Indian Buildings Congress on 16^th December, 2020 at 5.00pm Organized a webinar on “ENTRAPPED DAMPNESS-The Cancer of RCC Structures, its causes, impacts and management to increase their actual usable life”. Shri Pradeep Mittal, President, IBC in his introductory speech welcomed Shri O.P.Goel, founder President, IBC & former DG(Works), CPWD; Shri Anant Kumar, Vice President, IBC & Special DG, CPWD; Shri Ajay Kumar Harit, Water proofing Rehabilitation Consultant; Shri H.P.Gupta, Honorary Secretary, IBC; all viewers and audiences who joined the webinar. The President, briefed about the vision and role of IBC in promotion of Built environment. He underlined the necessity and importance of dampness free structures/ buildings in the present day scenario for ensuring safety of the buildings and healthy built environment for occupants.

The President, IBC in his address informed that despite all precautions during construction and thereafter at the user’s end, the dampness in the structures do takes place. Though the dampness is an excess of moisture that can not escape from structure, but the fact remains that dampness in a building structure is a silent and often undetected menace that can wreak havoc on the building often capable of causing severe damage to user’s safety and health.

The President  further informed that poorly compacted porous concrete; high water cement ratio in concrete; poor or inadequate water proofing measures in the foundation, water tank, external walls, bath rooms/toilets; roof leakages; leaking and clogged soil, waste water, rain water or water supply pipes; defective window cills; faulty flashing; poorly fitted doors and windows; damaged render or pointing and junctions with chajjas; presence of salt in the sand used in the plaster or poor quality of construction materials often becomes cause of dampness.  .

Dampness in a structure can lead to decay and disintegration of materials like concrete, bricks, reinforcement, timber etc. through moss, fungus and corrosion. Combination of moisture and the air enhances the speed of carbonation  and corrosion of reinforcement in RCC which ultimately leads to spalling and disintegration of concrete. The unwanted moisture/ dampness in the structures enables the growth of various fungi in Concrete, Bricks and wood, causing rot or mould health issues and may eventually lead to sick building syndrome and many allergic as well as non-allergic disease to the occupants.  The President stressed the need of taking all necessary preventive actions and in case the dampness takes place, a  methodological approach based on solving both the obvious and hidden causes of dampness and for taking remedial actions so as to enhance the serviceable life of RCC Structures.

Shri O.P.Goel, founder President, IBC and former DG(W), CPWD, in his address briefed about the journey of IBC since inception. He lauded the role of IBC in its contribution towards promotion of built environment. He also appreciated the pains taken by the President IBC in organising 16 webinars including the present one on different technical topics at IBC head qtr level in a short span since onset of lockdown in April 2020 due to pandemic of COVID 19. He stressed the importance of dampness free buildings towards achieving healthy built environment.

Shri Anant Kumar, Vice President, IBC & Special DG, CPWD in his address, briefed about the importance of water proofing in buildings. He compared the activities towards  prevention of dampness in structures  with the activities of Army during peace times when it has to exert more in building its defences against the enemy. He mentioned that dampness prevention is most important from  point of view of aesthetics of building; healthy built environment; convenience to the occupants/ users of buildings; prevention of fights and litigation between residents of upper and lower floors due to dampness and for increasing the life of structures.

Shri Ajay Kumar Harit, Water proofing Rehabilitation Consultant while thanking the Foundeer President, IBC and the President IBC for giving him an opportunity to make his point of view, he made his presentation with slides showing the dampness in various locations of structures like sunken areas of buildings, staircases, balconies, water tanks, tunnels etc and after treatment of damp areas by injecting anticorrosive cementitoius polymer.  He also suggested Box grating in place of conventional 2D grating over Khurras so as to stop choking of rainwater spouts on khurras. For  effective checking of the menace of dampness he further expressed the necessity of policy of anti dampness law through legislation, strict implementation of waterproofing performance guarantee bond in letter & spirit and licensing of plumbing and water proofing contractors by the Government among other steps.

Shri  M.C.Bansal, Advisor,(Technical), IBC presented the vote of thanks. He thanked everyone associated with the Webinar and all the Viewers.