Sheets of bitumen with hessian, fibre or mineral fibre base are spread on the concrete oversite or on a blinding of stiff concrete below the {concrete}, in a single layer with the joints between adjacent sheets lapped 75 mm. The joints are then sealed with a gas torch which melts the bitumen in the overlap of the sheets sufficient to bond them together. Alternatively the lap is made with hot bitumen spread between the overlap of the sheets which are then pressed together to make a damp-proof joint. The bonded sheets may be carried across adjacent walls as a dpc, or up against the walls and then across as dpc where the {membrane} and dpc are at different levels.
The polythene or polyester film and self-adhesive rubber/bitumen compound sheets, described in Volume 4 under ‘Tanking’, can also be used as {damp-proof membranes}, with the purpose cut, shaped cloaks and gussets for upstand edges and angles. This type of membrane is particularly useful where the membrane is below the level of the dpc in walls.
Bitumen sheets, which may be damaged on building sites, should be covered for protection as soon as possible by the screed or site concrete.