The objective of this Standard is to classify membranes based on elastic properties which
can then be used to give guidance on the type of detailing for a specific membrane referred
to in AS 3740, Waterproofing of wet areas within residential buildings. This detailing, in
relating to the elastic properties of the membrane being used, will assist an installation in
meeting the performance requirements of AS 3740.

The  test  methods  referenced  herein  are  derived  from  documents  published  from  either  
Standards Australia or ASTM, with the acceptance criteria being listed in this publication.
These criteria were not previously given in an Australian Standard.

Bond failures can occur through the full tiling system to the substrate, which includes the
waterproofing membrane where it forms part of the system. This failure can be a result of
bond and/or shear failure between components or within a single component of the overall
tiling system. The BD-038 committee considered the best way to address a comprehensive
test to determine satisfactory  performance against  this type  of failure was  to propose the
formation of  a  joint  working  party  between  BD-038  and BD-044 committees  as  both  the  
properties of membranes and the tiling adhesives contribute to the overall performance of
the whole tiling system against this type of failure. As the development of such a test will
take  some  time,  BD-038  considered  that  this  Standard  should  be  published  in  its  current  
state rather than wait for the development of test methods by the working party. The BD-
038  committee  will  consider  the  findings  of  the  proposed  working  party  in  the  ongoing  
review of the standard.

The  terms  ‘normative’  and  ‘informative’  have  been  used  in  this  Standard  to  define  the  
application of the appendix to which they apply. A ‘normative’ appendix is an integral part
of a Standard, whereas an ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and guidance.

First published as AS/NZS 4858:2004.