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[CCMC 13635-R] CCMC Canadian code compliance evaluation

From: National Research Council Canada

In most jurisdictions this document is sufficient evidence for approval by Canadian authorities.

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Compliance opinion

It is the opinion of the Canadian Construction Materials Centre that the evaluated products, when used as dampproofing for basement walls in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this evaluation, comply with the following code:

National Building Code of Canada 2015

ID Code provision Solution type
09-13-02-00-00-0-009.13.2. DampproofingAlternative

The above opinion(s) is/are based on the evaluation by the CCMC of technical evidence provided by the evaluation holder, and is bound by the stated conditions and limitations. For the benefit of the user, a summary of the technical information that forms the basis of this evaluation has been included.

Product information

Product names

  • Isostud
  • Isostud (Dampproofing)
  • Marflex
  • Power Drain

Product description

The product is a high-density polyethylene (HDPE), semi-rigid plastic sheet membrane extruded in a manner that results in a dimpled surface on one side and a flat surface on the other. The dimples are approximately 7.5 mm high and are intended to provide an air gap between the wall and the adjacent soil. The product is available in rolls that are approximately 0.78 mm thick, usually 20 m long and up to 4 m wide, as required.

To ensure correct application, a range of accessories, such as fasteners, anchors and moulding strips, is included with the product.

The figures below illustrate the product.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Side facing wall

 

Anchor

Figure 2. Anchor

Manufacturing plant

This evaluation is valid only for products produced at the following plant:

Product namesManufacturing plant
Kearneysville, WV, US
IsostudProduct evaluated by the CCMC
Isostud (Dampproofing)Product evaluated by the CCMC
MarflexProduct evaluated by the CCMC
Power DrainProduct evaluated by the CCMC

Product evaluated by the CCMC Indicates that the product from this manufacturing facility has been evaluated by the CCMC

  Conditions and limitations

The CCMC’s compliance opinion is bound by this product being used in accordance with the conditions and limitations set out below.

  • Based on the evidence provided, the product has been classified as Type 2, which can be installed on a vertical wall up to a depth of 3.7 m. Application depths greater than 3.7 m are considered to be outside the scope of this evaluation.
  • The product must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation manual. In the event of conflict between the manufacturer’s instructions and this evaluation, this evaluation shall govern.
  • The product was evaluated for use against cast-in-place and concrete block foundations only. The product must cover the foundation wall from the top of the footing to the final grade.
  • Cast-in-place concrete and concrete block foundation walls shall have all holes and recesses sealed with mortar. The product must be installed on surfaces that are clean, dry and free of the following: ice, snow, frost, dust, dirt, oil, grease, cracks, projections and depressions, loose particles, and debris.
  • The product must be used in locations where the foundation wall is well drained in accordance with Subsection 9.14.2., Foundation Drainage, of Division B of the NBC 2015.
  • The product is a dimpled membrane system designed to act as a protective layer or a capillary breaking layer against the foundation wall to protect the wall from transient or intermittent water that may come in contact with the surface of the wall. 
  • The product must be protected from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) sunlight within a maximum of six months of its installation.
  • The top of the membrane and all vertical joints and terminations must be mechanically fastened with trims, molding strips, termination bars or other accessories to prevent soil particles from entering behind the membrane. Accessories used to anchor the product are part of the evaluation.
  • The performance of fixtures used to anchor the product in the wall was evaluated for a single anchor. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to define the pattern and spacing of anchors, considering the anchor strength as well as the site-specific issues such as the type of soil, how it will interact with the product, as well as the backfilling method used.
  • The product label and/or packaging must be clearly identified with the manufacturer’s name or logo and “CCMC 13635-R.”

  Technical information

This evaluation is based on demonstrated conformance with the following criteria:

Evaluation requirements
Criteria number Criteria name
CCMC-TG-071119.01-15CCMC Technical Guide for Foundation Wall Dampproofing Systems – Dimpled Membranes

The evaluation holder has submitted technical documentation for the CCMC’s evaluation. Testing was conducted at laboratories recognized by the CCMC. The corresponding technical evidence for this product is summarized below.

Table 1. Results of testing of performance properties of Marflex/Power Drain Isostud/Isostud (Dampproofing)
Property Unit Requirement Result
Compressive strength (initial) kPa ≥ 150 260
Dynamic impact resistance (mean failure energy) J ≥ 2.45 11.6
Creep resistance (residual thickness at 25 years/10°C) % ≥ 40% at 25 years/10°C 80.9
Cold bending at –30°C N/A No visible crack No visible crack
Tensile strength – at yield kN/m ≥ 8 MDTable footnote (1) 9.4,
XDTable footnote (1) 8.5
Tensile strength – elongation at break in cross direction % ≥ 25 XD 55.8
Tensile strength – anisotropy ratio – ≥ 0.5 1.11
Heat aging for 8 weeks – dimensional change % ≤ 1

MD –0.8, XD –0.8
Heat aging for 8 weeks – weight change % ≤ –0.1 –0.4Table footnote (2)
Heat aging for 8 weeks – residual compression strength % ≥ 80% of initial 109.9
Heat aging for 8 weeks – creep resistance after heat aging (residual thickness at 25 years/10°C) % ≥ 40% at 25 years/10°C 77.9
Resistance to alkaline environment – appearance N/A No visible crack No visible crack
Resistance to alkaline environment – residual compression strength % ≥ 80% of initial 105.6
Resistance to alkaline environment – appearance (cold bending at –30°C) N/A No cracks at room temperature No visible crack
UV resistance – residual compression strength % ≥ 80% of initial 105.8
UV resistance – oxidation induction time (OIT) after 500 hours of UV exposure min. 5 4.5Table footnote (3)
Geometrical properties
Orientation of dimples – Report value Diagonal
Number of dimples per unit area Dimples/m2 Report value 1 526
Overall thickness mm Report value 7.49
Sheet thickness mm Report value 0.78
Hollow core thickness mm ≥ 5 6.72
Anchorage performance  kN/anchor Report value 0.726

Administrative information

Use of Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assessments

This assessment must be read in the context of the entire CCMC Registry of Product Assessments, any applicable building code or by-law requirements, and/or any other regulatory requirements (for example, the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, etc.).

It is the responsibility of the user to confirm that the assessment they are using is current and has not been withdrawn or superseded by a later version on the CCMC Registry of Product Assessments.

Disclaimer

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has evaluated only the characteristics of the specific product described herein. The information and opinions in this evaluation are directed to those who have the appropriate degree of experience to use and apply its contents (such as authorities having jurisdiction, design professionals and specifiers). This evaluation is valid when the product is used as part of permitted construction, respecting all conditions and limitations stated in the evaluation, and in accordance with applicable building codes and by-laws.

This evaluation is provided without representation, warranty or guarantee of any kind, expressed or implied, and the NRC provides no endorsement for any evaluated product. The NRC accepts no responsibility whatsoever arising in any way from any and all use of or reliance on the information contained herein or the use of any evaluated product. The NRC is not undertaking to render professional or other services on behalf of any person or entity nor to perform any duty owed by any person or entity to another person or entity.

Language

Une version française de ce document est disponible.
In the case of any discrepancy between the English and French version of this document, the English version shall prevail.

Copyright

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the National Research Council of Canada, 2023

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the CCMC.

CCMC recognition

The Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes. We are the only construction code compliance service supported and operated by the Government of Canada. Trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Most Canadian authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) consider CCMC product assessments acceptable as evidence for product approval.

CCMC assessments are recognized by construction authorities across Canada:

The CCMC provides code compliance assessments to Canadian code requirements, consulting nationwide with construction regulators to elicit regional variations in code requirements as well as provincial and local interpretations. Users are advised to review the technical information presented in CCMC assessments when making approval decisions. Learn more about how the CCMC provides a unique service for Canada.

For more information, contact the CCMC by phone at (613) 993-6189 or by email at ccmc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

NOTICE

The information presented on this webpage (in HTML format) is the most up-to-date information available from the CCMC about this assessment.

By downloading this PDF you acknowledge that:

  • this PDF is intended for record-keeping purposes only,
  • it represents the information as it was available at the time of downloading, and
  • it may not reflect the latest available information at some future date.
References to this CCMC assessment (in product literature, on websites, etc.) must be made by linking to the evaluation webpage. This PDF must not be used as a means of distributing this assessment to an audience.

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Code compliance as an acceptable solution

Code Compliance via Acceptable Solutions

If a building design (e.g. material, component, assembly or system) can be shown to meet all provisions of the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B (e.g. it complies with the applicable provisions of a referenced standard), it is deemed to have satisfied the objectives and functional statements linked to those provisions and thus to have complied with that part of the Code.

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(a)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Acceptable Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

Code compliance as an alternative solution

Code Compliance via Alternative Solutions

Where a design differs from the acceptable solutions in Division B, then it should be treated as an "alternative solution." A proponent of an alternative solution must demonstrate that the alternative solution addresses the same issues as the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B and their attributed objectives and functional statements. However, because the objectives and functional statements are entirely qualitative, demonstrating compliance with them in isolation is not possible. Therefore, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) identifies the principle that Division B establishes the quantitative performance targets that alternative solutions must meet. In many cases, these targets are not defined very precisely by the acceptable solutions [...] Nevertheless, Clause 1.2.1.1.(1)(b) makes it clear that an effort must be made to demonstrate that an alternative solution will perform as well as a design that would satisfy the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B—not “well enough” but “as well as.”

National Building Code of Canada, Sentence A-1.2.1.1.(1)(b)

The CCMC has determined that compliance with this provision of the Code has been demonstrated as an Alternative Solution. The evaluation report provides a summary of the basis of CCMC's compliance opinion.

CCMC's code compliance opinions

All CCMC evaluation reports are opinions of code compliance established in accordance with the National Building Code of Canada, Subsection 1.2.1. "Compliance with this Code," which requires compliance to be achieved by:

  • complying with the applicable acceptable solutions in Division B, or
  • using an alternative solution that will achieve at least the minimum level of performance required by Division B in the areas defined by the objective and functional statements attributed to the applicable acceptable solutions.

The CCMC assesses compliance with Canadian building, energy and safety codes, and is trusted by over 6,000 regulators across Canada.

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