{"id":5353,"date":"2023-08-07T07:55:33","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T06:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.haustrocknung.ch\/?page_id=5353"},"modified":"2025-10-04T20:34:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T19:34:34","slug":"horizontal-barrier","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.haustrocknung.ch\/en\/guides\/horizontal-barrier\/","title":{"rendered":"CH \/ Guide \/ Moisture \/ Horizontal barrier"},"content":{"rendered":"
Haustrocknung.ch has been installing electrophysical horizontal barriers throughout Switzerland since 2010. Our certified process requires only minimal structural work and dries the masonry down to the cellar floor. Here you can find out what is important.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tHomepage<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t The horizontal barrier is a structural measure that prevents water from rising in the walls of the basement or first floor: Moisture that accumulates in the walls can rise upwards via the capillaries within the building fabric. The water can thus rise several meters above ground level.<\/p> On the one hand, damp walls lead to an uncomfortable indoor climate with a musty smell and increased heating costs. On the other hand, damp promotes the decay of the building fabric and thus gradually leads to a reduction in the value of the property. Damp walls \u203a<\/a><\/p> While horizontal barriers are usually installed in new buildings, they often have to be retrofitted in old buildings. This guide refers to the retrofitting of horizontal waterproofing in new and old buildings.<\/p> \u2191 Back to top<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t By applying a low electrical voltage to the wet wall, the water in the capillaries of the building fabric can no longer rise. The residual moisture evaporates over time and the wall becomes permanently dry.<\/p> This effect is also known as \u00abelectroosmosis\u00bb: Water flows in an electromagnetic field to the negative pole. When the extra-low voltage is applied, an electromagnetic potential is created parallel to the wall surface with the negative pole at the bottom of the cellar.<\/p> \u00abWill I get a pinch when I touch the wall?\u00bb No, of course not, because the electrodes and wiring run inside the wall and low voltages are used, similar to the voltage on a small block battery. This means there is no electrosmog. The installation is therefore harmless to people and the environment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t How the electrophysical horizontal barrier works with the DRYMAT\u00ae system (German)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t \u2191 Back to top<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Mechanical horizontal barrier<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Electrophysical horizontal barrier<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t In contrast to all mechanical horizontal barriers, electrophysical horizontal barriers can be installed in a minimally invasive manner: While mechanical horizontal barriers have to cross the wall diameter along the entire length of the wall, electrophysical horizontal barriers only require isolated drill holes and narrow slits.<\/p> This reduces costs and minimizes the risk of consequential damage, such as cracks due to subsidence. In addition, the electrophysical horizontal barrier can be installed in compliance with monument protection regulations.<\/p> The electro-osmosis of the DRYMAT\u00ae system is also able to dry out the building structure down to the cellar floor. A mechanical horizontal barrier, on the other hand, cannot prevent the cellar floor, for example, from remaining damp and therefore requires additional waterproofing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Installation of an electrophysical horizontal barrier with the DRYMAT\u00ae system<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The DRYMAT\u00ae system is designed \u00d6NORM B 3355-2 certified<\/a>. It is manufactured in Germany and comes with a 10-year guarantee. The \u00d6NORM seal of approval certifies the scientific recognition and describes the practical application of the DRYMAT\u00ae system for wall dehumidification.<\/p> The \u00d6NORM certification system of Austrian Standards is based on the standards EN ISO\/IEC 17065 and EN ISO\/IEC 17067 (scheme type 3). It is used for the ongoing monitoring of a product and requires an inspection of production and a test of the product at least once a year.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t \u2191 Back to top<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t An electrophysical horizontal barrier with the DRYMAT\u00ae system costs between CHF 15,000 and CHF 20,000 for a house with a floor area of 60 square meters. The price depends on the length of the walls, the accessibility of the walls, the type of building material and the aesthetic requirements, as well as the length of the journey. Ask us for an individual offer without obligation<\/a>.<\/p> DRYMAT\u00ae incurs annual electricity costs of around CHF 50 to maintain the electrical potential. Otherwise, the system is maintenance-free and comes with a 10-year guarantee.<\/p> \u2191 Back to top<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Mechanical horizontal barriers only partially solve the moisture problem, regardless of the method chosen: For example, the area below the barrier, such as the basement floor, remains damp. If plaster is subsequently applied to the walls, moisture may rise again.<\/p> There is also a high risk of consequential damage with retrofitted mechanical horizontal barriers because they have to penetrate the wall diameter along the entire length of the wall. The building envelope is weakened at least during installation above the foundation or floor slab.<\/p> This can lead to tension in the walls, which can cause cracks even years later. In addition to the risk of consequential damage to the building envelope, horizontal waterproofing also poses environmental risks in some cases, as chemicals may be used. DRYMAT\u00ae, on the other hand, is harmless to people and the environment.<\/p> \u2191 Back to top<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The prejudices say,<\/p> All prejudices refer generally to \u00abelectroosmosis\u00bb as a sealing method, although there are several qualitatively different systems on the market that work according to the principle of electroosmosis. We can therefore only speak for the DRYMAT\u00ae system:<\/p> A structured approach is essential for the success of moisture remediation. \u00abSimply having a horizontal barrier installed\u00bb is not the right approach. Unfortunately, we repeatedly see \u00abcompleted basement renovations\u00bb where stains are already forming on the new plaster because the moisture problem has not been solved adequately.<\/p><\/li> With the DRYMAT\u00ae system, the electrical potential is amplified by electrodes that are anchored directly in the wall. This makes DRYMAT\u00ae strong enough to completely dry out the building fabric - even when there is a high level of moisture. This is certified according to \u00d6NORM B 3355-2<\/a>.<\/p><\/li> Haustrocknung.ch is the exclusive representative for DRYMAT\u00ae in Switzerland. We have been successfully using the system throughout Switzerland since 2010. Take a look at our References<\/a>.<\/p><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tThe solution against rising damp<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Core statements<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1. What is a horizontal barrier?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
2. How does the electrophysical horizontal barrier work?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
3. What are the advantages of the electrophysical horizontal barrier?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t4. How much does an electrophysical horizontal barrier cost in Switzerland?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
5. What are the risks of mechanical horizontal barriers?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
6. What prejudices exist against the principle of electroosmosis as a horizontal barrier?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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