EN 13967:2012+A1:2017 defines flexible plastic and rubber sheets used as damp-proof courses and basement tanking membranes, superseding the 2004 edition and aligned with the EU Construction Products Regulation [S3][S4]. The standard applies to factory-made single- or multi-layer sheets installed beneath floors, behind basement walls, and against foundations to resist soil moisture and percolating water [S1][S3].
Two product designations sit at the centre of the standard: Type A damp-proof sheets for capillary moisture and Type T basement tanking sheets for water under hydrostatic pressure, with both categories tested for watertightness, mechanical strength, and durability under conditions defined in EN 13967 Annexes A through E [S3][S9].
Scope and product classification under EN 13967
EN 13967 covers homogeneous, reinforced, and factory-laminated flexible sheets made from plastics, elastomers, or composites, intended for use on floors, walls, and roofs in contact with soil where moisture or pressurised water must be controlled [S1][S3]. Type A addresses rising damp and soil moisture without standing water, while Type T addresses basement tanking against lateral water pressure up to the limits declared by the manufacturer and verified by the Annex B load-deformation test [S3][S9].
Product data sheets must declare thickness, roll dimensions, tensile strength, elongation at break, resistance to static and dynamic loading, water-vapour permeability, watertightness, and reaction to fire, with an example layout provided in Annex C of the standard [S3]. Where chemical resistance is claimed, EN 1847:2009 from CEN/TC 254 replaces the historical Annex C, allowing manufacturers to test against specific media rather than the standard chemical list [S3].
Mandatory performance tests and typical declared values
Watertightness is verified at 2 kPa for 24 hours as a baseline, with higher-pressure tests up to 60 kPa applied to Type T tanking membranes intended for use below the groundwater table [S3]. Water-vapour permeability, expressed as the µ-value, must be declared for every product, with high-performance HDPE and butyl sheets commonly achieving µ values in the 17,000 to 19,000 range and bitumen-EPDM composites typically 20,000 to 30,000, though the standard itself only requires declaration, not a fixed threshold [S3].
Tensile strength is measured in both machine and cross directions on 50 mm-wide strips, with typical declared values of 12–25 N/mm² along the machine direction for reinforced PE sheets and 8–15 N/mm² for PVC variants [S3]. Resistance to static loading uses a 5 kg punch under defined support conditions, while dynamic indentation follows the EN 12691 impact test with a 10 mm striker at drop heights of 100–500 mm depending on the declared class [S3]. Reaction-to-fire is classified per EN 13501-1, with most Type A sheets declared as Euroclass E and reinforced or laminated grades achieving D-s2,d0 where the substrate allows [S3].
Selection criteria for damp-proofing versus tanking
For specifiers, the first decision is whether the application requires only a damp-proof membrane (Type A) resisting capillary moisture, or a tanking membrane (Type T) resisting hydrostatic pressure from groundwater or perched water tables [S3][S9]. Below-grade walls in well-drained granular soils typically accept Type A at 0.4–0.8 mm thickness, while basements below the water table or in cohesive soils require Type T at 1.0–2.0 mm with welded or taped laps capable of holding declared water pressure [S3].
Three material families dominate the market. PE/HDPE sheets, including those used in pre-applied fully-bonded systems, offer chemical resistance and low water-vapour transmission, and are widely used in conjunction with EAD 030378-00-0605 for bonded applications [S9]. PVC sheets provide flexibility and easy heat-welding but require plasticiser-stability testing under EN 1847. Bitumen and EPDM composites deliver high µ values and proven durability on concrete but add weight and require careful detailing at penetrations [S3]. Compared against four decision criteria, HDPE scores high on chemical resistance and water-vapour barrier, medium on flexibility, low on cost per square metre, and high on pre-applied bonding compatibility [S3][S9].
Installation context, compatibility, and links to adjacent standards
EN 13967 does not stand alone. It is read alongside EN 13969 for bitumen damp-proof sheets, EN 14909 for bitumen basement tanking, and EN 13984 for plastic and rubber vapour control layers, and the choice of damp-proof versus vapour-control depends on the position of the sheet within the building envelope and the required µ value for the construction [S1][S2]. For pre-applied membranes bonded to fresh concrete, EAD 030378-00-0605 references EN 13967:2012 as the underlying product standard, combining its material requirements with additional bond-strength testing not present in the harmonised standard [S9].
Basement construction context matters: a related article on EN 1538 execution rules for diaphragm walls explains how the structural wall interface is prepared before a tanking sheet is applied, and selection of bitumen or polymer sheets in that context should follow the same watertightness and µ-value logic defined here. Specifiers working on below-grade industrial enclosures should also treat these sheets as one layer in a system that includes drainage, structural concrete, and in some cases industrial valve penetrations for process service entry, where the membrane detail at the penetration must follow the lap and sealing rules in the standard [S3].
Limitations, failure modes, and declared-value pitfalls
EN 13967 sets test methods and required declarations but does not prescribe minimum in-service performance, so a low-cost 0.3 mm PE sheet can carry a CE mark while offering limited puncture resistance and short warranty periods [S3]. Common failure modes include slip at vertical laps when Type A is misapplied in tanking conditions, weld failure on PVC when ambient temperature during installation is below +5 °C, and bitumen softening when Type T is exposed to hydrocarbons or hot-point loads above the declared temperature range [S3].
Specifiers should request the full Declaration of Performance (DoP) under CPR and verify that the declared watertightness pressure, µ value, tensile strength, and reaction-to-fire class match the project specification, rather than relying on brochure data. For industrial sites with chemical exposure, EN 1847:2009 chemical-resistance testing must be requested against the specific media expected, as the standard no longer bundles a generic chemical list into Annex C [S3].
Watch the revision track and test the lap, not the roll
The A1:2017 amendment remains the current consolidated text in 2026, with national bodies in Estonia, Bulgaria, and the UK publishing the +A1:2017 version between 2017 and 2018 [S4][S6][S7]. EAD 030378-00-0605, still referenced for pre-applied bonded membranes, was published in the OJEU in 2020 and continues to be the assessment route for fully-bonded systems beyond the harmonised standard [S9].
Two signals to track over the next reporting cycle: any CEN/TC 254 work item that updates the µ-value test method or revises the watertightness pressure ladder, and any EOTA activity on EAD 030378-00-0605 that tightens bond-strength requirements for pre-applied systems, both of which would directly affect declared values on Type T tanking sheets used in European basement construction. For adjacent waterproofing decisions, the article on EVA vs Metallocene vs PUR hot melt selection covers lap-sealant chemistry that pairs with these sheets at detail conditions.
Spec-level background on the components involved: pressure transmitter, and flow meter.