The artificial environment of buildings requires well-chosen seals. Choosing specific solutions is not the easiest thing. In case of problems, it is worth taking a look at our guide.
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The Deutsches Institut für Normung is a German association of institutions responsible for developing standardization acts. The standards resulting from its work are valid not only in the country of our western neighbors, but also throughout the European Union. An excellent example here is the DIN 18534 standard and other acts from the DIN 18195 series. What should installers and designers know about it?
What is the DIN 18534 sealing standard?
The DIN 18534 standard has been in force since July 2017 and specifies requirements for sealing internal rooms in buildings. It covers all products intended for sealing – both those for application and plastic seals or rubber products. It is part of the DIN 18195 series of standards, together with other standards for sealing buildings. Other standards in this series are:
- DIN 18532 standard : applies to seals for traffic routes and those exposed to the resulting loads;
- DIN 18533 standard : covers issues such as waterproofing of building elements in contact with the ground;
- DIN 18534 standard : specifies the requirements that must be met by materials and seals used in interior spaces
- DIN 18535 standard : its provisions apply to rubber products and other products operating under the static load of water pressing from the inside (water tanks).
The authors of the DIN 18534 standard focused on providing consistent, up-to-date guidelines for designers and contractors. Their goal was to ensure the safety and durability of elements while taking into account the latest technical solutions and special requirements for sealing for zones exposed to moisture, water and other factors such as ozone ageing. This standard takes into account different classes of exposure to water and joining techniques, properties and dimensions of individual elements.
DIN shower seals
The DIN 18534 standard covers, among other things, shower elements. It specifies the requirements they must meet and lists the classes of exposure to water. According to its provisions, sealing elements must be made of materials that are resistant to cracking in contact with water.
In the case of elements used for this type of application, however, it is not only the material itself that is important, but also their dimensions. The width of the collar must be at least 50 millimetres. This will ensure adequate tightness. This is especially important in heavily used areas. Thanks to this shower sealing standard, installers and designers have a set of specific requirements at their disposal.
What are the water exposure classes?
Water exposure classes are an important part of the DIN 18195 series of standards. They are used where it is necessary to determine the permissible intensity of water load that a rubber seal can withstand. To assign a product a given class, tests are carried out. In this case, a rubber sample is tested for how it withstands the effects of moisture, load and high ozone levels. Based on the test results, the product can be assigned to one of four classes:
- W0-I (low exposure): seals of this class can be used if the surface is rarely exposed to splashing water. If it shows adequate water resistance, additional sealing is not necessary;
- W1-I (moderate exposure): assigned to seals used in places with high exposure to splashing water or rare exposure to utility water - e.g. on walls above a bathtub or in a shower cubicle. A seal of this class is not resistant to the pressure of standing water;
- W2-I (high exposure): for sealing surfaces with high exposure to splash water and service water – e.g. on floors of showers without a shower tray. Seals complying with this class are primarily used on the floor and are resistant to standing water;
- W3-I (very high exposure): Compliance with this class indicates the possibility of use on surfaces with very frequent or long-term exposure to splash water and/or utility water and/or water from intensive cleaning procedures, intensified by standing water. Examples of applications include commercial kitchens, showers, swimming pool surrounds and industrial installations.
In private bathrooms – especially in tiled showers without a shower tray – seals of exposure class W2-I are most often used. Depending on the specifics of a given room and the intensity of its use, it may be possible to use W1-I seals. Sometimes it may also be necessary to use W3-I seals.
Dimensions of standard flange, flat and inch gaskets
For the quality of the seal, it is also important to select the right size of gaskets. These are regulated by the EN 1514-1/1997 standard, the DIN 2690 standard and the ASME/ANSI B16.5-1998 standard. The first three acts provide dimensions in millimeters, and the last one - in inches. If there is a need to convert between sizes given in different standards, it is worth using tables available, among others, on the websites of companies specializing in the production of gaskets.
In our offer you will find a wide selection of seals. One of them is the in situ seal Kaczmarek Diamir DN160x177mm . Its purpose is to seal corrugated pipes in gravity networks. The Onnline C-695055 rubber seal provides not only high resistance to water, but also electrical and thermal insulation. In our shop you can also find the Blucher DRAIN ROOF_AISI-304 silicone seal designed for sealing large-surface roofs (e.g. in office buildings).
If you have any doubts as to which products will work best in a given case or which will maintain their properties under the influence of ozone, contact our specialists. Many years of experience allow us to solve many problems potentially related to the implementation of water installations.