Case 1

Water Leak Through Pipe Penetrations

Introduction

Type of Building: Residential

Water seepage into a basement could take place through (a) porous concrete, (b) cracks, (c) joints, and (d) pipe penetrations.

The watertightness of basements relies mainly on the detailing of waterproofing over discontinuities such as joints and penetrations. The lack of detailing at these discontinuities would likely result in water seepage. Details such as lapping at critical locations are important for the waterproofing system to form an effective barrier against water seepages.

Efflorescence is found just below a pipe penetration at basement car park wall. Efflorescence is a white deposit of salts or stains which forms on the surface of stones, ceramic tiles, concrete, or bricks with cementitious backings or joints as an external crystallization. In this case, a passage of water through the pipe penetration has brought these soluble salts to the surface where they crystallized.