WO2014148921A2

WO2014148921A2 - Improvements in control joints

Info

Publication number: WO2014148921A2
Application number: PCT/NZ2014/000043
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Grant Brown
Original assignee: William Grant Brown
Priority date: 2013-03-19
Filing date: 2014-03-18
Publication date: 2014-09-25
Also published as: AU2014201634A1

Abstract

A control joint sealing against gas or water around conduits passing through concrete slab floors may also mechanically isolate the conduit from the slab in relation to radial and axial motion. The joint comprises an impermeable flexible sheet having a central hole, welded around the edge of the hole to one end of a sleeve of the same material. In use, the sleeve surrounds the conduit, and the sheet is sealed on to a damp course membrane underlying the slab. A resilient surround is optionally placed between the conduit and the slab.

Description

TITLE: Improvements in control joints

FIELD:

The invention relates to water barriers in sheet or membrane form for use in construction; more particularly to barriers serving as control joints that surround pipes and other conduits through surfaces.

DEFINITIONS:

"Control joint" is defined as "An expansion joint in masonry to allow movement due to expansion and contraction". In this specification the term is used in relation to joints formed around structures inserted through concrete masses.

"Concrete slab floor": For the purpose of this invention, a concrete slab floor has a bottom surface and sides, made in situ by pouring mixed wet concrete into and around forms over a flat water barrier; the sides of the slab floor being defined by the forms, and the bottom surface by the water barrier.

"Conduit": An object or space which passes through or partly through a construction surface such as a ceiling, floor or wall, including without limitation: a) a pipe to supply or to remove water, wastewater or natural gas; b) pipes, ducting or other means for heating, ventilation or air conditioning; c) a cable including a cable for electrical power supply, computer networking, telephone services or internet services; d) pipes or other means passing through surfaces to enable the rearrangement, addition, removal or maintenance of any of the above; e) a pile driven into the ground as a support for building construction; f) any similar item.

BACKGROUND

In building construction, including where a concrete slab floor is poured, a Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) is laid over tamped gravel (in most cases) to prevent groundwater rising through gaps and entering the building site. However, many structures may be required to penetrate through the concrete slab floor. Such structures are for example conduits including pipes, cables, and other elongated service carriers that are laid out beneath or within the tamped gravel and rise through the gravel layer and then must pass through the DPM. Each such penetration requires a hole in the DPM which must be effectively sealed, to prevent

groundwater entering the structure from the gravel or the like, from beneath. Objectionable vapours could include, for example, bad smells arising from the soil, which might otherwise permeate a dwelling above.

Current practice is to cut through the DPM as required where and when it is laid, creating holes which allow pipes, cables and other penetrations in construction surfaces to pass through. These penetration sites are difficult to seal effectively. An example of current practice for sealing these holes is to take plastic tubing such as a temporary downpipe that is cut to length and fitted over the pipe or other penetration. The tubing is then taped with adhesive tape to the cut edges of the DPM to provide a water seal at ground level.

When done under building site conditions, the taping process is time consuming and may not produce a reliable water seal. Regulatory requirements and good construction practice may require each attempted water seal to be made by a qualified plumber, or at least to be assessed by a qualified plumber. The assessment of seals, with repairs where necessary, extends the duration and expense of site visits by plumbers. Plumbers may need to visit sites several times rather than only once. Apart from water and vapour sealing, there is also a need to mechanically isolate each conduit from relative motion of the concrete slab. Motion occurs (a) as a response to temperature, (b) as part of the curing process in which significant shrinkage of concrete is to be expected, and (c) as a result of seismic activity. In addition, pipes will exhibit thermal expansion and contraction; for instance a wastewater pipe may at times carry hot water, then cold water, and will expand or contract accordingly. If relative motion is not allowed, fracture of water and sewage pipes is almost certain to follow. It is known to include an intermediate layer is formed in between the pipe and the concrete. This layer allows for relative movement of the concrete in relation to each conduit, as in contraction of the concrete as it cures. Current practice is to use a collar made from polystyrene foam around each conduit; separating the conduit from the concrete that is poured around the combination. Being made from polystyrene, the collar has a relatively fixed size and shape, conforming only to a limited extent with the shape of the conduit it surrounds. There may be an air gap between the collar and the conduit, unless the collar is a close fitting one. Two problems arise. One is that even polystyrene foam is relatively incompressible and therefore the strains are transmitted across the gap. Another is that during construction, when the collar is cut back down to terminate flush with the surface of the slab, pieces of the foam break off and may be blown away. Building practices increasingly recognise that polystyrene and its incorporated propellant presents harms to wildlife and the environment generally.

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

To provide a quick, cheap, convenient, visually identifiable control joint providing isolation between conduits and the slabs they pass through; where "isolation" includes both reliable water and vapour sealing means around conduits or other structures entering or passing through construction surfaces such as an intended poured concrete slab, and especially slabs including damp proof membranes, and also mechanical separation allowing both axial and radial relative movement at each joint. Ideally, the control joint would be pre-assembled, allowing for predictable properties at the water seal, and in other characteristics such as tensile strength. Furthermore, the sealing means would be shaped to allow for convenient sealing in place to a DPM or other water barrier, since time costs money at every construction site. To further provide a flexible barrier between poured concrete and conduits, which will compress and conform to the shape of conduits and thereby provide an improved seal of potential air gaps around conduits,

And to minimise the harms consequent on the use of polystyrene foam in construction. OBJECT An object of the present application is to provide a control joint for installation as part of preparation for pouring a concrete slab, for use at every location where an elongated structure such as a pipe, conduit, cable or duct passes through a concrete floor slab, in order to allow relative movement between the material of the pipe, conduit, cable or duct and the concrete, and to prevent ground water from passing through the concrete of a floor slab by sealing around each conduit through the concrete, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. A further object is to provide a verifiable seal in the form of a control joint, which does not require further inspection. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In a first broad aspect the invention provides a prefabricated control joint intended for use at 95 places where a service conduit, pipe or cable (herein called "a conduit") penetrates a slab of concrete in the form of an as yet unpoured slab placed over a damp proof membrane, characterised in that the joint comprises an elongate, cylindrical flexible sleeve and a flexible flat sheet both fabricated from an impermeable thermoplastics material; the sleeve having two open ends, an interior and an exterior; the sleeve being sealed at a watertight joint to a

100 circumference of an enclosed aperture within the sheet thereby surrounding an end of the sleeve with a circumferential flat sheet; the control joint being capable, when in use, of being sealably attached to the damp proof membrane around a perforation made around a conduit passing through the damp proof membrane with the sleeve surrounding and covering a length of the conduit, thereby preventing migration of liquid or gas across the damp proof membrane and

105 along the side of the conduit, and allowing relative movement between the conduit and the

concrete slab.

Preferably the prefabricated control joint is comprised of a durable thermoplastics structure comprised of a sheet material selected from a range including polyethylene, high-density polyethylene and polyvinylchloride; and the sheet material may include colouring materials.

110 In a subsidiary aspect, the thermoplastics sheet material has a thickness from 0.05 mm to 5 mm.

Preferably the thermoplastics sheet material has a thickness of 0.25 mm.

In another aspect, the distance across the aperture of the sheet has a maximum length of between 1 mm and 1000 mm; more preferably between 10 mm and 100 mm; and the sleeve has a circumference sufficient to extend around the periphery of the sheet.

115 Preferably the circumference of the enclosed aperture within the flat sheet is separated from a nearest portion of a periphery of the sheet by at least a minimum distance thereby facilitating provision of an effective seal between the damp proof membrane and the sheet.

In a related aspect, the minimum distance is a distance set by local ordinances or building codes and is comparable to requirements for overlaps between different damp proof membranes.

120 In an alternative aspect, the minimum distance is selected from a range comprising: a distance of at least 10% of the distance across the aperture; a distance of at least 10 millimetres, and a distance sufficient to satisfy applicable local ordinances or building codes. Preferably the sleeve has a length sufficient to extend from the attached sheet to beyond a 125 thickness of a layer of concrete intended to be poured over the damp proof membrane; the

sleeve thereby being capable, when in use, of surrounding and enclosing an embeddable length of the conduit with the inner surface of the sleeve thereby preventing the conduit from becoming adherent to the concrete.

More preferably the sleeve has a length of between 10 millimetres and 10 metres; even more 130 preferably of between 50 mm and 1000 mm.

In a major aspect, the sleeve is attached at a watertight joint at an end of the sleeve to the sheet.

In one option, the flat sheet is provided without a pre-applied adhesive material.

In a second option, an adhesive material is pre-applied upon a surface of the sheet, thereby forming an adhesive surface which completely surrounds the watertight joint.

135 Preferably the adhesive material, if used, is supplied with a disposable protective cover.

In one version, the seal is manufactured with the adhesive shape applied to the surface of the sheet adjacent the sleeve; in the alternative the adhesive shape is applied to the surface of the sheet far from the sleeve and on the lower surface of the sheet.

140 In an alternative aspect, the joint includes more than one concentric sleeve sealably attached to the sheet.

Optionally the joint includes more than one sheet, both sheets being joined at one or more watertight joints to the sleeve.

In a second broad aspect, the invention provides a method for using a single prefabricated 145 control joint as previously described in this section, to become sealed above the damp proof membrane, wherein the method comprises the steps of perforating the DPM (300) at the place where a conduit (200) is to pass through the DPM, making a hole (103); passing the conduit through the DPM and through the sleeve (101) of a control joint and laying 150 the DPM on to the substrate; sealing the sheet (102) of the control joint to the upper side of the DPM, and temporarily covering the end of the conduit and the end of the sleeve. Alternatively the invention provides a method for using a prefabricated control joint as previously described in this section, sealed beneath the damp proof membrane, wherein the 155 method comprises the steps of perforating the DPM (300) at the place where a conduit (200) is to pass through the DPM, making a hole (103); passing the sleeve (101b) of a first control joint through the hole from below; sealing the sheet (102b) of the first control joint to the underside of the DPM;

160 passing the conduit through the DPM and through the sleeve and laying the DPM on to the substrate; and temporarily covering the end of the conduit and the end of the sleeve.

In an enhancement of the alternative method described above, a second prefabricated control joint is provided with a cloaking resilient material in order to provide for relative radial 165 movement of the conduit against the slab 400 to be poured, wherein the method comprises the further steps of wrapping the outer side of the sleeve which now contains the conduit with an amount of a resilient layer 801, along the conduit from the plane of the DPM 300 to more than the full height of the proposed poured slab of concrete 400;

170 passing the wrapped sleeve through an aperture and then a sleeve (101a) of a second control joint, and bringing the sheet (102a) of the second control joint down and into contact with the upper surface of the DPM (300); taping (115) the sheet of the second control joint on to the upper surface of the DPM, and making a water and vapour-proof seal;

175 and temporarily covering the exposed end of the conduit, and the sleeves. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The description of the invention to be provided herein is given purely by way of example and is not to be taken in any way as limiting the scope or extent of the invention.

Throughout this specification unless the text requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and 180 variations such as "comprising" or "comprises" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. Each document, reference, patent application or patent cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. Reference to cited material or information cited in the text should not be understood as a concession that the 185 material or information was part of the common general Icnowledge or was known in New Zealand or in any other country.

DRAWINGS

Fig 1 : illustrates the design of the present invention.

Fig 2: shows the invention in use, in vertical cross section.

190 Fig 3 : illustrates the invention conforming to the shape of a conduit.

Fig 4: shows the invention being taped to a DPM.

Fig 5: shows the use of the prior art polystyrene collar - for allowing some radial movement - in vertical cross section.

Fig 6: illustrates in horizontal cross section the prior art polystyrene collar around a conduit.

195 Fig 7: illustrates the invention having on its lower surface adhesive strips under a removable protective layer.

Fig 8: shows, in diagrammatic cross-section, a preferred version. A pair of control joints and a resilient wrapping between the conduit and the concrete slab provide radial and axial freedom of movement for the conduit, relative to the slab, as well as a seal.

200 Fig 9: illustrates the invention having on its upper surface adhesive strips under a removable protective layer.

Fig 10: illustrates the invention being folded for transport.

Fig 11 : illustrates in horizontal cross-section the use of a variation of the invention with driven piles.

205 Fig 12: illustrates in perspective a variation of the invention for use with driven piles.

Fig 13: illustrates that the invention is flexible and that its shape can vary.

Fig 14: shows a variation of the invention having two mats on a single sleeve.

Fig 15: illustrates a variation of the seal having two sleeves.

Fig 16: illustrates a variation of the seal having two mats.

210 INTRODUCTION.

A control joint sealing against gas or water flow around conduits passing through concrete slab floors is installable so as to mechanically isolate the conduit from the slab relation to radial and

215 axial motion. The joint comprises an impermeable flexible sheet having a central hole, welded around the edge of the hole to one end of a sleeve made of the same material. In use, the sleeve surrounds the conduit, and the sheet is sealed on to a damp course membrane underlying the slab. A resilient surround is optionally placed between the conduit and the slab and a second joint may be used.

220 EXAMPLE 1

In one embodiment, both the sleeve and sheet are formed of a flexible impermeable sheet plastic, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), or nylon; to give presently appropriate examples. The water-tight and vapour-tight seal is formed by gluing or heat-welding the sleeve to the mat; as appropriate for thermoplastics.

225 Fig 1 : shows in perspective view the invention (100) comprising the sleeve (101) and sheet (102), the hole or aperture in the sheet (103), and the water tight seal (104) joining the sleeve (101) to the sheet (102). Typically this device is made of a bright orange plastics sheet material. Optionally the sleeve is made from an extruded sheet material not having a seam running along its length, although or more seams, if watertight, are acceptable. This device has a relatively

230 low coefficient of sliding friction, especially between two sheets. The sleeve and sheet are joined at a ring-shaped waterproof seal, where the last 15-20mm of the sleeve is turned inward and fused to the sheet using local heat. Heat may be generated by a ring-shaped heated press or at the site by ultrasonic or radio-frequency energy. One non-limiting example of dimensions of the control joint is: the sheet is a square, 600 to 625 mm along a side. The ring-shaped seal is

235 140 mm in diameter, although that can be changed for larger conduits. The length of the sleeve is 600 mm which is enough to rise through relatively thick poured concrete pads. Longer sleeves can be provided. That control joint is sold by the inventor under the brand of "Apache™"

Fig 2: shows in vertical cross-section one method for using the invention (100), by placing it 240 over a pipe or other conduit (200) that has already penetrated a water barrier such as a DPM and using adhesive tape (110) to seal the sheet (102) to the DPM (300). The water barrier had been laid over a conventional tamped gravel course (500). Concrete (400) will be conventionally laid on top of the water barrier at a later date. That is a simple seal using a single control joint per conduit. It does not have structures intended to cater for movement. Such seals are attached to

245 the DPM by applying an adhesive tape around the periphery of the sheet (102) so that the tape always conceals the edge of the sheet. This is an improvement over prior-art ad hoc solutions which usually involve taping around a joint between a flat DPM and a tubular conduit; applying enough tape until the seal is "probably water tight" although there is no way to verify that except by taking it apart. In the invention, that seal is made certain at the included water tight

250 seal (104).

A common requirement is that the conduit may freely move up and down relative to the poured concrete in order to provide for thermal expansion of the conduit or the concrete, and the contraction of concrete during curing, for example. If a second control joint structure is added around the first, an ability to allow axial movement is added when the inner sleeve slides inside 255 the outer sleeve. Fig 3 shows two concentric flexible sleeves 101a and 101b which easily allow sliding movement in between their surfaces. Fig 3: shows a horizontal cross-section through the flexible sleeve portion of two seals (101), as they becomes compressed around a conduit (200) by the weight and flow while a slurry of poured concrete (400).

Fig 4: shows a perspective view from above the invention (100) while the sheet (102) is being 260 taped with a waterproof adhesive tape - "Polytape" for instance - (110) to a DPM (300) with the last section of taping being completed, the hole (103) in the sheet and the water tight seal (104) joining the sheet to the sleeve. Where two control joints are used as in Fig 3, one control joint - usually that having the inner sleeve - of a pair is taped by its attached sheet or otherwise made adherent to the underneath side of the DPM at the time of installation.

265 For providing some radial movement, Fig 5 shows how the invention (100) might be used with a polystyrene collar (600) to separate a conduit (200) from concrete (400) poured over a DPM (300) laid over a ground or gravel course (500). Here, radial movement is allowed by sliding between the conduit and the inside of the sleeve. The outer side of the polystyrene collar is in contact with the poured concrete.

270 Fig 6: shows in cross section a prior-art arrangement in which a prior art polystyrene collar (600) is used to separate the conduit (200) from poured concrete (400), leaving an air gap (650) between the polystyrene collar (600) and the conduit (200). The air gap is unlikely to be large. Fig 10: shows how inherent flexibility allows the sleeve (101) and sheet (102) to be bent or folded into relatively flat shapes for efficient packing and storage.

275 Fig 13: is adapted from a photograph of a prototype and shows in perspective how the flexible sheet plastic sleeve (101) can flex to take on irregular shapes.

Fig 14: shows in horizontal cross-section a variation (160) of the invention having two sheets (160a & 160b) joined at or near the same waterproof welded joint to a single sleeve. This variation provides increased sealing capability. Its sheets can be placed on both sides of a DPM 280 (300) and taped with adhesive tape (110) to the DPM forming a double layered water seal.

Fig 15: illustrates a version of the invention having two sleeves (171a & 171b) around the conduit (200).

Fig 16: illustrates a version of the invention having two mats (182a & 182b), one above the DPM (300) and one below the DPM (300).

285 EXAMPLE 2

The seal could be manufactured with an adhesive already applied on to the upper or the lower face of the mat, enabling it to be more quickly and conveniently joined to a DPM to provide a water-tight seal. This adhesive would encircle the aperture. Where control joints are to be used in pairs, one upper-surface and one lower-surface joint would be supplied as the pair. Fig 7: is a 290 perspective view from below the invention (100). The sheet (102) has on its lower surface a printed-on encircling adhesive shape protected before use for instance by sacrificial paper strips (105).

EXAMPLE 3

Use of the control joint as a pair of units is preferred since it allows both radial and axial relative 295 movement between the concrete floor slab 400 and the conduit 200 passing through, as well as sealing against transfer of water or vapour or gas from the substrate to the interior of a dwelling, for example. Fig 8 shows in diagrammatic cross-section a preferred version. This cross-section shows a pair of control joints with one inside the other, and a resilient wrapping between the conduit and the concrete slab. Note that although the outer control joint appears In Fig 8 to be 300 larger, in practice the inner one becomes pleated or folded. It is perfectly feasible to make the joints in different diameters. A paired set of control joints could be manufactured with the different items having distinct colours or otherwise being made visually distinct, so that it will be obvious to those installing the seals which control joint is intended to lay on top of and which is to go beneath a DPM.

Typical steps to be taken when installing the pair of control joints are:

1. Perforate the DPM (300) at the place where a conduit (200) is to pass through the DPM, making a hole (103).

2. Pass the sleeve (101b) of a first control joint through the hole from below.

3. Tape the sheet ( 102b) of the first control j oint to the underside of the DPM, maintaining a good seal by fully concealing the edge of the sheet so that a water and vapour-proof seal is made, using an approved adhesive tape shown as 115

4. Pass the conduit (which has been buried into the substrate (500) through the sleeve and lay the DPM on to the substrate.

5. Wrap the outer side of the sleeve which now contains the conduit with a resilient layer 801 until the cylinder so formed is nearly too large to be contained by a second sleeve. The wrapping shall extend along the conduit from the plane of the DPM 300 (a gap is shown in Fig 8 for clarity) to more than the full height of the proposed poured slab of concrete 400. (As a variation the resilient wrapping may be applied outside the sleeve of the second control joint, assuming that the resilient wrapping is not permeable to wet concrete. That may make it easier to put into practice.) As an enhancement, a second joint may be installed as follows:

6. Pass the wrapped sleeve through an aperture and then a sleeve (101a) of a second

control joint, and bring the sheet (102a) of the second control joint down and into contact with the upper surface of the DPM (300).

7. Tape (115) the sheet of the second control joint onto the upper surface of the DPM using an approved adhesive tape, again taking care to always conceal the edge of the sheet, so that a water and vapour-proof seal is made.

8. Temporarily close the exposed end of the conduit, and the sleeves, so that rainwater and spilt concrete, for example, are excluded.

9. After the slab is poured and has hardened sufficiently for worker access, the excess material surrounding the conduit (inner sleeve, resilient layer and outer sleeve may be cut away along the dotted line 802, leaving the free-standing conduit surrounded, within the slab, by a collar of resilient material, allowing for radial and axial movement, and the site of penetration of the DPM is also sealed against transfer of water or vapour from 335 beneath the DPM (300).

The resilient wrapping is comprised of a flexible and compressible material that is placed around the exterior of the first sleeve. It replaces the foamed polystyrene collars of the prior art. An area of foamed polystyrene is much stiffer than a thin-walled plastics pipe, especially when the pipe becomes embrittled with age and loss of plasticisers. Example materials, while not

340 limiting the possibilities, include the plastic sheet known as "BubbleWrap®" (Sealed Air

Corporation, USA) or an equivalent, jute sacking, straw or hay. Hay or straw is cheap but has the disadvantage that fragments broken off the mass may interfere with taping. On completion, the conduit has become cloaked with an easily compressible collar that extends beyond the top surface of the concrete slab after pouring. The collar, being entirely composed of a plastics or

345 the like, may then be cut free as a prelude to further construction.

Fig 9: shows in perspective from above a variation of the invention (100) configured with the sheet (102) having on its upper surface a pre-laid printed on adhesive covered by sacrificial paper strips (105), for sealing to the underside of a DPM (not shown) as shown in Fig 8.

EXAMPLE 4

350 For example, in construction where driven piles are used, the piles can operate as wicks drawing groundwater upwards into the construction. In that situation, an enlarged version of the present invention, with its cylindrical sleeve covered and sealed water-tightly, will operate as a waterproof pile cap to prevent this wicking effect from threatening the construction site or building. See Fig 11, showing the use of a closed variation of the invention (150) to cover the cap of a

355 driven pile (700) and prevent water from rising along or around the pile into concrete or other above-ground parts of construction. Fig 11 shows the invention having an enclosed top (151) which fits over the top of the pile (700) driven into the ground (800) for the purpose of, for example, supporting the slab against subsidence to the top layer of soil. The variation (150) may be taped with waterproof adhesive tape (110) to a DPM (300) or other sealing means. This

360 protects the pile which may be made of wood.

Fig 12: shows in perspective from above the variation (150) of the invention with an enclosed top (151) to fit over a pile (not shown). VARIATIONS

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the present invention could be produced in a range 365 of sizes appropriate to different applications.

The use of the invention layered in this way will more readily allow for a space around pipes or other penetrations in construction surfaces, and for movement between these respective elements.

As another variation, a version of the seal could be manufactured with two flexible mats, one at 370 either end of a flexible sleeve. The sleeve could then be rolled through the aperture of one mat, forming a double-walled sleeve with two mats at its base. See figure 14, which shows this variation (160) of the invention used with a DPM (300) placed between the two mats (160a & 160b). This variation is more rigid at the top of the sleeve.

In yet another variation the sleeve is provided with a sufficient length to allow it to be

375 temporarily closed off above the conduit so that foreign bodies cannot enter the conduit during a constructional procedure. For instance it might be tied off or closed with a cable tie.

Bright, even fluorescent colours are preferred in order to make the presence of sleeved conduits more visible to workers during construction, and to demonstrate that the invention has been installed at a site. Instructions for use may be printed on to the plastic sheet. At this time the 380 control joint is manufactured in an opaque orange polyethylene sheet which helps to avoid

accidental contact and makes its use clearly evident to an inspector.

RESULTS AND ADVANTAGES

This invention has the overall advantage that it offers an improved water seal for conduits which is easier to install than the prior art, while being made of cheap flexible plastics. The invention 385 is cheaper to produce than the prior art, is lighter, being flexible is more readily packed and transported in bulk. Verification of seal efficacy is much easier since the tape is laid on to a flat surface rather than as a wrapping around the conduit itself.

The present invention offers improved seals against gas leakage around conduits through poured concrete. Being more flexible than the prior art, the invention conforms more closely to 390 conduits under the weight and flow when a slurry of concrete. See Figure 6, which shows how use of the prior art collar (600) can leave an air gap (650) around a conduit (200). Furthermore, the present invention is not made of polystyrene foam (often classed as an undesirable substance

Claims

at a building site. It offers an alternative that will reduce use of polystyrene foam in construction. Finally it will be understood that the scope of this invention as described and/or illustrated herein is not limited to the specified embodiments. Those of skill will appreciate that various modifications, additions, known equivalents, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

400 1. A prefabricated control joint intended for use at places where a service conduit, pipe or cable (herein called "a conduit") penetrates a slab of concrete in the form of an as yet unpoured slab placed over a damp proof membrane, characterised in that the joint comprises an elongate, cylindrical flexible sleeve and a flexible flat sheet both fabricated from an impermeable thermoplastics material; the sleeve having two open ends, an interior

405 and an exterior; the sleeve being sealed at a watertight joint to a circumference of an

enclosed aperture within the sheet thereby surrounding an end of the sleeve with a circumferential flat sheet; the control joint being capable, when in use, of being sealably attached to the damp proof membrane around a perforation made around a conduit passing through the damp proof membrane with the sleeve surrounding and covering a length of the

410 conduit, thereby preventing migration of liquid or gas across the damp proof membrane and along the side of the conduit, and allowing relative movement between the conduit and the concrete slab.

2. A prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the circumference of the enclosed aperture within the flat sheet is separated from a nearest

415 portion of a periphery of the sheet by at least a minimum distance thereby facilitating

provision of an effective seal between the damp proof membrane and the sheet.

3. A prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the sleeve has a length sufficient to extend from the attached sheet to beyond a thickness of a layer of concrete intended to be poured over the damp proof membrane; the sleeve thereby being

420 capable, when in use, of surrounding and enclosing an embeddable length of the conduit with the inner surface of the sleeve thereby preventing the conduit from becoming adherent to the concrete.

4. A prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sleeve is attached at a watertight joint at an end of the sleeve to the sheet.

425 5. A prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flat sheet is provided without a pre-applied adhesive material.

6. A prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 4 wherein the joint is manufactured with an adhesive material pre-applied upon at least one surface of the sheet, thereby forming an adhesive surface which completely surrounds the watertight joint.

430 7. A prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the joint includes more than one concentric sleeve sealably attached to the sheet.

8. A prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the joint includes more than one sheet, both sheets being joined at one or more watertight joints to the sleeve.

9. A method for using a single prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 4 sealed 435 above the damp proof membrane, wherein the method comprises the steps of a. perforating the DPM (300) at the place where a conduit (200) is to pass

through the DPM, making a hole (103); b. passing the conduit through the DPM and through the sleeve (101) of a

control joint and laying the DPM on to the substrate;

440 c. sealing the sheet (102) of the control joint to the upper side of the DPM, and d. temporarily covering the end of the conduit and the end of the sleeve.

10. A method for using a prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 4 sealed beneath the damp proof membrane, wherein the method comprises the steps of a. perforating the DPM (300) at the place where a conduit (200) is to pass 445 through the DPM, making a hole (103); b. passing the sleeve (101b) of a first control joint through the hole from

below; c. sealing the sheet (102b) of the first control joint to the underside of the DPM; d. passing the conduit through the DPM and through the sleeve and laying the 450 DPM on to the substrate; and e. temporarily covering the end of the conduit and the end of the sleeve.

11. A method for using a second prefabricated control joint as claimed in claim 4 in order to provide for relative radial movement of the conduit against the slab 400 to be poured, wherein the method comprises the further steps beyond those of claim 10 of

455 f. wrapping the outer side of the sleeve which now contains the conduit with an amount of a resilient layer 801, along the conduit from the plane of the DPM 300 to more than the full height of the proposed poured slab of concrete 400;