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Aim:
To examine the effect of DPC in halting the capillary action in the brick/block work.
Equipment: basin, four dry bricks, water, strips of DPC sufficiently large to cover a brick.
Method:
- Place two bricks in the basin and add water until the bricks are half submerged.
- Cover one of the bricks with a strip of DPC, leave the other bricks uncovered.
- Place the remaining bricks directly on top of the bricks in the water.
- Leave the bricks in the water for one week and observe the results.
Results
After the bricks had been left in the water for one week the water had soaked up to the top of the bricks which were partially submerged. Furthermore, the top brick (A) of the pair without a strip of DPC had become wet at its base while the brick (B) which was placed over the strip of DPC was still dry.
Conclusion
This test demonstrates that the water will travel upwards through block/brickwork by means of the capillary action provided there is sufficient moisture. The results also show that a strip of DPC completely halts the spread of moisture through brick/blockwork, thus highlighting the importance of including a suitable DPC, in walls, floors, etc., to avoid all possible problems relating to damp penetration into a building.
