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FBZ
Patent pending · DE 10 2025 121 129.9

Waterstops.
Exactly
centered.

A patent-pending formed element that automatically centers waterstop sheets in the construction joint between base slab and wall and holds them securely in place during the pour.

Request a quote How it works ↓
What is the FBZ?

A formed element that makes one of the most critical joints in watertight concrete controllable.

The FBZ waterstop centering element is a patent-pending moulded foam part that automatically positions waterstop sheets dead-center in the construction joint between base slab and rising wall of a watertight concrete structure. Displacement, insufficient rebar clearance and wrong embedment depth are eliminated by design. Installation is done by hand, in under one minute per linear meter.

01 · The problem

Leaks almost always appear in the same place.

Leaks in watertight concrete structures usually trace back to poorly executed penetrations, joints and connections.

The construction joint between base slab and wall is the recurring weak point of every watertight concrete structure.

It arises in every watertight structure, exactly where water pressure and groundwater meet the concrete. Errors at the waterstop translate directly into leakage here.

The 5 sources of error at the waterstop

They arise from time pressure, improvisation and the absence of a reliable centering aid.

  1. 01
    Displacement during the pour

    Insufficient fixation, the sheet shifts when concrete is placed.

  2. 02
    Insufficient rebar clearance

    Minimum clearance not met, concrete fails to fully encase the sheet.

  3. 03
    Poor centering

    The sheet does not sit centered, one-sided embedment.

  4. 04
    Wrong embedment depth

    Too little or too much embedment, without a control tool.

  5. 05
    Coating damage

    Damage during the pour, water tightness compromised.

02 · The solution

One element. Three steps. No special tools.

01
Place

Set it on the construction joint.

02
Insert

Slide the waterstop into the slit, it self-centers automatically.

03
Pour

Place the concrete. The FBZ holds the sheet securely in position.

03 · The element

The element.

A formed element that sets the geometry of the construction joint: it guides the waterstop to the center and maintains embedment depth and rebar clearance by design. No measuring, no moving parts.

01
Receiving slit

Precisely made. The waterstop slides in and is guided to the center automatically.

02
Embedment depth

Set by design, no re-measuring and no improvising on site.

03
Rebar clearance

Maintained by design, so the concrete fully encases the waterstop.

FBZ waterstop centering element, 3D view of the moulded foam part with a central slit that receives the waterstop sheet
04 · Key benefits

What the FBZ delivers.

01
Exact centering

The waterstop sits centered automatically, independent of individual diligence.

02
Time saved

Standardised installation instead of improvisation, under one minute per linear meter.

03
Error reduction

A common installation error source at the base-to-wall joint is systematically reduced.

04
No special tools

Simple handling, usable after a brief instruction.

05
Economical

Saves installation time per linear meter and prevents costly follow-up damage at leaking joints.

05 · Prevention vs. remediation

A fraction of the cost. Without the damage.

Retroactive remediation runs in the five- to six-figure range per case, plus loss of use, expert reports and legal disputes. The FBZ costs a fraction of that per linear meter.

Without FBZ
Action
Retroactive remediation
Direct cost
Five- to six-figure per case
Indirect cost
Loss of use, expert reports, legal
Time lost
Weeks to months
With FBZ
Action
Prevention through exact centering
Direct cost
A fraction, per linear meter
Indirect cost
None
Time lost
None
06 · Damage cascade

From installation error to damage claim.

A single error at the construction joint is rarely without consequence. It develops over four stages, ending in costs that are a multiple of prevention.

  1. Stage 01
    Water ingress

    Damp patches, water film and, under groundwater pressure, free water ingress into the structure.

  2. Stage 02
    Remediation

    Retroactive remediation of the joint in the five- to six-figure range per case.

  3. Stage 03
    Consequential damage

    Loss of use, mould growth and permanent devaluation of the property.

  4. Stage 04
    Legal consequences

    Expert disputes, warranty claims and liability questions between the parties.

The FBZ acts at stage 00: it prevents the installation error before the cascade even begins.

07 · Applications

Where the FBZ is used.

  • 01 Underground car park floors at the base-to-wall junction
  • 02 Basements and cellars exposed to groundwater
  • 03 Industrial buildings with watertight concrete
  • 04 System-build projects with tight schedules
  • 05 Any base-slab-to-wall joint with a water tightness requirement
08 · Manufacturer

Engineered from long-standing expert practice.

Developed by Dr.-Ing. Jörn Budde, TÜV-certified expert for building waterproofing and structural protection. Emerging from many years of case practice at the base-to-wall joint, the element standardises centering and is delivered across the DACH region.

Manufacturer
BBA GmbH
Developer
Dr.-Ing. Jörn Budde
Qualification
TÜV-certified
Field
Building waterproofing
Patent
DE 10 2025 121 129.9
Location
Bad Saarow, DE
Contact

Request a quote.

A short message with your project, linear meters and target delivery date is enough. We usually reply within one business day.

Email info@bba-badsaarow.de Phone +49 33631 58374 Mobile +49 174 4935860