of a 12' high basement retaining wall. One tube was pressure injected with
urethane sealant, the other one was left empty in case a leak ever showed up
it would be re injected. We had some 6 and 8" pipes servicing a spa going
through the wall and these were sealed with link seal
http://www.linkseal.com/
All this was spec'd by the waterproofing
consultant.
-----Original Message-----
From: Garner, Robert [mailto:rgarner@moffattnichol.com]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 10:53 AM
To: seaint@seaint.org
Subject: RE: underground house
Just a couple of thoughts:
Good waterproofing membranes of course.
Free-draining backfill and redundant underdrains. You can even run the
separate underdrains to an inlet box and take a peek in there every so often
to see which underdrain is passing water (like we use in reservoirs to know
where the seepage is).
A clay layer under the topsoil over the structure to route water away from
the structure footprint. Very good to excellant ventilation of the place -
will likely have to be forced air ventilation.
I like underground stuff.
Bob Garner, S.E.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Utzman [mailto:chuckuc@pacbell.net]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 10:37 AM
To: seaint@seaint.org
Subject: Re: underground house
Jordan Truesdell, PE wrote:
> Back to the original post - I would rather cut off my left leg than
> put my seal on an all-underground structure made of masonry. The
> question isn't if the structure will leak, but when. You're on the
> right path looking for books to see how others have done the assembly.
> The structural analysis part is easy - it's just loads and
> resistances. I would probably require two things up front - a solid
> geotechnical report with at least 6-7 borings, and a contractual
> requirement that the filling operations be done with a licensed
> geotechnical engineering firm doing continuous testing. Poor
> compaction can invalidate your anticipated loads.
>
> Sounds like a fun project. It's going to be a lot of work - I hope you
> didn't underbid it.
>
> Jordan
>
>
>
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The structural part is simple compared to the waterproofing. Personally I
wouldn't do anything other than reinforced concrete with a Xypex admixture
for the structure.
Detailing the cross-sections is simple, but the isometric details at all
the discontinuities are the critical part of the waterproofing design.
Once you've clear detailed every component, arrange for pre-construction
meetings with everyone & make sure there is one person on the G.C.'s crew
who will supervise the entire process (you'll need to walk him through the
details, the workers won't look at, or understand, your drawings). You are
going to have to make daily inspections of every single w.p.
membrane/corner/penetration installation. Then you cross your fingers &
hopes the statute of limitations runs out before the leaks start--they will
be a bitch to repair $$$.
I'm happy to make informal recommendations to the arch./G.C./owner on
waterproofing, but my contract is crystal clear that I will assume no
responsibility for waterproofing or ventilation issues. Good luck with
this--you will need it. This is not like a test in school, or even
structural engineering--waterproofing must be perfect, 95% was an A in
school, here its a lawsuit.
Chuck Utzman, PE
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