Mind the Gap: Waterproofing Considerations in Property Line Construction
The iconic “Painted Ladies” in the sitcom Full House, brownstones in New York City, and row houses along the Venetian canals are all famous examples of property line construction. Construction along property lines has been done successfully for centuries, yet modern performance requirements and construction practices of lighter and thinner assemblies challenge designers and contractors with forming the exterior enclosure mere inches from neighboring buildings.
In modern construction, building code requirements and performance expectations form the basis of design of the exterior enclosure. Key building code requirements that affect property line design include fire resistance, design for earthquake displacement, occupancy classifications, height and area limitation, hazardous material considerations, and water drainage. Each component of the exterior enclosure, from below-grade waterproofing, along the building separation, and at the exterior wall, requires additional considerations on a project-by-project basis.
Publisher
IIBEC Interface