.		* Weep hole.

	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]		[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:Definitions]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]

Designing Buildings at 11:04, 23 November 2022

2022-11-23T11:04:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:04, 23 November 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	= What are the causes of damp in buildings? =
		+
		+	The most common causes of persistent damp in buildings are:
		+
		+	* Condensation (surface or interstitial).
		+	* Penetrating damp.
		+	* Rising damp.
		+
		+	For more information see: Damp in buildings.
		+
		+	Rising damp is caused by capillary action drawing moisture up through the porous elements of a building’s fabric. Rising damp, and some penetrating damp, can be caused by faults to, or the absence of a damp-proof course (DPC) or damp-proof membrane (DPM).
		+
		+	= What problems does damp cause? =
		+
	Damp in buildings can cause a number of serious problems, such as:		Damp in buildings can cause a number of serious problems, such as:

Line 11:		Line 25:
	* Damage to equipment, or electrical failure.		* Damage to equipment, or electrical failure.

−	~~The most common causes of persistent~~ damp ~~in buildings are:~~	+	= What is a damp-proof course? =

−	* Condensation (surface or interstitial).	+	A damp-proof course is a barrier, usually formed by a membrane, built into the walls of a property, typically 150 mm above ground level, to prevent damp rising through the walls. Historically, damp-proof courses may have been formed using bitumen, slates, lead, pitch, asphalt or low absorption bricks. They emerged during the Victorian era and are commonly found in buildings from around 1900.
−	* Penetrating damp.	+
−	* Rising damp.	+
−		+
−	Rising damp is caused by capillary action drawing moisture up through the porous elements of a building’s fabric. Rising damp, and some penetrating damp, can be caused by faults to, or the absence of a damp-proof course (DPC) or damp-proof membrane (DPM).	+
−		+
−	A damp-proof course is a barrier, usually formed by a membrane built into the walls of a property, typically 150 mm above ground level, to prevent damp rising through the walls. Historically, damp-proof courses may have been formed using bitumen, slates, lead, pitch, asphalt or low absorption bricks. They emerged during the Victorian era and are commonly found in buildings from around 1900.	+

	For more information, see Types of damp-proof courses.		For more information, see Types of damp-proof courses.
		+
		+	= Are damp-proof courses required? =

	Damp-proof courses are now required in the construction of new buildings to prevent rising damp and in some situations to prevent penetrating damp. Approved document C of the Building Regulations, Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, suggests that a damp-proof course may be a, ‘…bituminous material, polyethylene, engineering bricks or slates in cement mortar or any other material that will prevent the passage of moisture.’		Damp-proof courses are now required in the construction of new buildings to prevent rising damp and in some situations to prevent penetrating damp. Approved document C of the Building Regulations, Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, suggests that a damp-proof course may be a, ‘…bituminous material, polyethylene, engineering bricks or slates in cement mortar or any other material that will prevent the passage of moisture.’
Line 40:		Line 50:

	Standards for damp-proof courses are provided in BS 8215:1991 Code of practice for design and installation of damp-proof courses in masonry construction.		Standards for damp-proof courses are provided in BS 8215:1991 Code of practice for design and installation of damp-proof courses in masonry construction.
		+
		+	= Inserting a damp-proof course in an existing building =

	The absence of a damp-proof course in older buildings can be rectified by creating a moisture-impermeable layer, either by the insertion of a damp-proof course, or by the injection of water-repellent chemicals. Treatment generally also involves remedial work to any corroded or decayed elements of the building fabric, as well as hacking off and replacing existing plaster to a height of 1 m.		The absence of a damp-proof course in older buildings can be rectified by creating a moisture-impermeable layer, either by the insertion of a damp-proof course, or by the injection of water-repellent chemicals. Treatment generally also involves remedial work to any corroded or decayed elements of the building fabric, as well as hacking off and replacing existing plaster to a height of 1 m.

−	However, damp in older buildings is actually often caused by a leak or a defect in the wall construction, such as a cracking, rather than by rising damp, and this may not be rectified by the insertion of a damp-proof course. It is important therefore that any defects are identified and corrected first before accepting the cost and disruption of inserting a damp-proof course.	+	For more information see: Chemical injected DPC.
		+
		+	However, damp in older buildings is actually often caused by a leak or a defect in the wall construction, such as a cracking, rather than by rising damp, and this may not be rectified by the insertion of a damp-proof course. It is important therefore that any defects are properly identified and corrected first before accepting the cost and disruption of inserting a damp-proof course.

	Where it is not possible to insert a damp-proof course 150 mm above the external ground level, for example if the building has a solid external wall and the internal floor level is less than 150 mm above the external ground level, external drainage solutions may be necessary, such as the installation of a french drain.		Where it is not possible to insert a damp-proof course 150 mm above the external ground level, for example if the building has a solid external wall and the internal floor level is less than 150 mm above the external ground level, external drainage solutions may be necessary, such as the installation of a french drain.

Designing Buildings at 21:26, 21 March 2022

2022-03-21T21:26:47Z

Can't load revision 227316

at 15:00, 21 March 2022

2022-03-21T15:00:32Z

Can't load revision 227298

at 14:59, 21 March 2022

2022-03-21T14:59:18Z

Can't load revision 227296

at 14:56, 21 March 2022

2022-03-21T14:56:04Z

Can't load revision 227292

at 14:54, 21 March 2022

2022-03-21T14:54:13Z

Can't load revision 227291

at 14:52, 21 March 2022

2022-03-21T14:52:40Z

Can't load revision 227290

at 14:51, 21 March 2022

2022-03-21T14:51:48Z

Can't load revision 227289

Editor at 17:08, 14 December 2021

2021-12-14T17:08:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:08, 14 December 2021
Line 20:		Line 20:

	A damp-proof course is a barrier, usually formed by a membrane built into the walls of a property, typically 150 mm above ground level, to prevent damp rising through the walls. Historically, damp-proof courses may have been formed using bitumen, slates, lead, pitch, asphalt or low absorption bricks. They emerged during the Victorian era and are commonly found in buildings from around 1900.		A damp-proof course is a barrier, usually formed by a membrane built into the walls of a property, typically 150 mm above ground level, to prevent damp rising through the walls. Historically, damp-proof courses may have been formed using bitumen, slates, lead, pitch, asphalt or low absorption bricks. They emerged during the Victorian era and are commonly found in buildings from around 1900.
		+
		+	For more information, see Types of damp-proof courses.

	Damp-proof courses are now required in the construction of new buildings to prevent rising damp and in some situations to prevent penetrating damp. Approved document C of the Building Regulations, Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, suggests that a damp-proof course may be a, ‘…bituminous material, polyethylene, engineering bricks or slates in cement mortar or any other material that will prevent the passage of moisture.’		Damp-proof courses are now required in the construction of new buildings to prevent rising damp and in some situations to prevent penetrating damp. Approved document C of the Building Regulations, Site preparation and resistance to contaminants and moisture, suggests that a damp-proof course may be a, ‘…bituminous material, polyethylene, engineering bricks or slates in cement mortar or any other material that will prevent the passage of moisture.’
Line 45:		Line 47:
	Where it is not possible to insert a damp-proof course 150 mm above the external ground level, for example if the building has a solid external wall and the internal floor level is less than 150 mm above the external ground level, external drainage solutions may be necessary, such as the installation of a french drain.		Where it is not possible to insert a damp-proof course 150 mm above the external ground level, for example if the building has a solid external wall and the internal floor level is less than 150 mm above the external ground level, external drainage solutions may be necessary, such as the installation of a french drain.

−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

	* Blinding.		* Blinding.
Line 75:		Line 77:
	* Sleeper wall.		* Sleeper wall.
	* Suspended timber floor.		* Suspended timber floor.
		+	* Types of damp-proof courses.
	* Vapour barrier.		* Vapour barrier.
	* Wall ties.		* Wall ties.