BUILDING ENVELOPE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention refers to a manufacturing process of waterproof insulation sealings in the exterior building envelope, as for example on flat roofs or pitched roofs; it predominantly refers to the sealing process in cases of posterior constructing and installation activities, i.e. solar mounting systems, photovoltaics, piercing technology in installations, communication lines, energy pipelines and power cables, etc. By using a flange and hot bituminous mixture the said passages, i.e. piercing lines via water-permeable surfaces, are sealed.

The invention falls within the civil engineering branch, whereby a variety of piercing lines are sealed innovatively in cases of simple prefabricated, wooden and solid walls, as is the case with first installations in new constructions, reconstructions, adaptations and posterior constructing activities.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

When different constructing works and installations are made for new constructions and already existing structures, i.e. installation of mounting system for solar collectors, photovoltaics, punching technology in structures, communication lines, energy pipelines, power cables, etc., interruptions may occur, e.g. the waterproof insulation system or water-permeable layer in the exterior building envelope are pierced. Interruptions or piercing of waterproof insulation in the exterior building envelope result in impairment, causing water to leak through, even though the impairment is only present on a small surface of waterproof insulation layer; such impairment events drastically impact the quality of the waterproof insulation system, as they considerably decrease its quality. Due to potential wetting, the waterproof insulation systems in the exterior building envelope, e.g. on flat or pitched roofs, terraces or projecting roofs, therefore fail to carry out their primary task of not allowing water to permeate. As it is necessary to ensure uninterrupted passage for different piercing elements, i.e. installation lines, fixating systems of solar or other photovoltaic elements, communication lines, energy pipelines and power cables, anti- sun protection, fence fixing, etc., this particular spot is impaired in terms of moisture leaking through or water-permeability. This often causes trouble in real life, as related inconveniences and claims take place. Reforming activities are extremely demanding, expensive and practically impossible in many cases. Most of the said passage lines/piercing elements are not resistant to increased temperature; they also have a short service life or can not come in contact with various materials.

STATE OF THE ART

In cases of piercing communication and energy lines, installation passages, different fixating systems and anchors or when performing posterior constructing activities, a water impermeable layer of waterproof insulation system in the exterior building envelope is pierced, e.g. on flat or pitched roofs, terraces or balcony areas. A variety of options can be used, all offering special elements with sealing agents, which are designed for particular purposes in most cases, but hardly serve as universal solutions. The problem appears to be even bigger, because no solution can normally be offered for piercing lines of uncommon type.

Special profiles of bent metal sheet are normally used for such purposes, various elastic coatings, cement-based lubricants, two-component coatings, normally made from epoxy resins, special dilatation profiles, etc. In most cases these materials are very rigid and do not smoothly follow the surface movement apart from bituminous materials, which, because of their elasticity, adapt to changes well and follow the surface movements relatively smoothly.

There is also an option of direct installation of hot bituminous mixture, which can be prepared on site. However, the process is dangerous and causes delays because of heating to high temperature; some modified bituminous mixture require temperatures up to 240°C in relatively large heating cauldrons, also considering the fact that in cases of major interruptions of piercing lines the consumption is small. Due to the above mentioned problems the process is uneconomical and very rarely used.

Cases of similar solutions are described on the following company websites:

- Kraso, Germany, http://www.kraso.de/?page=edelstahl produkte; - Permaton, Germanv,http://www.permaton-muenchen.de/produkte/;

- Dovma,Germanv.http://www.dovma.de/contentxml/img prospekte/prospekt q uadro secura sortimentsuebersicht.pdf

The above mentioned solutions apply elements according to type, which cannot adapt to individual geometry of piercing technology or to a particular shape of installation line.

We are not familiar with solutions offering highly elastic materials, which would have a possibility of re-sealing or provide water tightness in a warm period, therefore proving to be universal, i.e. adaptable to arbitrary piercing forms or individual piercing geometry and to a particular form of installation line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention the above mentioned technical problem is solved by implementing waterproof piercing technology, i.e. by manufacturing process of waterproof seaiings for piercing lines in the exterior building envelope

Piercing lines via waterproof layer or waterproof insulation system are implemented by using a flange and preliminary made bitumen sticks or tapes. Bitumen sticks or tapes, which are preliminary made from modified bituminous mixture, are heated with burner on the installation site; the tapes melt and hot bituminous mixture is acquired, which is poured into specially designed spot in the flange. The procedure is known as soldering in the branch of electrotechnology or mechanical engineering.

According to the invention, the implementation of waterproof seaiings for piercing lines offers the following advantages in comparison to already existing systems:

- Perfect protection against moist and impermeability of water, even in cases of water under pressure;

- Fast, smooth and simple installation

- Exceptional mechanical properties, e.g. compressive force, tensile strength, shear force, tear strength;

- Exceptionally good adherence to the surfaces, made from concrete, mortar, metal, wood, bitumen, asphalt, etc. - Compatibility with the surface and the materials, present in building industry;

- Economical installation and ecological health, as the production, distribution, installation, recycling process and degradation are much simpler and causes less damage to the environment in comparison to currently known solutions used for waterproof piercing technology;

- Age-resistance and long service life;

- Appropriate rigidity and plastic-elastic properties with polymer additives of modified bituminous mixture;

- Independent of weather conditions, because installation is also possible in extremely low temperatures, going as low as -15°C, and also when humidity is high.

The invention is presented in Figure 1 in detail.

Figure 1 shows implementation of waterproof piercing technology using a flange in a rectangular cross-section form.

A flange 1 is placed or positioned on surface 1a, through which a piercing line 2 has been made in such a way, that a piercing line 2 is located in the centre of the hole 3 in the central part of a flange 1. The lower surface 4 of flange 1 fits the surface 1a, through which a piercing line 2 has been made. The example in the figure below shows installing the installation line 2a. Installation line 2a goes through a piercing line 1 and a hole 3 in a central part of a flange 1 ; a lower surface 4 of a flange 1 fits the surface 1a, through which a piercing line 2 has been made. Between the elevated edge 5 of a flange , confining a hole 3, and between a piercing line 2, e.g. an installation line 2a, an intermediate space 6 is created. If necessary, an installation foil is placed in an intermediate space 6; the foil, however, is not shown on the figure below, but it is used to prevent leaking of hot bituminous mixture from intermediate space 6. The heating of bituminous tape or stick on site with a gas burner or a heat gun follows, whereby a hot bituminous mixture is poured into intermediate space 6; after it hardens, waterproof piercing is formed.

Bituminous mixture is prepared from different bitumens. It is important that a chemical composition of bituminous mixtures is compatible and chemically combinable with construction materials through which waterproof piercing is made; bituminous mixtures must retain elasticity in cases of low and high ambient temperature, which ensures constant water tightness on the piercing spot. Bituminous mixture is primarily made from polymer modified bitumens providing better elasticity and age-resistance; in cases of higher temperatures, the mixtures softens and potentially created cracks are resealed or re-glued. When bituminous mixture is thus prepared, it is shaped into tapes or sticks of different lengths and cross sections. Cross section may be formed as a square, circle or ellipse, it may have other oval, triangular or rectangular forms; it may also be polygonal, primarily the cross section diameter ranges from 1 to 4 cm. As is normally the case, bituminous mixtures are factory made in larger batches; with one-off batch a large number of bitumen tapes or sticks are created to be in stock. Ongoing time- consuming and normally expensive preparation of hot bituminous mixture prior to its installation can therefore be avoided.

A flange is made from different materials, i.e. sheet metal, synthetic plastic materials, biopolymers, wood or recycled wood waste or similar materials. Regarding the piercing and considering what will be installed, a flange can take different forms; it is primarily formed as a cylinder or a block. It is usually made from one piece, whereby the lower surface, resting against the surface through which a piercing is made, is flat or formed in such a way as to adapt to the shape of the surface, onto which a flange is positioned and through which a piercing is made; in the central part there is a hole, confined by the edging line, elevated above the flat line of lower surface.

A flange is with its lower surface glued or placed, temporarily or permanently fixed to water-impermeable surface, i.e. roof area, terrace or a balcony, through which a piercing line has been made, for example the installation line, in such a way that the piercing line is positioned in the centre of the hole within the central part of the flange. Therefore, the installation line runs through the piercing line and through the centre of the hole. An intermediate space is created between an elevated flange edge and a piercing line, i.e. an installation line. Preliminary made bitumen tape or stick is placed into an intermediate space. The bituminous tape or stick is heated on site with a gas burner or heat gun. A bituminous tape or stick melts and hot bituminous mixture pours over the entire intermediate space. When hot bituminous mixture hardens, a watertight piercing line is created. If necessary, hardened bituminous mixture can therefore be applied in several layers. The said mixture must be prevented from leaking out of an intermediate space, because in this stage, the piercing line is not yet watertight. It becomes watertight, when bituminous mixture cools, usually in several hours. An installation foil, waxed paper or a similar inserting element is placed on the bottom of an intermediate space prior placing bituminous tape or stick; this prevents hot bituminous mixture from leaking out of an intermediate space during hardening.

Preparation of the surface plays an important role when installing any type of water- impermeable layer, as bituminous mixture must grip well to the surface, through which a piercing line has been made and therefore create a homogenous assembly with the surface area. The surface, through which a piercing line runs, must be devoid of dust particles and must be degreased, as this is the only way to establish a good grip. Preliminary application of water-based bitumen pre-coating or application of organic solvents is recommended.

In comparison to already existing systems, installing water-impermeable passage lines and different waterproof insulation piercing lines in the exterior building envelope, i.e. on flat or pitched roofs, terraces or balcony areas, provides the following advantages:

- the material is compatible with bituminous and several other compositions of waterproof insulation layers, the materials of flat and pitched roofs and the materials used for terraces and balconies;

- good grip to most of the surface areas, onto which waterproof insulation layers are placed, i.e. concrete, mortar, roughcast, wood, different wood-based panels, existing layers of bituminous waterproof insulation systems;

- the composition of bitumens and bituminous mixture is sufficiently rigid and resistant to ousting under high pressure; moreover, when exposed to increased temperature, it softens and potentially appearing cracks are automatically resealed or re-glued;

- installation is simple and does not require any particular preparation as known in the currently used solutions, i.e. preparation of two-component mixture, blending one-component mixtures, preparation in a special container; - compared to currently used solutions, when products are packed and stored into special containers, vessels, cartridges, etc., a new solution provides incomparably reduces packaging requirements, therefore decreasing environment pollution after packaging;

- since the material is relatively cheap the installation itself is fast and no special requirements regarding transport, warehousing and packaging waste are necessary; the piercing technology system is highly economical and incomparably cheaper than currently known solutions.