Advantages
- Waterproof—high hydrostatic head resistance
- Cross laminated filmprovides dimensional stability, high tear strength, puncture and impact resistance
- Cold appliedno flame hazard; self-adhesive overlaps ensure continuity
- Chemically resistantprovides effective external protection against aggressive soils and
ground water
- Flexibleaccommodates minor settlement and shrinkage movement
- Controlled thicknessfactory-made sheet ensures constant, non-variable site application.
- Wide application window—
- Bituthene® Low Temperature surface and ambient temperatures between 25°F (-4°C) and 60°F (16°C)
- New or rehab constructionuse with Bituthene Deck Prep® as a leveling agent and non-structural repair material
- Ripcord®—this split release on demand feature allows the splitting of the release paper into two pieces for ease of installation in detailed areas
Use
Bituthene is ideal for waterproofing concrete
decks where in-service temperatures will not
exceed 130°F (54°C). It can be applied to split
slab construction, such as in plaza areas and
parking decks. Interior uses may include mechanical
rooms, laboratories, kitchens and bathrooms.
(For below grade applications, see Below Grade
Waterproofing Bituthene 3000 and Bituthene Low
Temperature.)
Bituthene is 1/16 in. (1.5 mm) thick, 3 ft (0.9 m)
wide and 66.7 ft (20 m) long and is supplied in
rolls. It is unrolled sticky side down onto concrete
slabs primed with Bituthene Primer WP-3000,
Bituthene Primer B2 or Bituthene Primer B2 LVC.
Continuity is achieved by overlapping a minimum
2 in. (50 mm) and firmly rolling the joint.
Bituthene is extremely flexible. It is capable of
bridging shrinkage cracks in the concrete and will
accommodate minor differential movement
throughout the service life of the structure.
Application Procedures:
Safety, Storage and Handling Information
Bituthene products must be handled properly.
Vapors from solvent-based primers and mastic are
harmful and flammable. For these products, the
best available information on safe handling,
storage, personal protection, health and environmental
considerations has been gathered. Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available at
graceconstruction.com and users should acquaint
themselves with this information. Carefully read
detailed precaution statements on product labels
and the MSDS before use.
Surface Preparation
Surfaces should be structurally sound and free of
voids, spalled areas, loose aggregate and sharp protrusions.
Remove contaminants such as grease, oil and
wax from exposed surfaces. Remove dust, dirt, loose
stone and debris. Concrete must be properly cured
(minimum 7 days for normal structural concrete
and 14 days for lightweight structural concrete).If time is critical, Bituthene Primer B2 or
Bituthene Primer B2 LVC may be used to allow
priming and installation of membrane on damp
surfaces or green concrete. Priming may begin
in this case as soon as the concrete will maintain
structural integrity. Use form release agents
which will not transfer to the concrete. Remove
forms as soon as possible from below horizontal
slabs to prevent entrapment of excess moisture.
Excess moisture may lead to blistering of the
membrane. Cure concrete with clear, resin-based
curing compounds which do not contain oil, wax
or pigment. See Technical Letter 5 for more
information. Except with Bituthene Primer B2 or
Bituthene Primer B2 LVC, allow concrete to
thoroughly dry following rain. Do not apply any
products to frozen concrete.
Repair defects such as spalled or poorly consolidated
areas. Remove sharp protrusions and form
match lines. For rough or uneven deck surfaces
use Bituthene Deck Prep as a repair and leveling
agent. See Above Grade Waterproofing Bituthene
Deck Prep product information sheet for details.
On masonry surfaces, apply a parge coat to rough
concrete block and brick walls or trowel cut mortar
joints flush to the face of the concrete blocks.
Temperature
- Apply Bituthene 3000 Membrane only in dry weather and at air and surface temperatures of 40°F (5°C) and above.
- Apply Bituthene Low Temperature Membrane only in dry weather and when air and surface temperatures are between 25°F (-4°C) and 60°F (16°C).
- Apply Bituthene Primer WP-3000 in dry weather above 40°F (5°C).
- Apply Bituthene Primer B2 or Bituthene Primer B2 LVC in dry weather above 25°F (-4°C).
(See separate product information sheet.)
Priming
- Apply Bituthene Primer WP-3000 by spray or
roller at a coverage rate of 500–600 ft2/gal
(12–15 m2/L). Allow to dry one hour or until
concrete returns to original color.
- Apply Bituthene Primer B2 by a lamb’s wool
roller at a coverage rate of 250–350 ft2/gal
(6–8 m2/L). Allow primer to dry one hour or
until tack-free.
- Apply Bituthene Primer B2 LVC by a lamb’s
wool roller at a coverage rate of 325–425 ft2/gal
(7.5–10.0 m2/L). Allow primer to dry one hour
or until tack-free.
- Dry time may be longer in cold temperatures.
Reprime areas if contaminated by dust. If the
work area is dusty, apply membrane as soon as
the primer is dry.
- Do not apply any primer onto Bituthene
membrane.
Corner Details
The treatment of corners varies depending on the
location of the corner. For detailed information on
Bituthene Liquid Membrane, see separate product
information sheet.
- At plaza deck to wall inside corners
- Option 1: Apply membrane on wall and deck to
within 1 in. (25 mm) of corner. Treat the inside
corner by installing a 3/4 in. (20 mm) fillet of
Bituthene Liquid Membrane. Extend Bituthene
Liquid Membrane at least 21/2 in. (65 mm) onto
deck membrane, and 21/2 in. (65 mm) onto wall
membrane. Terminate top of wall flashing with
Bituthene Mastic, Bituthene Liquid Membrane
or termination bar.
- Option 2:Treat the inside corner by installing a
3/4 in. (20 mm) fillet of Bituthene Liquid
Membrane. Apply 12 in. (300 mm) wide strip of
sheet membrane centered over fillet. Apply wall
membrane over inside corner and extend 6 in.
(150 mm) onto footing. Apply 1 in. (25 mm)
wide troweling of Bituthene Liquid Membrane
over all terminations and seams within 12 in.
(300 mm) of corner.
- At footings where the elevation of the floor slab
is 6 in. (150 mm) or more above the footing,
treat the inside corner either by the above two
methods or terminate the membrane at the base
of the wall. Seal the termination with Bituthene
Liquid Membrane.
Joints
Properly seal all joints with waterstop, joint filler
and sealant as required. Bituthene membranes are
not intended to function as the primary joint seal.
Allow sealants to fully cure. Pre-strip all slab and
wall cracks over 1/16 in. (1.5 mm) wide and all
construction and control joints with 9 in. (230 mm)
wide sheet membrane strip.
Application on Horizontal Surfaces
(Note: Preprufe® pre-applied membranes are
strongly recommended for below slab or for any
application where the membrane is applied before
concreting. See Preprufe product information
sheets.)
Apply membrane from the low point to the high
point so that laps shed water. Overlap all seams at
least 2 in. (50 mm). Stagger all end laps. Roll the
entire membrane firmly and completely as soon as
possible. Use a linoleum roller or standard waterfilled
garden roller less than 30 in. (760 mm)
wide, weighing a minimum of 75 lbs (34 kg) when
filled. Cover the face of the roller with a resilient
material such as a 1/2 in. (13 mm) plastic foam or
two wraps of indoor-outdoor carpet to allow the
membrane to fully contact the primed substrate.
Seal all T-joints and membrane terminations with
Bituthene Liquid Membrane at the end of the day.
Protrusions and Drains
Apply membrane to within 1 in. (25 mm) of the
base of the protrusion. Apply Bituthene Liquid
Membrane 0.1 in. (2.5 mm) thick around protrusion.
Bituthene Liquid Membrane should extend
over the membrane a minimum of 21/2 in. (65 mm)
and up the penetration to just below the finished
height of the wearing course.
Vertical Surfaces
Apply membrane in lengths up to 8 ft (2.5 m).
Overlap all seams at least 2 in. (50 mm).
On higher walls apply membrane in two or more
sections with the upper overlapping the lower by
at least 2 in. (50 mm). Roll all membrane with a
hand roller.
Terminate the membrane at grade level. Press the
membrane firmly to the wall with the butt end of a
hardwood tool such as a hammer handle or secure
into a reglet. Failure to use heavy pressure at
terminations can result in a poor seal. A termination
bar may be used to ensure a tight seal.
Terminate the membrane at the base of the wall
if the bottom of the interior floor slab is at least
6 in. (150 mm) above the footing. Otherwise, use
appropriate inside corner detail where the wall and
footing meet.
Membrane Repairs
Patch tears and inadequately lapped seams with
membrane. Clean membrane with a damp cloth
and dry. Slit fishmouths and repair with a patch
extending 6 in. (150 mm) in all directions from the
slit and seal edges of the patch with Bituthene
Liquid Membrane. Inspect the membrane thoroughly
before covering and make any repairs.
Drainage
Hydroduct® drainage composites are recommended
for both active drainage and protection of the
membrane. See Hydroduct product information
sheets.
Protection of Membrane
Protect Bituthene membranes to avoid damage
from other trades, construction materials or backfill.
Place protection immediately in temperatures
above 77°F (25°C) to avoid potential for blisters.
- On vertical applications, use Hydroduct 220
Drainage Composite. Adhere Hydroduct 220
Drainage Composite to membrane with Preprufe
Detail Tape. Alternative methods of protection
are to use 1/4 in. (6 mm) asphalt impregnated
board or 1 in. (25 mm) extruded polystyrene.
Such alternatives do not provide positive
drainage to the system. Adhere protection board
with an adhesive or Preprufe Detail Tape.
- In mud slab waterproofing, or other applications
where positive drainage is not desired and
where reinforced concrete slabs are placed over
the membrane, the use of 1/4 in. (6 mm) hardboard
or 2 layers of 1/8 in. (3 mm) hardboard is
recommended.
Insulation
Always apply Bituthene membrane directly to
primed or conditioned structural substrates.
Insulation, if used, must be applied over the
membrane. Do not apply Bituthene membranes
over lightweight insulating concrete.
Backfill
Place backfill as soon as possible. Use care during
backfill operation to avoid damage to the waterproofing
system. Follow generally accepted
practices for backfilling and compaction. Backfill
should be added and compacted in 6 in. (150 mm)
to 12 in. (300 mm) lifts.
For areas which cannot be fully compacted, a
termination bar is recommended across the top
termination of the membrane.
Placing Steel
When placing steel over properly protected
membrane, use concrete bar supports (dobies) or
chairs with plastic tips or rolled feet to prevent
damage from sharp edges. Use special care when
using wire mesh, especially if the mesh is curled.
Insulation
Always apply Bituthene membrane directly to
primed or conditioned structural substrates.
Insulation, if used, must be applied over the
membrane. Do not apply Bituthene membranes
over lightweight insulating concrete.
Approvals
- City of Los Angeles Research Report RR 24386
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) HUD Materials Release 628E
Supply
Roll Size |
3 " x 66.7 " roll (200 ft2) |
Roll Weight |
83 lbs (38 kg) gross |
Palletization |
25 rolls per pallet |
Storage |
Store upright in dry conditions below 95°F (+35°C). |