Utilities, signage, lights. Penetrations through exterior building enclosures are unavoidable. These penetrations serve critical functions for facility owners and occupants but can cause water intrusion. If a penetration is coordinated, detailed, and installed properly, it will achieve its desired result without creating unintended performance issues.
Since penetrations are unavoidable, all waterproofing manufacturers have a standard penetration detail (Figure 1). The waterproofing concept illustrated in Figure 1 for below-grade penetrations is very straightforward: lap the waterproofing membrane onto the penetration to create a seal between the waterproofing membrane and the penetration. While Figure 1 is an illustration for below-grade waterproofing, the same concept applies to exterior walls when rotated 90 degrees, and to roof, podium, and terrace waterproofing when rotated 180 degrees. Figures 2 to 5 are examples of penetrations through the below-grade, roof, podium/terrace, and exterior walls that match the generic waterproofing concept shown in Figure 1.