Avoid expensive water damage: FireShield seals riser shafts
- Joel Woyach
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Water damage is among the most common problems in construction. According to the VHV Construction Damage Report by VHV Insurance, water and moisture damage account for almost one-third of all reported construction defects. The 2nd Austrian Construction Damage Report further shows that about a quarter of all earth-contacting components are affected by water, with shafts being particularly vulnerable. Insurance companies such as Zurich and Allianz also confirm that moisture damage is the most frequently reported type of building damage. In Germany, the VHV Construction Damage Report likewise shows that water and moisture damage make up almost one-third of all construction defects in building projects.
The construction phase of new buildings is particularly critical. Service shafts are often built early but remain unprotected for weeks or even months. Rainwater can penetrate freely and accumulate in lower levels. The result is soaked structural components, damaged insulation, and in the worst case mold growth, even before interior work has started. Such damage leads not only to high additional costs for drying, demolition, and restoration, but also to significant construction delays. In practice, even a single incident can quickly cause additional costs of over CHF 50,000.
Even more severe are moisture damages when shafts are already equipped with electrical or IT installations. Water ingress can cause short circuits or corrosion, resulting in entire lines having to be replaced. The remediation of such cases often runs into six figures and blocks construction progress for weeks. In multi-family housing, moisture and mold in shafts can lead to the complete renovation of these areas, combined with considerable rental losses. If mold remains undetected or is not professionally removed, long-term health problems such as respiratory issues, asthma, or allergies may also occur due to poor indoor air quality.
Building standards such as SIA 272 in Switzerland, DIN 18533 in Germany, and ÖNORM B 3355-2 in Austria clearly demonstrate the importance of properly sealing earth-contacting components and penetrations. Nevertheless, gaps frequently occur during construction: different trades work in succession, temporary solutions are applied, and precisely these weak points become the breeding ground for damage.
This is where FireShield comes in. The system is already waterproof in the shell construction phase and permanently seals penetrations before moisture can enter. This eliminates one of the biggest weak points in the building process. With FireShield, not only is construction quality improved, but in the event of damage, significant remediation costs—ranging from CHF 50,000 to well over CHF 100,000—can be avoided. In addition, construction delays are prevented, consequential damages from mold or corrosion are excluded, and the trust of clients, planners, and insurers is strengthened. For general contractors, planners, and architects, FireShield means significantly higher building quality, reduced risk, and full security in terms of schedule and costs.
