ARRANGEMENT FOR INHIBITING WATER INGRESS ACROSS A CONSTRUCTION JOINT

Abstract

An arrangement (400) for inhibiting water ingress across a construction joint, the arrangement (400) including: a footing (402) to be supported by a ground structure, the footing (402) including a floor defining a support surface (414), the footing (402) further including a sidewall (116) extending upwardly from the support surface (414);a structural wall element (424) supported by the support surface (414), the element (424) having an external skin (440) to be adjacent to the sidewall (116);a first sealing member (420) secured to the sidewall (116) of the footing (402) such that the first sealing member (420) opposes the external skin (440); anda joint seal (422) formed from a sealing material (433) located at a junction of the first sealing member (420), the footing (402) and the external skin (440), such that the sealing material (433) penetrates an interface between the first sealing member (420) and the structural wall element (424) without requiring access to the external skin (440) of the structural wall element.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2022900872, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an arrangement for impeding or inhibiting flow of water across joints, particularly construction joints, of building elements such as between a footing and a structural wall. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling such arrangement. The invention has primarily been developed for use with basement structures or other below-ground structures, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application.

BACKGROUND

Ingress of water into a building structure is a significant problem in the construction industry, particularly for building structures which have below-ground foundations or footings supporting a wall, such as a basement.

Basements of buildings are built within varying soil conditions. Regardless of the ground conditions, the soil will consist of some level of moisture and perhaps ground water presence on a temporary or permanent basis. Construction of the basement is required to keep the basement free from moisture and ground water.

Achieving a waterproof basement construction is dependent upon on the walls themselves being waterproof, the footing/slab being waterproof, and also the junction (footing/slab to wall junction) being waterproof. The footing/slab itself can be made waterproof through various methods such as the application of a membrane system, use of waterproofing concrete additives and/or applying waterproofing devices at the footing/slab joints. If footing/slabs have adequate waterproofing, water ingress to the basement can only occur at the wall and the wall-footing/slab junction. These components can also be made waterproof if the membrane system of the footing/slab is continued up the wall, generally to the top basement wall. Such an application of a membrane system is normally referred to as “full tanking”, which requires access/space along the periphery of basement walls. Waterproofing of a wall and footing/slab junction is readily achievable when there is an access space available at the earth face of a basement wall.

To gain access to the earth face of a basement wall during construction requires over excavation of the soil so that the waterproofing contractor/personnel can apply the waterproofing materials to the earth face of the wall. The provision of access space requires a safe shoring system or over excavation such as battering (which is normally not possible or practical in sandy conditions and particularly water-logged soil). Shoring or battering is required to prevent the soil collapsing onto the waterproofer who is working within the access space. The provision of access space in some instances may not be feasible due to the high associated costs, the additional time involved, and potential loss of commercial space.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to at least substantially address one or more of the above disadvantages, or at least provide a useful alternative to the above-discussed waterproofing approaches.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an arrangement for inhibiting water ingress across a construction joint, the arrangement including:

• • a footing to be supported by a ground structure, the footing including a floor defining a support surface, the footing further including a sidewall extending upwardly from the support surface;
  • a structural wall element supported by the support surface, the element having an external skin to be adjacent to the sidewall;
  • a first sealing member secured to the sidewall of the footing such that the first sealing member opposes the external skin; and
  • a joint seal formed from a sealing material located at a junction of the first sealing member, the footing and the external skin, such that the sealing material penetrates an interface between the first sealing member and the structural wall element without requiring access to the external skin of the structural wall element.

Preferably, the support surface includes a recess adjacent the sidewall, the recess having a bottom, and wherein the first sealing member includes a recess arm configured to line the bottom of the recess to define a void.

Preferably, the recess extends below the support surface.

Preferably, the recess extends into the sidewall.

Preferably, the recess arm includes one or more frangible locations to allow a portion of the recess arm to be removed for providing access to the void.

Preferably, a distance between a body of the first sealing member and a first of the one or more frangible locations is less than a gap between the body of the first sealing member and the external skin of the structural wall element, to facilitate the penetration of the sealing material of the joint seal into the interface between the first sealing member and the external skin.

Preferably, the arrangement includes an adjacent structural wall element, similar to the structural wall element, the adjacent structural wall element being connected to the structural wall element by a set of interlocking elements, the interlocking elements being separated by a gap,

• • wherein the gap is accessible by the sealing material in the void due to removal of the portion of the recess arm, such that the sealing material from the void is allowed to penetrate into the gap, forming a seal between the set of interlocking elements.

Preferably, the gap between the body of the first sealing member and the skin of the structural wall element is sized, and the frangible locations are located, such that, when a cement slurry filled into the structural wall element shrinks during curing to a cured concrete forming a fluid flow gap between the skin of the structural wall element and the cured concrete, a fluid path exists between a fluid flow gap and the void, when the portion of the recess arm has been removed.

Preferably, the arrangement further includes an injection hose positioned to allow injection of a sealing material into the void to form the sealing joint.

Preferably, the injection hose includes a perimeter tube with openings to allow the injection of sealing material into the void, the perimeter tube being located in the void and substantially surrounded by the recess arm.

Preferably, the injection hose includes an offtake extending from the perimeter tube through the structural wall member to a dry side of the cavity adjacent the structural wall member.

Preferably, the injection hose includes a corner fitting having a first opening adapted to receive a portion of the injection hose and a second opening adapted to receive a portion of the injection hose, the first opening and the second opening being oriented perpendicularly to each other so that the sealing material can flow between the first and second openings.

Preferably, the first sealing member includes a retention arm extending from the first sealing member into the sidewall and/or the footing to resist movement of the first sealing member relative to the footing. [nailed or screwed into form ply—interface with reinforcement or slab formwork to be installed correctly]

Preferably, the retention arm includes a series of crenellations to create a tortuous path for water invading along an interface between the retention arm and the sidewall and/or footing.

Preferably, a body of the first sealing member includes a series of crenellations to create a tortuous path for water invading along an interface between the body and the sidewall and/or footing.

Preferably, the wall element longitudinally extends between an upper end portion and a lower end portion, wherein the lower end portion has a base that is seated on the support surface within the cavity.

Preferably, the first sealing member includes a support arm extending from the sealing member away from the sidewall, and wherein the base of the wall element is at least partially seated on the support arm.

Preferably, the first sealing member includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Preferably, the joint seal includes a hydrophilic compound that expands in volume when in contact with water and/or an adhesive compound.

Preferably, the first sealing member includes a chamfer at an upper end thereof, the chamfer facing the external skin of the structural wall element to create a funnel gap between the first sealing member and the external skin of the structural wall element.

Preferably, the first sealing member has a profile and is extruded along an extrusion path, and wherein the extrusion path includes one or more of:

• • a horizontal portion;
  • a vertical portion;
  • a horizontally angled portion; and
  • a vertically angled portion.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of assembling an arrangement for inhibiting water ingress across a construction joint, the method comprising steps of:

• • erecting formwork defining a footing at a construction site;
  • erecting formwork defining a rebate within the footing;
  • securing a first sealing member to the formwork defining the rebate and/or to the formwork defining the footing;
  • pouring a concrete mixture into the formwork defining the footing and curing the concrete mixture to create a first concrete body forming the footing such that the first sealing member is cast-in-place and the rebate is formed in the footing;
  • applying a joint seal to a junction of the first sealing member and a surface of the first concrete body within the rebate;
  • erecting formwork defining a structural wall within the rebate; and
  • pouring the concrete mixture into the formwork defining the wall and curing the concrete mixture to create a second concrete body forming the wall supported by the footing such that a sidewall of the wall engages the joint seal, wherein, the first and joint seals are configured to impede flow of water along an interface between the wall and the footing.

Preferably, the step of applying the joint seal to the junction of the first sealing member and the surface of the first concrete body within the rebate is performed after the step of pouring the concrete mixture into the formwork.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of an arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view showing a junction of the arrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing steps of a method of assembling the arrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram showing formwork details for assembling the arrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a previous approach to waterproofing a construction joint.

FIG. 6 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of an arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of the arrangement of FIG. 6, after completion of the footing.

FIG. 8 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of the arrangement of FIG. 6, after placement of the structural wall member.

FIG. 9 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of the arrangement of FIG. 6, after installation of the draining means.

FIG. 10 is a detailed vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of a first sealing member according to a first embodiment, used with the arrangement of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of a first sealing member according to a second embodiment, used with the arrangement of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a detailed vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of the first sealing member of the arrangement of FIG. 6, at a location with overlapping perimeter tubes.

FIG. 13 is a detailed horizontally cross-sectioned top plan schematic diagram view of the first sealing member of the arrangement of FIG. 6, at a location with overlapping perimeter tubes.

FIG. 14 is a detailed horizontally cross-section top plan schematic diagram of the first sealing member of the arrangement of FIG. 6, at a location with a corner.

FIG. 15 is a detailed vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of a first sealing member according to a third embodiment, before the frangible cover is removed, used with the arrangement of FIG. 6.

FIG. 16 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of a first sealing member according to a fourth embodiment, used with the arrangement of FIG. 6.

FIG. 17 is a vertically cross-sectioned schematic diagram of a first sealing member according to a fifth embodiment, used with the arrangement of FIG. 6.

FIG. 18 is a horizontally cross-section schematic diagram of a structural wall element of the arrangement of FIG. 6 interlocking with an adjacent structural wall element.

FIG. 19 is a detailed horizontally cross-section top plan schematic diagram of the first sealing member of the arrangement of FIG. 6, at a location with a corner with a corner fitting.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 6 with a non-linear extrusion path.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 6 with a non-linear extrusion path.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, there is schematically depicted an arrangement 100 for inhibiting or preventing water ingress through or across a construction joint or ‘cold joint’. In a preferred application, the arrangement 100 is utilised in the construction of a water-excluding structure, such as a basement, but the skilled worker will understand that the arrangement 100 may also be utilised in the construction of other underground structures or water-retaining structures such as water tanks.

The arrangement 100 includes a first concrete body in the form of a slab or footing 102 to be supported by an underlying ground or soil structure. The footing 102 has a generally level floor surface which, in use, is an upper side 104 and a ground-engaging surface which, in use, is a lower side 106. The footing has a thickness or height dimension 108 extending perpendicularly between the upper and lower sides 104, 106. The footing 102 also has a periphery or exterior edge 110 which, in use, faces or is adjacent to the supporting ground structure.

Formed through the upper side 104 of the footing 102 is a cavity or rebate 112. The rebate 112 is positioned adjacent to but spaced from the exterior edge 110 and extends through the footing 102 toward the lower side 106 to a predetermined depth. The rebate 112 defines a support surface 114 recessed relative to the upper side 104, and a pair of upwardly projecting lateral edges or sidewalls 116, 118 extending between the support surface 114 and the upper side 104. The pair of sidewalls 116, 118 includes an outer sidewall 116 and an inner sidewall 118. The outer sidewall 116 provides a vertical face 117 (FIG. 2) spaced from the exterior edge 110 of the footing 102. The inner sidewall 118 also provides a vertical face 119 which is opposite the vertical face 117 of the outer sidewall 116 and spaced further from the exterior edge 110 than the vertical face 117 of the outer sidewall 116.

Secured to the vertical face 117 of the outer sidewall 116 is a first sealing member 120, as shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment depicted, the first sealing member is in the form of a flexible waterstop 120, typically fabricated from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The waterstop 120 extends vertically along the face 117 of the outer sidewall 116 and past the support surface 114 to form a continuous, water-impervious diaphragm to inhibit passage of water through the vertical face 117 of the outer sidewall 116, that is, the waterstop 120 inhibits water ingress from the exterior edge 110 of the footing 102 in a generally horizontal plane.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the arrangement 100 further includes a joint seal 122 deposited at a junction between the waterstop 120 and the support surface 114. The joint seal 122 comprises a caulk grade or gunnable hydrophilic or hydro-expansive compound which is configured to swell or expand in volume when in contact with water.

The arrangement 100 further includes a structural wall element 124. In one embodiment, the structural wall element 124 includes a pre-cast wall element, such as an in-situ or pre-cast concrete element. In another embodiment, the structural wall element 124 includes a blockwork (Besser Blocks) section, for example laid from clay, concrete, or insulating material. In a preferred embodiment, the structural wall element 124 includes a permanent or lost formwork element 124 to form an upright structural wall to be supported by the footing 102. The element 124 has a body 126 longitudinally extending between an upper end portion (not shown) and a lower end portion 128. The body 126 provides two generally parallel coextensive sidewalls 130, 132 joined by transverse webs 134. The webs 134 have apertures 136 to facilitate insertion of reinforcing bars or the like and the flow of concrete infill. The first sidewall 130 provides an internal skin 138 to face an interior of the building structure. The second sidewall 132 provides an external skin 140 to face or be adjacent to the surrounding ground or earth. Preferably, the element 124 is formed of extruded plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride so as to provide a permanent waterproof finish. The element 124 includes panel joints (not shown) which inhibit water ingress. Further details of the element 124 are described in detail in the Applicant's earlier International Application No. PCT/AU2002/001382, filed on 10 Oct. 2002, or the Applicant's earlier International Application No. PCT/AU2012/000358. In the interest of brevity, the entire content of these International Applications is incorporated herein by cross-reference.

The element 124 is configured to receive a concrete pour to form a second concrete body defining the wall. The element 124 (and therefore the wall) is supported by the footing 102 via seating of the lower end portion 128 within the rebate 112 of the footing 102 such that a base 142 (FIG. 2) of the lower end portion 128 engages the support surface 114 of the footing 102 whilst the external skin 140 is positioned against the waterstop 120. In this position, the external skin 140 of the element 124 compresses the joint seal 122 to cause dispersion of the hydrophilic compound underneath the external skin 140 and against the waterstop 120, as shown in

FIG. 2. Expansion in volume of the joint seal 122 when in contact with water creates an effective compression seal at the junction between the waterstop 120 and the support surface 114 which impedes passage or flow of water between the interface of the base 142 and the support surface 114, as well as impeding flow of water from any remaining vertical gap between the waterstop 120 and the external skin 140.

Preferably, the arrangement 100 further includes a drainage channel 144 installed in the rebate 112 along the vertical face 119 of the inner sidewall 118 to drain any excess water moving towards the internal skin 138. Drainage means 146 fluidly connects the drainage channel 144 to a pump-out pit or the like. The drainage channel 144 is primarily used to drain water before completion of the arrangement 100, when the joint seal 122 has not yet been completed or in the event of water spillage in the surrounding area, usually a basement, such as for example caused by a fire sprinkler failure, or use of water for car washing, after the joint seal 122 has been completed.

Moving now to FIGS. 6 to 9, which show installation of an arrangement 400 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Features denoted by integers that are separated by steps of 100 from a previous integer generally fulfill the same function, have similar features, and similarly interact with previously described integers, unless specified otherwise.

In this arrangement, the support surface 414 of the footing 402 includes a recess 413 adjacent the outer sidewall 416. The recess 413 has a bottom 415 and preferably extends below the support surface 414. However, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the recess may extend into the sidewall 416. Similarly, the first sealing member, or waterstop, 420 is modified, as shown in more detail in FIG. 10.

The first sealing member 420 includes a vertical body 421 adapted to line the vertical face 417 of the outer sidewall 416. Extending from the vertical body 421 are, in the direction of the outer sidewall 416, one or more retention arms 423, adapted to be embedded in the sidewall 416 and/or footing 402, to resist movement of the first sealing member 420 relative to the footing 402. To this end, the retention arm 423 includes a portion parallel to the vertical body 421. The retention arm 423 is particularly useful for resisting movement of the first sealing member 420 while the footing 402 is curing. The vertical portion of the retention arm 423 may also be used to affix the first sealing member 420 to formwork used to construct the footing 402 by a fastener through the retention arm 423 into the formwork.

Extending from the vertical body 421, preferably toward the element or structural wall member 424, is a recess arm 425 configured to line the bottom of the recess 413 to define a void 427. Preferably, the recess arm 425 lines the entire support surface 414 of the recess 413. Preferably, the first sealing member 420 may be secured to the footing 402 using a fastener (not shown), such as a bolt, screw. In some embodiments the first sealing member 420 may be secured to temporary formwork, such as plywood formwork, used to cast the footing.

The first sealing member 420 also includes a support 429 extending from the vertical body 421 toward the element 424, at a location vertically above the recess arm 425.

Returning to FIG. 8, once the first sealing member 420 has been installed, typically by curing the footing 402 with the first sealing member 420 placed, an injection hose 431 is positioned to allow injection of a sealing material 433 into the void 427 to form the joint seal 422. In one embodiment, the injection hose 431 includes a perimeter tube 435 with openings 437 to allow injection of the sealing material 433 into the void 427. The perimeter tube 435 may be secured within the void 427 using a fastener 461. The injection hose 431 may also include one or more offtakes 439 extending from the perimeter tube 435 through the element 424 or the footing 402 to a dry side 441 of the element 424. Thus, the injection hose 431 may be a system including the perimeter tube 435 and the offtakes 439. Preferably, offtakes 439 are located every 8 m to 50 m, more preferably every 10 m to 30 m, most preferably every 20 m, along the arrangement 400.

As shown in FIG. 15, the recess arm 425 of the first sealing member 420 may include one or more frangible locations 447, to allow a portion 449 of the recess arm 425 to be removed for providing access to the void 427. Access to the void 427 assist with positioning of the injection hose 431, while the portion 449, prior to position of the injection hose 431, and particularly during installation of the first sealing member 420, assists with rigidity, and therefore positional stability, of the first sealing member 420. The presence of the portion 449 prior to removal inhibits contamination of the void 427 during installation of the first sealing member 420.

Moving briefly to FIGS. 12 and 13, which show a location where perimeter tubes 435 fed by different offtakes 439 intersect. It is preferable that there is an overlap between ends 443 of the perimeter tubes 435. Accordingly, it is preferably that the void 427 be at least twice as wide as a width of the perimeter tube 435. Moving briefly to FIG. 14, showing a location where the perimeter tube 435 wraps about a corner 445 of the arrangement 400. It is preferably that perimeter tubes 435 do not have their ends 443 adjacent to the corner 445, to prevent air gaps in the sealing material 433 forming the joint seal 422. In another embodiment, the arrangement 100 may include a corner fitting 436 as shown in FIG. 19. The corner fitting 436 includes a first opening 438a adapted to receive a portion of the perimeter tube 435, as well as a second opening 438b adapted to receive another portion of the perimeter tube 435. The first and second openings 438a, 438b are oriented perpendicularly so that sealing material can flow between the first and second openings 438a, 438b. The use of the corner fitting 436 inhibits kinks in the perimeter tube 435 near the corner 445.

Returning to FIG. 8, now that the injection hose 431 has been located, the element 424 is seated on the support surface 414. Preferably, at least a portion of the base 442 of the element 424 is supported by the support 429 of the first sealing member 420, preferably such that the base 442 is substantially aligned with the support surface 414.

As shown in FIG. 10, the first sealing member 420 may include a crenellation 451 adjacent the external skin 440 of the element 424. The crenellation 451 is for inhibiting movement of the sealing material 433 between the first sealing member 420 and the external skin 440. Alternatively, or in addition, the first sealing member 420 may include an adhesive 453, adapted to adhere to the external skin 440, to inhibit movement of the sealing material 433 between the first sealing member 420 and the external skin 440. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the vertical body 421 of the first sealing member 420 may have a smooth surface facing the external skin 440 of the element 424, such that an adhesive tape or sealant 453 may be applied.

In yet another embodiment, the first sealing member 420 includes a chamfer 455 at an upper end 457 thereof. The chamfer 455 is configured to face the external skin 440 of the element 424 to create a funnel gap 459 between the first sealing member 420 and the external skin 440. Prior to pumping of the sealing material 433, concrete may be poured into the funnel gap 459 to create a plug between the first sealing member 420 and the external skin 440 to inhibit movement of the sealing material 433 between the first sealing member 420 and the external skin 440. Preferably, a retention wall 471 used in the casting of the footing 402, may extend higher that the sidewall 416 of the footing 402 is being cast, such that when concrete is poured into the funnel gap 459 the concrete is retained at the funnel gap 459 to allow flow of the concrete into the funnel gap 459. The retention wall 471 may be temporary formwork made from plywood, or sheet piling. Sheet piling is preferred in sandy soil conditions.

As shown in FIG. 17, the first sealing member 420 may be located quite close to an end of the sidewall 416. Such that an end of the retention arm 423 is co-planar with, or penetrates the end of the sidewall 416. This exposes an interface of the retention arm 423 with the footing 402 to water intrusion. In order to inhibit the intrusion of water along this interface, the retention arm 423 includes crenellations 451 to create a tortuous water path along the interface between the retention arm 423 and the footing 402. Yet further the body 421 of the first sealing member 420 may also include crenellations 451 to create a tortuous water path along an interface between the body 421 of the first sealing member 420 and the footing 402.

The element 424 may then be filled with concrete, as shown in FIG. 8, and the sealing material 433 is pumped through the injection hose 431 to form the joint seal 422. Due to the inhibition of sealing material 433 flowing out of the void 427 between the first sealing member 420 and the element 424, the first sealing material 433 forms a joint seal between the first sealing member, the footing, and the element 424. Preferably, each element 424 interlocks with an adjacent element 424 using first and second interlocking elements 463, 465. In a preferred embodiment, the interlocking elements 463, 465 are separated by a gap 467, as shown in FIG. 18. During pouring of concrete into the element 424, the interlocking elements 463, 465 deform under pressure of the weight of the concrete, thereby pinching the interlocking elements 463, 465 together, leaving the gap 467 filled with air. In some instances, the pinching may be incomplete, leaving the gap 467 filled with concrete slurry, or a mixture of air and concrete slurry.

Due to the seating of the element 424 on the support 429 of the first sealing member 420, the gap 467 is open or filled fully or partially with concrete slurry, at a bottom thereof, to the void 427. Due to the inhibition of the sealing material 433 flowing out of the void 427 under high pressure between the first sealing member 420 and the element 424, the sealing material 433 is also pumped upwards and into the gap 467, forming a seal between adjacent elements 424. Further, a wall gap (not shown) may open between an interior surface (not shown) of the element 424 and the concrete filled into the element 424, due to shrinkage of the cement slurry as it cures. The wall gap is located at a similar point to the gap 467 and is therefore similarly open to the void 427 such that the sealing material 433 is pumped under high pressure upwards from the void 427 into the wall gap. Thus, while a fluid path gap may exist between the skin of the structural wall element 424 and the concrete infill within the structural wall element 424, at both the wet side of the element 424 (facing the sidewall 416) and the dry side of the element 424 (facing the away from the sidewall 416) when the concrete infill shrinks during curing to a cured concrete, preferably the sealing material 433 may be pumped under high pressure upwards from the void 427 into the fluid path gap located at the wet side of the structural wall element. The sealing material 433 under pressure may also reach to the fluid path gap between the element 424 and the shrunk concrete infill at the dry side of the structural wall element.

As shown in FIG. 9, a drainage channel 444 filled with drainage means 446 may then be added, obscuring the offtakes 439 used to pump the sealing material 433. In the preferred embodiment, the offtakes 439 may terminate vertically above the drainage channel 444 and are not obscured when drainage means 446 are added.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the sidewall 416 may have a width that is larger than a width of the retention arm 423 of the first sealing member 420, as shown in FIG. 16, or the sidewall 416 may have a width that is substantially the same as the width of the retention arm 423 of the first sealing member 420.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the sealing member 420 has a cross-section 460 and is shaped such that the cross-section 460 follows an extrusion path 450. In some embodiments, the extrusion path 450 may not be linear. For example, as shown in FIG. 20, the extrusion path 450 may be angled for a portion of the sealing member 420 in the vertical direction to create a vertical portion, or as shown in FIG. 21, the extrusion path 450 for a portion of the sealing member 420 may be angled in the horizontal axis. In one embodiment, the arrangement 100 includes opposing sealing members 420 with mirrored features having approximately the same length of vertical extrusion path 450 portions to define a step.

A method 200 of assembling the arrangement 100 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In an initial step 202, shuttering or formwork 214 defining the footing 102 is erected at a construction site, such as in an excavated area of land in the yard of a dwelling. Known techniques and materials may be implemented to erect the formwork in compliance with known standards. For example, shoring (such as sheet piling 216) may be used to define the exterior edge 110 of the footing 102. During this initial step 202, structural reinforcement, typically in the form of reinforcing bars or mesh 218 (e.g. of steel), is arranged in the formwork 214 to provide reinforcement (e.g. tensile strength) to the concrete to be poured. Some of the reinforcement bars project upwardly from the formwork to form starter bars 220 for subsequently connecting or anchoring the structural wall in a later step.

In a next step 204, provision is made to create connection points or anchor points with the reinforcement to secure the waterstop 120 in position as well as to secure shuttering 222 required to form the rebate 112 within the footing 102. The waterstop 120 may also be temporarily affixed to the shuttering 222 for the rebate 112 for additional anchorage of the waterstop 120.

In a following step 206, a concrete mixture is prepared, subsequently poured into the formwork 214 and allowed to cure to form the footing 102. The concrete mixture may comprise a mixture of fine and coarse aggregate in a fluid cement binder, such as Portland cement. Once the concrete pour for the footing 102 has cured, the formwork 214, 222 is removed revealing the rebate 112 and the waterstop 120 cast-in-situ in the footing 102.

Using a caulk gun or other suitable means, the joint seal 122 (that is, the hydrophilic compound) is then applied (at step 208) as a controlled triangular bead to the junction of the waterstop 120 and the support surface 114.

In a subsequent step 210, the element 124 is installed to form the structural wall. The lower edge of the external skin 140 of the element 124 is pressed into the hydrophilic compound 122 to cause dispersion of the hydrophilic compound 122 underneath the external skin 140 and against the waterstop 120. High slump concrete is poured into the assembled element 124 and sufficiently vibrated to minimise air voids. Alternatively, self-compacting concrete may be poured into the element 124 to form the wall. The concrete is cured in the assembled element 124 to form the structural wall. Together, the second concrete body defining the structural wall and the first concrete body defining the footing 102 form a construction joint at the interface of the base 142 and the support surface 114.

In an optional step 212, the drainage channel 144 and associated drainage means 146 is installed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a prior art approach 300 for waterproofing a construction joint between a footing 302 and a wall 304. In contrast to the arrangement 100 of the present disclosure, the waterstop 306 of the prior art approach 300 is provided medially underneath the wall 304, rather than underneath the external skin of the wall 304. Conventional hydrophilic products are typically specified to have a minimum of 50 mm concrete cover in order to completely encase the waterstop, which is not required for the presently disclosed arrangement 100.

Further, by virtue of the placement of the waterstop 306 in the prior art approach 300, water ingress is only prevented along one plane at a time and only once water has already entered the construction joint. In contrast, the presently disclosed arrangement 100 inhibits or prevents water ingress in both a vertical plane and a horizontal plane in one application and prior to any water entering the construction joint.

Moreover, the prior art approach 300 requires provision of access space adjacent the external skin of the wall 304 to apply a waterproofing membrane 308 to the external face of the wall 304 and the footing 302. In contrast, the presently disclosed arrangement 100 eliminates the need for this access space, thereby saving time and costs whilst providing a safer solution.

INTEGERS

• • 100 arrangement
  • 102 footing
  • 104 upper side
  • 106 lower side
  • 108 height dimension
  • 110 exterior edge
  • 112 rebate
  • 114 support surface
  • 116 outer sidewall
  • 117 vertical face of outer sidewall
  • 118 inner sidewall
  • 119 vertical face of inner sidewall
  • 120 first sealing member
  • 122 joint seal
  • 124 element
  • 126 body
  • 128 lower end portion
  • 130 first sidewall of body
  • 132 second sidewall of body
  • 134 transverse webs
  • 136 apertures
  • 138 internal skin
  • 140 external skin
  • 142 base of lower end portion
  • 144 drainage channel
  • 146 drainage means
  • 200 method
  • 202-212 steps of the method
  • 214 formwork defining footing
  • 216 shoring
  • 218 reinforcing bar
  • 220 starter bars
  • 222 shuttering for rebate
  • 300 prior art approach
  • 302 footing of prior art approach
  • 304 wall of prior art approach
  • 400 arrangement
  • 402 footing
  • 413 recess
  • 414 support surface
  • 415 bottom
  • 416 outer sidewall
  • 417 vertical face of outer sidewall
  • 420 first sealing member
  • 421 vertical body
  • 422 joint seal
  • 423 retention arm
  • 424 element
  • 425 recess arm
  • 427 void
  • 429 support
  • 431 injection hose
  • 433 sealing material
  • 435 perimeter tube
  • 436 corner fitting
  • 437 openings
  • 438 a,b corner fitting openings
  • 439 offtake
  • 440 external skin
  • 441 dry side
  • 442 base
  • 443 end of perimeter tube
  • 444 drainage channel
  • 445 corner
  • 446 drainage means
  • 447 frangible location
  • 449 portion of recess arm
  • 450 extrusion path
  • 451 crenellation
  • 453 adhesive
  • 455 chamfer
  • 457 upper end of sealing member
  • 459 funnel gap
  • 460 cross section
  • 461 fastener
  • 463 first interlocking element
  • 465 second interlocking element
  • 467 gap

Claims

1. An arrangement for inhibiting water ingress across a construction joint, the arrangement including: a footing to be supported by a ground structure, the footing including a floor defining a support surface, the footing further including a sidewall extending upwardly from the support surface;a structural wall element supported by the support surface, the element having an external skin to be adjacent to the sidewall;a first sealing member secured to the sidewall of the footing such that the first sealing member opposes the external skin; anda joint seal formed from a sealing material located at a junction of the first sealing member, the footing and the external skin, such that the sealing material penetrates an interface between the first sealing member and the structural wall element without requiring access to the external skin of the structural wall element.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the support surface includes a recess adjacent the sidewall, the recess having a bottom, and wherein the first sealing member includes a recess arm configured to line the bottom of the recess to define a void.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the recess extends below the support surface.

4. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the recess extends into the sidewall.

5. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the recess arm includes one or more frangible locations to allow a portion of the recess arm to be removed for providing access to the void.

6. The arrangement of claim 5, wherein a distance between a body of the first sealing member and a first of the one or more frangible locations is less than a gap between the body of the first sealing member and the external skin of the structural wall element, to facilitate the penetration of the sealing material of the joint seal into the interface between the first sealing member and the external skin.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the arrangement includes an adjacent structural wall element, similar to the structural wall element, the adjacent structural wall element being connected to the structural wall element by a set of interlocking elements, the interlocking elements being separated by a gap, wherein the gap is accessible by the sealing material in the void due to removal of the portion of the recess arm, such that the sealing material from the void is allowed to penetrate into the gap, forming a seal between the set of interlocking elements.

8. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the gap between the body of the first sealing member and the skin of the structural wall element is sized, and the frangible locations are located, such that, when a cement slurry filled into the structural wall element shrinks during curing to a cured concrete forming a fluid flow gap between the skin of the structural wall element and the cured concrete, a fluid path exists between a fluid flow gap and the void, when the portion of the recess arm has been removed.

9. The arrangement of claim 3, wherein the arrangement further includes an injection hose positioned to allow injection of a sealing material into the void to form the sealing joint.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the injection hose includes a perimeter tube with openings to allow the injection of sealing material into the void, the perimeter tube being located in the void and substantially surrounded by the recess arm.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the injection hose includes an offtake extending from the perimeter tube through the structural wall member to a dry side of the cavity adjacent the structural wall member.

12. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the injection hose includes a corner fitting having a first opening adapted to receive a portion of the injection hose and a second opening adapted to receive a portion of the injection hose, the first opening and the second opening being oriented perpendicularly to each other so that the sealing material can flow between the first and second openings.

13. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member includes a retention arm extending from the first sealing member into the sidewall and/or the footing to resist movement of the first sealing member relative to the footing.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the retention arm includes a series of crenellations to create a tortuous path for water invading along an interface between the retention arm and the sidewall and/or footing.

15. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein a body of the first sealing member includes a series of crenellations to create a tortuous path for water invading along an interface between the body and the sidewall and/or footing.

16. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the wall element longitudinally extends between an upper end portion and a lower end portion, wherein the lower end portion has a base that is seated on the support surface within the cavity.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the first sealing member includes a support arm extending from the sealing member away from the sidewall, and wherein the base of the wall element is at least partially seated on the support arm.

18. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

19. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the joint seal includes a hydrophilic compound that expands in volume when in contact with water and/or an adhesive compound.

20. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member includes a chamfer at an upper end thereof, the chamfer facing the external skin of the structural wall element to create a funnel gap between the first sealing member and the external skin of the structural wall element.

21. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member has a profile and is extruded along an extrusion path, and wherein the extrusion path includes one or more of: a horizontal portion;a vertical portion;a horizontally angled portion; anda vertically angled portion.

22. A method of assembling an arrangement for inhibiting water ingress across a construction joint, the method comprising steps of: erecting formwork defining a footing at a construction site;erecting formwork defining a rebate within the footing;securing a first sealing member to the formwork defining the rebate and/or to the formwork defining the footing;pouring a concrete mixture into the formwork defining the footing and curing the concrete mixture to create a first concrete body forming the footing such that the first sealing member is cast-in-place and the rebate is formed in the footing;applying a joint seal to a junction of the first sealing member and a surface of the first concrete body within the rebate;erecting formwork defining a structural wall within the rebate; andpouring the concrete mixture into the formwork defining the wall and curing the concrete mixture to create a second concrete body forming the wall supported by the footing such that a sidewall of the wall engages the joint seal, wherein, the first and joint seals are configured to impede flow of water along an interface between the wall and the footing.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of applying the joint seal to the junction of the first sealing member and the surface of the first concrete body within the rebate is performed after the step of pouring the concrete mixture into the formwork.