Integrated waterproofing and drainage system with intrinsic leak detection for building structures and methods of use

Abstract

The inventive disclosures are directed to an improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane that features two or more layers of waterproofing materials, in cold or hot liquid form, that provide a waterproofing barrier coating combined with an electrically-conductive mesh embedded in at least one of the two or more layers of waterproofing materials, wherein the electrically-conductive mesh provides the fluid-applied waterproofing membrane with intrinsic leak-detection capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane, comprising:
 two or more layers of waterproofing materials, in cold or hot liquid form, that provide a waterproofing barrier coating; and   an electrically-conductive mesh embedded in at least one of said two or more layers of waterproofing materials, wherein:
 said electrically-conductive mesh has a mesh aperture opening of 0.5 to 1.0 inch, 
 said electrically-conductive mesh comprised of metalized polymer, and 
 said electrically-conductive mesh provides said fluid-applied waterproofing membrane with intrinsic leak-detection capability. 
   
     
     
         2 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said waterproofing materials are selected from the group consisting of a cold-applied high-solids polyurethane, a thermoplastic, an asphalt emulsion, and a hot-applied 100%-solids hot-rubberized asphalt. 
     
     
         3 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically-conductive mesh is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of fine metal, a metalized flexible material, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         4 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said metalized polymer is applied via a process selected from the group consisting of vacuum metal deposition (VMD) and mechanical rolling (gravure). 
     
     
         5 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the average electrical conductivity of said electrically-conductive mesh is less than or equal to 5 ohms/square. 
     
     
         6 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein a single electrical connection is made to said embedded electrically-conductive mesh to allow the electrical properties of said improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane in order to facilitate conductivity readings using an external electronic read-out device. 
     
     
         7 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane is adapted for use in a horizontal-installation application selected from the group consisting of flat roofing, plaza decks, and deck-coating. 
     
     
         8 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein said improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane is adapted for use in a 
     
     
         9 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , further comprising a surface-preparation compound that is applied to the structural substrate that said improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane is to be installed on. 
     
     
         10 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 9 , wherein said surface-preparation compound is electrically-conductive primer. 
     
     
         11 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a filter fabric layer disposed on said improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane; and   a polymer backing membrane, disposed on said filter fabric layer, comprising a backing membrane substantially made from HDPE, said backing membrane also having an electrically conductive layer, wherein either:
 said electrically-conductive layer is deposited on one surface by VMD consisting of a metallic coating and said metallic coating has an optical thickness of greater than or equal to 125 Angstroms and said metallic coating has a surface conductivity of less than or equal to 5 ohms/square, or 
 said electrically-conductive layer comprised of a discrete metalized PET film or a thin metal foil and said discrete metalized PET film is adhesively bonded to said HDPE backing membrane, the thickness of said discrete metalized PET film is approximately 1 mil and said discrete metalized PET film's surface conductivity is less than or equal to 5 ohms/square; 
   whereby the combination of said filter fabric layer and said polymer backing membrane provide an electrically-conductive layer that can be used to detect water leakage from the outer layer of the overall improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane assembly using low-voltage Electrical Field Vector Mapping (EFVM) or using similar externally-applied low-voltage methods.   
     
     
         12 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 11 , wherein said outer layer is selected from the group consisting of an external paving or tile system for decks, a poured-concrete plaza deck, a “green” application with soil and living plant life such as grass for plazas and terraces, and another improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane. 
     
     
         13 . The improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane of  claim 7 , further comprising a high-compression-strength extruded polystyrene insulating layer. 
     
     
         14 . The improved waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , further comprising film-based electronic pressure transducers to facilitate the direct measurement of hydrostatic loading on said improved fluid-applied waterproofing membrane. 
     
     
         15 . The improved waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , further comprising a termination bar with electrical-contacting features to provide an electrical interface to said electrically-conductive mesh. 
     
     
         16 . The improved waterproofing membrane of  claim 15 , further comprising an external electronic-readout device in electrical communication with said termination bar. 
     
     
         17 . The improved waterproofing membrane of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the surface of said improved waterproofing membrane adapted to be farthest away from the building structure that said improved waterproofing membrane is to be installed on is augmented with a conductive or partially conductive material in order to enhance the performance of an capacitive-coupling installation-verification method; and   said partially conductive layer is a carbon-laced film layer that has a surface conductivity of less than or equal to 1000 ohms/square or said conductive layer is comprised of a metalized-polymer mesh with an average surface conductivity of less than or equal to 5 ohms/square;   whereby said enhanced conductive layer facilitates intrinsic leak-detection capabilities for above-grade air-barrier applications where the installation site has a non-conductive installation surface.   
     
     
         18 . The improved waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the proximal surface of said improved waterproofing membrane is augmented with an auxiliary detection grid; and   said auxiliary detection grid is comprised of two sets of grid elements made from a masked metalized polymer membrane or said auxiliary detection grid is printed from conductive ink;   whereby said auxiliary detection grid facilitates the detection of the presence of water or moisture between said improved waterproofing membrane and a building surface that said improved waterproofing membrane is installed on.   
     
     
         19 . An improved single-ply roofing system, said roofing system having one or more roofing membranes, comprising:
 at least one improved waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said improved waterproofing membrane is adapted for use as a stand-alone membrane to provide intrinsic leak-detection capabilities for single-ply roofing applications across the life-cycle of a roof, 
 said improved waterproofing membrane is adapted to be located above and aligned transversely with the single-ply roofing membrane, 
 said electrical-leak detection comprises wireless transceivers and are disposed at approximately the center of the longitudinal axis of said one or more roofing membranes in order to minimize exposure to heat during installation of said improved roofing system, and 
 said wireless transceivers are attached via electrically conductive adhesive; and 
   an electrically-conductive or partially electrically-conductive underlayment layer, adapted to be disposed against a roofing structural substrate to provide an earth-ground in order to provide a return path for the electrical-displacement current used for leak-detection measurements.   
     
     
         20 . The improved single-ply roofing system of  claim 19 , wherein said electrically-conductive or partially electrically-conductive underlayment layer is a carbon-laced film with a surface conductivity of less than or equal to 1000 ohms/square. 
     
     
         21 . The improved single-ply roofing system of  claim 19 , wherein said electrically-conductive or partially electrically-conductive underlayment layer is a underlayment is a metalized polymer mesh with an average surface conductivity of less than or equal to 15 ohms/square. 
     
     
         22 . The improved single-ply roofing system of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one improved waterproofing membrane is adapted to provide a layered leak-detection capability from the outer roofing layer all the way down to the roofing substrate. 
     
     
         23 . An improved deck-coating system, comprising:
 at least one improved waterproofing membrane of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said improved waterproofing membrane is adapted for use as a stand-alone membrane to provide intrinsic leak-detection capabilities across the life-cycle of a deck, 
 said electrical-leak detection comprises wireless transceivers and are disposed at approximately the center of the longitudinal axis of said one or more deck membranes in order to minimize exposure to heat during installation of said improved deck-coating system, and 
 said wireless transceivers are attached via electrically conductive adhesive; and 
   an electrically-conductive or partially electrically-conductive underlayment layer, adapted to be disposed against a roofing structural substrate to provide an earth-ground in order to provide a return path for the electrical-displacement current used for leak-detection measurements.