ᐅ Cavity wall insulation with outer brick cladding and drainage gap

Hello,

Our masons have now finished their work, so the jointing contractor has started right away.

We have the following wall construction:

17.5cm (7 inches) aerated concrete
14cm (5.5 inches) cavity insulation
1cm (0.4 inches) air gap
Facing brick

I have noticed that in the areas where the Z-membrane protrudes at the bottom of the masonry, there are no drainage gaps installed above it.

Our site manager says that recent studies have shown these are no longer necessary, and they have stopped installing them for the past 1–2 years. However, I can’t find any information online, which always emphasizes their importance.

I would appreciate your opinions...

He should provide you with proof that this is state of the art. What does your building savings contract say about that?

Good evening,

hetjam9 schrieb:

Our site manager says there are recent studies and that they have not been installing these for 1-2 years. However, I can't find anything about this online; it is always emphasized as necessary!

According to DIN EN 1996-2/NA, drainage openings are no longer explicitly required. So your site manager is correct.

Trust is indeed a fine thing

Best regards, Bauexperte

Thank you, I'm glad to hear that... that's also why I chose to go through this forum rather than, as is sometimes suggested, directly via the building savings contract or a written statement from my site manager.

I've heard a similar recommendation as well, but unfortunately, the DIN standards are not available online.

Thank you very much!

Hello,

hetjam9 schrieb:

Thanks, I’m glad to hear that... that’s also why I chose to use this forum instead of going directly through the building savings contract or a written statement from my site manager, as has often been suggested.

It would have been enough to trust your site manager; after all, you are not an expert, and there was surely a reason you chose that particular contractor to build your single-family house. Otherwise, for your peace of mind, you could have hired external construction supervision, which would have been a good contact for the question above.

hetjam9 schrieb:

I’ve heard a similar remark, but unfortunately, the DIN standards are not available online.

This standard is actually hard to miss; it even appears when you simply search for clinker brick + drainage opening.

Best regards, Bauexperte

That's exactly what we are doing!

Maybe I didn’t express myself clearly—I would like to read the standard myself at least once... I have also found the official versions. Especially since our new development is being built with drainage openings, I’m interested in what exactly is stated... after all, you want to learn something while building.