Description

The present invention relates to the treatment of a building brick element, in the form of brick or other structural block, of porous type and provided to carry out a proofing function at the base of a masonry, also known as damp proof course block, to prevent the rising damp from propagating through a wall from the foundation thereof.

Such treatment can be performed on prefabricated building brick elements, in particular but not exclusively light bricks and perforated bricks with different levels of perforation, obtained in different materials such as clays, concrete, refractory materials and so on, and characterized by a porous external surface, with different levels of porosity.

The execution of the treatment can even be performed on the building site, in particular when the structural block is implemented on site by using, for example, concrete castings in formworks, by obtaining the so- called formwork-blocks which then become building structural blocks.

Therefore, the treatment relates to building brick elements for implementing bearing masonry, infill and internal partition walls, for implementing structures by concrete castings, and the present invention relates both to the treated brick elements and then used in construction work, both the treatment of structural blocks on site, and the treatment process which is performed in both cases.

The treatment can take place by dipping the building elements into a liquid solution or even by spraying of structural blocks, and it can be applied to all materials usable in the building practice having the capability of absorbing and keeping in the surface layer inside thereof the content of a liquid solution. In the state of art, different proposals have been made to solve the well-known problem of rising damp in building structures, at the ground level or at the foundation basement.

In fact, it is not uncommon to notice, even in recently implemented buildings, deterioration conditions of the external surfaces of masonry structures, and in particular of plaster thereof; deterioration can be recognized in different extent and height, referred both to external infill walls and to internal partition walls.

Such a problem is not limited to the simple aesthetical aspect or to the need for repeating, several times, interventions of plastering and/or painting the walls, but it leads to a decrease in the healthiness of the environments inside the building.

The above-described deterioration is mainly caused by rising moisture of capillary type, which penetrates through the porosity of bricks and plasters, and which appears with intensity and heights variable in masonries at the so-called ground level, as schematically illustrated by means of arrows in figure 1, which shows a masonry section at said ground level.

With reference to figure 1, a masonry section, consisting of not treated blocks, is shown, comprising deteriorated plaster 1, not treated blocks 2 overlapped with a laying spread 3 consisting of cement mortar, a polyurethane panel 4, a screed 5, a bituminous sheath 6, a subfloor 7 and crawl space 8.

The use of laminar barriers was proposed, that is flat sheaths made of impermeable materials as in figure 1, which are laid on foundations before starting raising masonry. However, the barrier blocks only the deep moisture rising from the foundation, and not that which could infiltrate laterally in the masonry portion in contact with the ground.

Italian patent No. 102010901896842 describes a module constituting a barrier of laminar type which, apart from interposing at the foundation level, extends on the masonry flanks for a limited height. However, this solution involves a complex laying procedure, and its effectiveness depends upon the proofed masonry portion with respect to the foundation depth, and then it could be not sufficient to prevent moisture from rising.

The inevitable formation of condensation inside the masonry or the possible water supply due to rain or losses from upper floors would accumulate and stagnate on the bottom of the above-mentioned module, without the possibility of being discharged due to the waterproofing thereof. Moreover, it is known that each structure, after the laying step, is subjected to a settlement process engendering internal tensions, and this could consequently cause cracks in the materials. In this regard, the most vulnerable portion of the above- mentioned module is exactly the welded or glued junction of the two half-modules composing it: a crack thereof would immediately cause the spreading of moisture through the upper brickworks of masonry and plaster, and in the long run possible structural damages. In the latter case, moreover one would run the risk of not having the perception of such stagnation since it is concealed from view by the presence of the waterproofing vertical septa themselves .

Then, the products available on the market to mitigate the external presence of moisture stains show a clear admission of inadequacy of up-to-now used damp proof courses against damp rising, with any laying technique or any used material.

In the practice of construction site, it is observed that moisture, in its rising, crosses the internal brickworks of masonry and propagates in the whole thickness thereof, by involving then even the external finishing.

The idea underlying the present invention is to provide a brick element which is treated so that it can constitute damp proof course, with a treatment which could make substantially waterproof to rising moisture all the involved surfaces, substantially both internal and external ones, of the whole structural block, and that the entire block as a whole in the end constitutes a damp proof course against moisture rising. Within this purpose, another object of the invention is to implement bearing masonry, partition or infill walls, impermeable on themselves, the laying thereof being relatively easy.

An additional object of the invention is to impermeabilize structures wherein there are complex geometries and irregular surfaces.

Still an object is to provide the waterproofing of the structures even before cutting grooves to allocate different types of lines. An object other than the mentioned ones relates to the possibility of supporting ongoing changes in the arrangement of the openings in the masonry without renouncing to the waterproofing effect.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a damp proof course block and a treatment process to obtain it allowing to obviate the drawback mentioned with reference to the known art.

Such problem is solved by a building brick element and a treatment process for structural blocks and brick elements according to the respective appended independent claims.

In the treatment allowing to obtain the above-mentioned building brick elements, both at the factory and on site, their laying surfaces are treated by dipping or irroration in a liquid obtained by diluting a bituminous primer with a synthetic diluent or with not oily synthetic or natural water repellents.

Moreover, upon laying, a laying spread is provided, made of bituminous silicone-based mortars. The structural element which is thus produced and obtained has the capability of blocking the rising moisture thanks to the waterproofing action obtained by using products with liquid base which determine the surface covering of building element and their absorption even in the internal spreads, with variable penetration depth in relation to the chemical-physical properties of the treated construction material and to the dilution percentage of the pure product.

The waterproofing is obtained by dipping the building elements in the above-defined waterproofing solution, before their laying, with variable time in relation to their hygroscopic properties and the wished waterproofing level.

With such process, the building elements have all surfaces, both external and internal ones, uniformly covered, and possible through-holes in the masonry or grooves for line placing have the adjacent surface adequately treated.

The junction of the blocks for implementing the masonry is provided in bituminous silicone, whereas the plugging of possible grooves for the line placing can be provided in polyurethane foam.

Advantageously, the brick element is made of a material selected from a group comprising vibro-compressed concrete, brick, pressed concrete and fibre cement.

The present invention will be hereinafter described according to a preferred embodiment example, provided by way of example and not for limitative purposes with reference to the enclosed drawings wherein: * figure 1 shows a raised longitudinal view of a masonry section at the ground level, consisting of not treated structural elements according to the state of art;

* figures 2A and 2B show a respective axonometric view of a brick bearing damp proof course structural element and of a concrete bearing damp proof course structural element according to the invention; * figures 3A and 3B show axonometric views of portions in special format of brick bearing damp proof course structural element obtained from an entire brick bearing damp proof course structural element;

* figures 4A and 4B show axonometric views of portions in special format of concrete bearing damp proof course structural element obtained from an entire concrete bearing damp proof course structural element;

* figures 5A and 5B show respective axonometric views and in partial section respectively of a masonry part implemented with the structural elements of figure 2A and 2B;

* figure 6 shows an axonometric view of the base of a concrete pillar, comprising a formwork made of fibre cement treated according to the invention; and

* figure 7 shows a schematic section view of a masonry wherein a section of four rows of structural elements results to be treated according to the invention.

Figure 2A shows a bearing block consisting of a brick element 10, provided with a hole 11, extending from an upper face to a lower face; it has both internal and external surfaces, and the external surfaces are divided into laying surfaces 12, that are intended to be placed in contact with complementary laying surfaces of other brick elements, and exposed surfaces 13, that are intended to form the exposed surface of a masonry.

All these surfaces are more or less rough and porous by their nature, and they can absorb water or a waterproofing mixture.

Instead, figure 2B shows another type of brick element 10', made of concrete, comprising internal septa 14 and external septa 15, which implement laying surfaces 12, that are intended to be placed in contact with complementary laying surfaces of other brick elements, and exposed surfaces 13, that are intended to form the exposed surface of a masonry. Figures 3A and 3B show that the brick element 10 can be portioned in smaller special elements, which are required to complete the construction of a masonry: they can be vertically cut into two equal portions (figure 3A) or in several portions with different sizes (figure 3B).

Figures 4A and 4B show the same cut for elements made of concrete 10' which can be sawn according to planes identified by the internal septa 14.

These divisions determine new rough and porous laying surfaces 12, corresponding to the cut planes of the entire elements 10, 10'.

Figure 5A shows a masonry portion implemented with the blocks of perforated bricks 10 of figure 2A, wherein all surfaces of the brick element, even those resulting from possible cuts, were treated by inducing therein the absorption of a liquid mixture obtained by diluting a bituminous primer with a not oily water-repellent diluent, as for example a silicone or siloxane solvent, that is comprising resins obtained by polymerization of silica.

The exposed surfaces 13 are covered by a sheath 16 for laying plasters, in particular a slated, in case self- adhesive, bituminous sheath. On the sheath 16 a plaster 17 is spread, or another suitable covering element is laid.

The laying surfaces are adhered to one another by means of a sealing laying spread 18, for example a bituminous silicone-based mortar, which is spread on the laying surfaces previously treated with the diluted bituminous primer.

Figure 5B shows a masonry portion implemented with the blocks made of concrete 10' of figure 2B, wherein all surfaces of the brick element, even those resulting from possible cuts, were treated by inducing therein the absorption of a liquid mixture obtained by diluting a bituminous primer with a not oily water-repellent diluent, such as for example a silicone or siloxane solvent, that is comprising resins obtained by polymerizing silica.

The exposed surfaces 13 are covered by a sheath 16 for laying plasters, in particular a slated, in case self- adhesive, bituminous sheath. On the sheath 16 a plaster 17 is spread, or another suitable covering element is laid.

The laying surfaces are adhered to each other by means of a sealing laying spread 18, for example a bituminous silicone-based mortar, which is spread on the laying surfaces previously treated with the diluted bituminous primer.

With reference to figure 6, a formwork-block 20 is represented which implements the brick structural element of the present invention. It is aimed at constructing structures by concrete casting for the formation of pillars having arbitrary height.

As in the building practice it is known that the rising moisture is capable of infiltrating up to 1-metre (and sometimes beyond) height starting from the foundations F, a set of formworks 21 made of fibre cement is arranged, treated by inducing therein the absorption of a liquid mixture obtained by diluting a bituminous primer with a not oily water-repellent diluent, as for example a silicone or siloxane solvent, that is comprising resins obtained by polymerizing the silica, thus making them impermeable .

Between the formworks 21 there is an interface, as laying surface, whereon a sealing laying spread 18 is applied, for example a bituminous silicone-based mortar, which is spread on the laying surfaces previously treated with the diluted bituminous primer.

On the exposed surfaces, a sheath 16 for plasters as the one described previously is instead deposited.

In order to obtain an optimum laying of the herein described structure, it is necessary to construct a perfectly aligned foundation, and then one proceeds with placing the first row of treated blocks by inserting bituminous silicone or impermeable polyurethane foam in the interstitial cracks. Then, the openings intended to house the fixtures are traced, even by having recourse to special pieces. The latter are also used in the construction of angles and if required in the windows' parapets.

Subsequently, one proceeds with raising by piling up an appropriate number of rows of treated blocks and, once reached the wished height, the number of rows of treated blocks is modulated depending upon the extent of the humidity source, and afterwards one can proceed with the piling process by using not treated blocks.

In case of underground rooms, the continuation of the masonry obtained with treated blocks will be raised as far as a height being about 40 cm above the external level of the ground.

By carrying out such procedure, any additional device in facing damp rising is not required, regardless from the reached height from the ground with respect to the masonry and the extent of the moisture source.

With reference to figure 8, a masonry section is shown constituting the result of the waterproofing intervention performed by following what described previously: starting from a perfectly levelled foundation F a variable number of rows of structural elements 10, already treated with the bituminous primer, are arranged, depending upon the extent of the moisture source, which elements constitute a damp proof course barrier 30; they are used to implement the first four rows, and it will be noted that there is no limitation to the height of the structure portion which could be made water repellent, the number of rows of treated brick elements 10 being able to be modulated, depending upon the particular case, thus constituting the barrier 30 to rising of humidity.

Even in this case, sheaths for plasters 16 and the plaster 17 are provided. The structural elements 10 are laid and connected by means of the laying spread 18 made of bituminous silicone-based mortar, arranged even at the interface between the base and lateral contact surfaces of different treated blocks 10, in the double role of both structural, as binder between the brick elements, and water repellent means, with the purpose of saturating the gaps which inevitably are formed in the piling up process. This structure rests upon a screed 31 sustained by a ventilated crawl space 32 obtained by suitable supports 33.

The process therewith the above-described blocks are treated is divided into the following steps of: · preparing, in a sealed container, a liquid comprising an waterpoofing solution based upon a bituminous primer and a not oily diluent, with a percentage of dilution variable in relation to the type of the manufactured product to be treated; · the building element constituting the brick elements being cleaned of slag and powder;

• dipping the element as far as totally covering all the surfaces thereof;

• extracting the elements once the treatment is performed, after an adequate time interval, for example at least one hour;

• storing the elements for the time strictly required to dry in air;

• applying on a side face, or in case on both side faces, a sheath for plasters, preferably a slated bituminous sheath, to favour the plaster adhesion.

The waterproofing liquid consists of a bituminous primer with fast drying solvent, with dilution consisting of a synthetic diluent, not-oily synthetic or natural water- repellents, of the type which can be found on the market. Upon laying, among the different brick elements interconnected to form a masonry, a laying spread made of mortar is provided, which preferably is a polymeric- bituminous mortar, or still more preferably a bituminous silicone-based mortar.

Possible gaps, such as for example grooves for corrugated tubes or hydraulic ducts, can be pre-treated even on the building site, with application of a sealing layer, for example made of polyurethane foam. To the above-described brick elements and to the related treatment and laying processes a person skilled in the art, with the purpose of satisfying additional and contingent needs, could introduce several additional modifications and variants, however all comprised within the protective scope of the present invention, as defined by the enclosed claims.