Lunchtime Learning with Wykamol

At PARKdesigned, we're always keen to stay ahead of the curve with the latest industry knowledge. Recently, we enjoyed an informative and entertaining lunchtime CPD session with Chris Ingham, Technical Specification Manager at Wykamol. Chris brought to life the world of gas and waterproofing solutions for below-ground structures, making what could have been a dry subject both engaging and insightful.

Who is Wykamol?

Wykamol is one of the UK’s leading experts in waterproofing and gas-proofing solutions for construction. They offer a wide range of products and systems designed to keep buildings safe from water ingress and harmful gases, ensuring that projects are both future-proofed and compliant with today’s building standards.

A Deep Dive into Waterproofing – With a Twist!

Chris introduced us to some of the latest changes to BS8102:2022, which provides guidance on how to prevent water from seeping into below-ground structures. Although this might sound a bit technical, Chris made it simple, explaining that there are different types of waterproofing methods we can use depending on the project. For example:

  • Type A systems create a barrier to stop water from getting through, like a protective coat around the building.

  • Type B systems involve designing the structure itself to be watertight, such as using waterproof concrete.

  • Type C systems manage any water that does get in by directing it safely away from the building.

Chris kept things light by sharing stories from real-life projects, showing how these systems work in practice, and even pointing out a few common pitfalls (and how to avoid them!).

Why Gas-proofing Matters

Another key point in the session was gas-proofing. Chris explained that in many areas, protecting buildings from harmful ground gases like radon or methane is just as important as waterproofing. Wykamol’s products are designed to address both, ensuring that buildings stay safe and future-proofed for years to come.

Making Complex Projects Easy

Chris also walked us through some impressive projects Wykamol has been part of, such as the Newcastle Co-Operative Building and Leicester Square’s massive basement project. These projects used a combination of waterproofing and gas-proofing systems to handle the challenges of deep construction. Hearing about these real-world applications made it clear that Wykamol knows how to tackle complex builds, and Chris's lively approach kept us all hooked!

Final Thoughts

The CPD session was not just informative but also enjoyable, thanks to Chris’s engaging delivery. Our team left with a clearer understanding of how to apply these solutions in our own projects, ensuring that we’re always offering the best to our clients.

We’re looking forward to putting these insights into practice and continuing to work with Wykamol to deliver high-quality, resilient designs.

If you want to learn more about how we can protect your building from water or gas issues, or if you’re just curious about what we do, get in touch with us at PARKdesigned!

James Park