A Taxonomy of waterproofing systems for high-rise building projects in the tropics

Abstract

The building construction is the most significant sector that has acquired significant attention in recent years among the various construction industries and the necessity of erection of high-rise buildings was emphasised because of the restricted space in urban areas. Since the unique and complex characteristics are involved in a building project, the structure must be strong enough in terms of its durability, stability as well as the appearance. Accordingly, water is the most persistent opponent of a high-rise building, and gradually, building components might erode, compromising their structure and requiring costly repairs. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the choice of the best waterproofing system in high-rise building projects in the tropics. Semi structured interviews were used to determine how the factors affected the choice of waterproofing. All respondents were project managers or engineers with extensive backgrounds in the building sector and expertise in waterproofing. Collected data were analysed using manual content analysis. The taxonomy was created using the opinions of experts and contractors on the choice of waterproofing. The most important category in the Taxonomy was related to detailing technology, while the least important category was related to legal requirements and compliance.