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POSITIONING AND METHODS OF LAYING DPCs

Location and Positioning DPCs

The Building Regulations require that no wall or pier shall permit the passage of moisture
from the ground to the inner surface or to any part of the building that would be harmfully
affected by such moisture.
The regulations also give specic guidelines as to where and how DPCs should be
positioned, such as:
At the base of external walls, not less than 150mm above ground level.
Similarly at the base of internal walls that are built off foundations rather than a ground
oor slab.
Vertically at jambs to openings in external cavity walls.
Horizontally over openings in external cavity walls (in this position they are usually
referred to as cavity trays).
Horizontally at window cills and door thresholds.
Below copings and cappings to free-standing, retaining and parapet walls and
chimney stacks.
Positioning at the base of an external wall

At the base of external walls, not less than 150mm above ground level

Stepped DPC used on a sloping site

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POSITIONING AND METHODS OF LAYING DPCs

At the base of internal walls

Wall tie
Outer leaf
brickwork

Inner leaf
blockwork
DPC membrane under
solid oor joined to DPC

Minimum height
above ground
level 150mm

Cavity ll

At the base of a hollow brick wall

Wall tie
Outer leaf
brickwork

Inner leaf
blockwork
Cavity obstruction formed
on inside by mortar droppings

Minimum height
above ground
level 150mm

Concrete suboor

Ground level

Cavity ll

DPCs should not project into cavity because mortar droppings may build up and lead to
moisture penetration.

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POSITIONING AND METHODS OF LAYING DPCs

At the base of internal sleeper walls

DPC is positioned on top of the sleeper wall and below the lowest timber, which will
be the wallplate.
Wallplate

Joist
Horizontal DPC

Sleeper wall on
oversite concrete

Vertical DPC in external cavity walls

When constructing windows and door jambs in a cavity wall, the bats that abut the window
or door frames should be placed so that the smooth uncut side is towards the DPC. This
will reduce the risk of the cut edge of the brick or block damaging the DPC.
Vertical DPC placed
against outer leaf

When closing cavity at jambs, a mortar

joint is formed between the inner leaf
and the DPC. The cavity closer can be
brick or block and must be buttered on
both sides before being placed in
position, making sure all the joint is full

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POSITIONING AND METHODS OF LAYING DPCs

If a window or door frame is to be xed after the opening is formed, the vertical DPC should
project beyond the edge of the brickwork by about 10mm so as to make contact with the
frame, and the DPC should project a minimum of 25mm into the cavity beyond the closer.

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POSITIONING AND METHODS OF LAYING DPCs

Cavity Trays
A horizontal DPC bridging over an opening in an external cavity wall is usually called
a cavity tray. Any water penetrating the outer leaf of the brickwork above the DPC will
drain down the inside face of the wall and be shed via weep holes usually in the form of
open vertical joints in the outer leaf. These may be tted with a proprietary lter to reduce
cementitious staining.

Minimum 150mm

Sloping cavity tray

Typical cavity tray arrangement

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POSITIONING AND METHODS OF LAYING DPCs

A typical cavity tray arrangement around an opening in a cavity wall is made up of different
components to form a watertight system.

Typical cavity tray arrangement