Singapore is situated in a tropical climate area and the country experiences very high levels of humidity and rainfall throughout the year. This make waterproofing one of the basic necessities for the building structures and any other infrastructural development in the country. There are several reasons why effective waterproofing is crucial to withstand Singapore’s wet climate:There are several reasons why effective waterproofing is crucial to withstand Singapore’s wet climate:
Frequent Rainfall
Singapore receives rainfall almost throughout the year and the average annual rainfall in the country is more than 2300mm The rainfall in the country is almost equally distributed all the year round because of its geographical position in the equatorial region. The Northeast Monsoon season occurs from December to early March, and this is also when heavy rainfall is observed. In the absence of proper waterproofing, this great amount of rainfall could easily penetrate building structures and compounds and cause water buildup, leakage and flooding.
Humidity
Singapore also records high precipitation level throughout the year, and the humidity level is constant starting from 70% to 90+%. Air born moisture if present can easily condense on the surfaces of most buildings. When this moisture seeps into structural areas or areas of porous surface like cement or brick, then this causes growth of mold, leakage, cracking and long-term structural compromise. Effective moisture barriers ensure that no water is absorbed into the structural elements of a building.
Coastal Location
Singapore is an island country which is located in the southern part of the South East Asia mainland and fully surrounded by sea. It is also supported by the fact that the country is located along the coastal region hence the high humidity and wet climate being experienced in many parts of the country. Onshore winds bring in moisture and fluctuating tidal forces promote the occurrence of rising damp especially adjacent to water sources. The chances of moisture penetration, corrosion and weathering of coastal buildings are even higher where proper waterproofing has not been done on the building structures.
Modern Construction Practices
Today, Singaporean structures entail concrete, glass, and steel as the primary building materials. At first glance, they look like any other normal material, but given Singapore’s tropical weather conditions, these are prone to seepage of water over a period of time. For instance, opening in concrete such as crack in floor and walls allow moisture to permeate through the surfaces. Similarly, the gaskets on the glass doors and windows and steel connections have to be sound in order not to drip or rust out.
Preventing Structural Damage
It is realized that when moisture infiltrates buildings and structures and is allowed to remain for several years, it will cause corrosion of the construction materials and weaken structural components. For instance, in concrete structures such as in buildings, the reinforcement bars can rust which leads to expansion and cracking of concrete. It also affects metallic building emphasis and can even make walls or foundations completely dangerous over a certain period of time.
Protecting Interiors
This also brings the misfortune of moisture for the interiors of any built structure and this starts from the walls which may produce molds to the decaying paint on the walls to the appliances which may have short circuiting, the furniture which may have fungus on them and the carpets which may have been waterlogged. Proper waterproof coatings also prevent such expensive interior repairs in the future, arising from the inability of liquid water to penetrate through various barriers.
Preventing Health Hazards
When a building is not properly waterproofed, it becomes a conducive environment for the growth of molds, mildews and other fungi which could cause various diseases which range from respiratory complications, asthmatic attacks among the users of the building, to severe infections which affect the immunocompromised persons. Waterproofing plays a major role in developing livable indoor environments with minimized water infiltration.
Lowering Energy Costs
Porous materials when wet allow a higher rate of heat transfer between the indoor and the outdoor environment when compared to the dry state of the said materials. This implies that the outer walls of the building remains wet and dissipates the cooling from the indoor conditioning. Singapore has high energy cost, and as a result, it means that much more is spent on electricity bills to achieve the preferred temperatures.
Conclusion
The area is climatically vulnerable, and as such, requires waterproofing during construction and at some point in time in the life cycle of a building. From the use of liquid-applied membranes to repellent coatings and special treatments such as tanking, proper waterproofing works to address common challenges like humidity, condensation, and heavy rain. It helps maintain the structural soundness, prevent moisture penetration and mould formation, and lower utility costs while providing a suitable environment for the users. In effect, quality waterproofing solutions mean that the interior of buildings is protected from moisture and humidity, which are abundant in Singapore’s environment as the first line of protection.
