Section 07 13 00 in CSI MasterFormat governs self-adhering and loose-laid sheet membranes for below-grade waterproofing, shower pan liners, and pre-applied blindside assemblies, sitting inside Division 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection alongside 07 11 00 dampproofing and 07 14 00 fluid-applied waterproofing [S2].
The section is part of a 50-division MasterFormat indexing system that organises commercial construction specifications by work result, and Division 07 also includes built-up bituminous (07 12 00), cementitious and reactive (07 16 00), bentonite (07 17 00), and traffic coatings (07 18 00) [S2][S6]. A specifier drafting 07 13 00 typically references related sections 03 10 00, 03 15 13, 03 20 00, 03 30 00, 31 20 00, 31 62 00, and 31 64 00 when the membrane forms a mechanical bond to poured concrete [S5]. For a deeper view of code triggers behind these systems, the below-grade wall waterproofing spec pattern walks through the same Division 07 logic from a different angle.
Scope and three sub-applications: shower, plaza, blindside
MasterFormat 07 13 00 includes dampproofing materials that resist moisture through foundation walls and similar surfaces subject to high humidity, dampness, or direct water contact, but explicitly excludes surfaces subject to hydraulic pressure; surfaces under hydraulic head fall into fluid-applied or bentonite sections [S3].
The VA master guide 07 13 00 restricts the section to small staff personnel showers per VA Standard Details 10800-1 and 10800-2, requiring the shower pan waterproofing to extend up walls not less than 100 mm (4 inches) above the shower floor surface and over the top of the curb substrate [S1]. A pre-applied blindside variant under the same six-digit number covers horizontal slabs over prepared subbase, vertical foundation walls against formwork or soil retention, and waterstops for construction joints, pipe penetrations, and knock-outs [S5]. For owners choosing between blindside and post-applied systems, the below-grade vs plaza deck material decision matrix frames the cost-versus-schedule trade-off directly.
Material choices: rubber sheet, asphaltic laminate, FPO/HDPE blindside
Spec writer options for the shower pan variant list two canonical materials: a non-reinforced homogeneous rubber sheeting reduced to a thermoplastic state, fungus/mildew/bacteria resistant, not less than 1.5 mm (60 mils) thick; or an asphaltic laminate of eight plies of Kraft paper bonded and saturated by seven layers of asphalt, reinforced with three layers of glass fibre, faced with polyethylene, at 1.9 kg/m² (0.40 lb/ft²) total weight [S1].
Both rely on a manufacturer-furnished adhesive compatible with adjacent materials, and on a Fed. Spec. UU-B-790, Type I, Grade C waterproofed building paper slip layer, with cold-storage limits of 10 °C (50 °F) minimum and 32 °C (90 °F) maximum prolonged exposure [S1]. Blindside sheet membranes (SikaProof-style FPO/HDPE composite) form a mechanical bond to poured concrete rather than relying on adhesive to cured substrate, which is the structural reason they are specified on zero-access sites [S5]. Where plaza-deck traffic is added, the puncture-resistant pedestrian plaza deck membrane guide shows how the same base spec gets upgraded.
Submittals, mock-ups, and warranty framing
The VA spec lists four submittal blocks: manufacturer's literature and printed installation instructions; the sheet manufacturer's written approval of the adhesive; a watertightness test report for each shower area; and physical samples including 150 mm (6 inch) square sheet, 150 mm square waterproofed building paper, and 0.24 L (½ pint) of adhesive [S1]. Warranty is extended to two years under FAR clause 52.246-21, overriding the standard construction warranty article [S1].
Pre-applied sheet systems demand the same data plus shop drawings of the entire sub-grade waterproofing system, locations and extent of all materials, waterstops, accessories, joint, penetration, corner, tie-in, and air-barrier integration details, plus contractor-built mock-up panels approved by the architect before production work [S5]. Installer qualification under Sika's suggested master is at least three years of documented experience, with manufacturer-approval of the installing contractor and ISO 9001 certification plus 15 years of continuous production experience for the membrane manufacturer [S5].
ASTM test set that drives acceptance
Specifiers writing 07 13 00 typically invoke ASTM C 836 for high-solids cold liquid-applied elastomeric membranes, ASTM D412 for vulcanised rubber and thermoplastic elastomer tension, ASTM D570 for water absorption of plastics, and ASTM D 903 plus ASTM D 1876 for peel and stripping strength of adhesive bonds [S5].
Hydrostatic head resistance is checked per ASTM D5385, water-vapour transmission per ASTM E96, and vapour retarders in contact with earth under concrete slabs per ASTM E154 [S5]. Self-adhering sheet is also benchmarked against ASTM D1970 for steep-roofing ice-dam underlayment, and dimensions are confirmed per ASTM D3767 [S5]. Substrate compatibility and section division logic follow the same pattern used elsewhere in Division 07, which the thermal and moisture protection encyclopedia entry summarises across materials.
Comparison: 07 11 00 vs 07 13 00 vs 07 14 00 vs 07 16 00
Dampproofing 07 11 00 handles surfaces exposed to moisture but not hydraulic head, typically a hot or cold bituminous coating at 0.5–1.0 mm dry film; sheet waterproofing 07 13 00 is a factory-controlled thickness (commonly 1.5 mm / 60 mils for shower pans, 1.2–2.0 mm FPO/HDPE for blindside) suited to positive-side and blindside; fluid-applied 07 14 00 fills irregular geometry with seamless coverage and trowelled/rolled millimetres dependent on substrate profile; cementitious and reactive 07 16 00 bonds crystallographically to concrete and tolerates negative-side application but cannot bridge active cracks alone [S2][S3][S5].
Decision rule: specify 07 11 00 for damp soil with no head, 07 13 00 when factory sheet thickness, warranty documentation, and pre-applied blindside sequencing are priorities, 07 14 00 for complex geometry around many penetrations, and 07 16 00 for negative-side interior tanks and wastewater structures [S2][S3]. The matrix of system options is further detailed in the below-grade wall code-trigger reference.
Storage, sequencing, and on-site failure modes
Sheet rolls must be delivered in original unopened manufacturer containers with brand marking, unloaded to prevent injury, and stored outside the 10 °C to 32 °C window, since cold makes peel-and-stick backing brittle and heat softens asphaltic laminates [S1]. Sequencing is critical on blindside work: the membrane is laid on prepared subbase or against formwork before concrete placement, so any puncture during rebar tie or pour becomes a leak path that cannot be accessed for repair without excavation [S5].
Common failure modes on shower pan installations are curb upturn below the 100 mm (4 inch) minimum, adhesive substitution that voids the membrane manufacturer's approval, and omission of the watertightness flood test required as a submittal [S1]. For pre-applied sheet, manufacturer-approved waterstops at construction joints, pipe penetrations, and knock-outs are mandatory, and the mock-up panel must replicate field conditions before any production pour [S5].
Standards sourcing and cross-references
Beyond the ASTM family, specifiers writing 07 13 00 should verify applicable Federal Specification UU-B-790A INT AMD 1 for building paper, Fed. Spec. UU-B-790 Type I Grade C for the waterproofed building paper slip layer, and FAR clause 52.246-21 for the two-year warranty extension [S1]. MasterFormat itself is the indexing standard, searchable by six-digit code, keyword, or trade name across all 50 divisions [S6].
Manufacturer suggested masters (SikaProof 08/2014, VA CFM 01-01-21, BuildSpec 07 13 00) are the most accessible public drafts; final project text usually adds project-specific structural, fire, and air-barrier cross-references to 03 30 00, 07 27 00, and 07 90 00 [S1][S5]. Track for 2026: updates to ASTM D5385 hydrostatic pressure thresholds and any revisions to the Division 07 section numbering as MasterFormat expansion proposals move through CSI review, alongside the publication cadence of new manufacturer master specs on the thermal and waterproofing category page.
For the relevant spec sheets and selection criteria, see steel section, and pressure transmitter.