Ensuring compliance with current and upcoming legislation is a critical focus for architects and specifiers aiming to create sustainable, future-proofed buildings. One such area of increasing importance is waterproofing in wet rooms and bathrooms, with the NHBC Technical Guidance 9.2/06 now setting stricter requirements. From 1st January 2025, any new-build project requiring an NHBC warranty must comply with these updated guidelines, ensuring the longevity and integrity of the building’s structure. Under the new guidance:
- Magnesium oxide boards must not be used as a tiling substrate.
- In wet rooms or bathrooms with power showers, only tile backer boards with acceptable technical approvals are permitted.
- All waterproofing systems must be backed by appropriate third-party certifications acceptable by NHBC and must also be fully compatible with the tile, adhesive, and grout selected for the project.
A Proven Solution for NHBC Compliance
For specifiers seeking a fully certified, systemised waterproofing solution, wedi’s XPS boards and shower formers provide a reliable answer; they not only enhance both performance and efficiency, but are also fully compliant with NHBC’s updated technical guidance. The key certifications these tried-and-tested materials carry include:
- European Technical Approval (ETA)
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
- A+ VOC label for indoor air quality
- CE, UKCA, and UKNI markings
- BBA certifications
Simplifying Specification with a Complete Waterproofing System
wedi building boards offer 100% waterproof performance, creating a seamless, modular system that reduces installation steps while minimising the risk of failure. Supporting up to 133kg/m², they are suitable for all tile formats including natural stone, and with a U-value of 0.036 W/mK, they also contribute to energy efficiency by preventing heat loss, making them an ideal substrate for under-tile heating (UTH) systems. The range includes interlocking XPS components such as floor-level shower elements, benches, niches and partition walls.
Since joining the Ardex Group in 2021, wedi can also offer compatible adhesives and grouts with a comprehensive 10-year product warranty covering everything beneath the tiles – ensuring a single-source solution with complete manufacturer accountability.
Supporting Future Homes Standards
With the Future Homes Standard coming into effect in 2025, all new homes must be designed with improved energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions by 75–80%. While waterproofing itself does not directly reduce carbon emissions, wedi’s solutions create the optimal conditions for integrating energy-saving technologies.
For example, wedi PreLine building boards with factory-cut grooves for precise pipe installation, improve heating system response times by up to 70% – ideal for supporting heat pump-operated water heating systems.
Flexible, Future-Proofed Design with Fundo Solutions
wedi’s Fundo range offers floor-level shower elements that provide flexibility in design and ease of installation while maintaining full NHBC compliance. The latest Fundo Flex system however, introduces an entirely new level of adaptability:
- A fully adjustable channel element that can be positioned along the long or short side, close to the wall, centrally, or anywhere in between.
- Stepped rebates for precise integration of the complementary sloping boards ensuring a fully sealed, level shower floor.
- Flexibly customisable components – the channel element, the slim channel profile as well as the sloping boards can be cut, and arranged to form a tailored solution.
Trusted Compliance, Streamlined Specification
With over 40 years of industry expertise, wedi continues to set the standard for waterproofing, insulation, and energy-efficient solutions in wet rooms and bathrooms. By simplifying specification and ensuring full NHBC compliance, wedi products allow architects and specifiers to focus on design, confident in the long-term performance and sustainability of their projects.