Rising Damp & its Control
Rising damp is not the most common form of dampness encountered in buildings; this is left to condensation. Older buildings are most susceptible to rising damp. It is incredibly rare in modern homes.
This guide has been produced to explain the control of rising damp in buildings to building industry professionals. It assumes the reader already possesses a basic knowledge of dampness in buildings.
The manual deals with the most common situations encountered with regard to rising damp and remedial action. It does not cover structural waterproofing (tanking). An outline of the identification of dampness problems in buildings is given. This book should be read thoroughly to become familiar with the systems prior to undertaking any works.
It is also important that the user of Safeguard damp‐proofing systems is thoroughly familiar with relevant national standards covering the treatment of rising damp – e.g. BS 6576:2005 “Code of practice for diagnosis of rising damp in walls of buildings and installation of chemical damp-proof courses”.
Finally, the installer of any damp-proofing system must be aware of any risks and hazards which the processes might cause, and therefore be aware of their duties under health and safety regulations. Also it is prudent to ensure that the property owners have obtained the necessary permissions where walls to be treated are shared with adjoining properties (known as party walls).