The continued growth in development has seen increased incorporation of basements beneath buildings in urban, suburban and even rural locations. Basements, particularly in cities, are expanding in depth and size with the space progressively being used for activities that are much more sensitive and susceptible to damp and water ingress.

Basements and other substructures can leak both during and after construction and the consequences of leaking substructures are numerous and invariably result in costs associated with remedial works, delays to programme in construction and expenditure and disruption to the building operation after construction.