Royal Albert Hall

RAM Building Consultancy was appointed to support the transformation of a disused boiler room basement beneath the iconic Royal Albert Hall into a fully habitable Artist’s Bar, a unique and ambitious project within a highly sensitive Grade I listed structure.

The brief involved carrying out a comprehensive feasibility study and dynamic leak investigation (DLI™) to identify and resolve multiple sources of water ingress that had long affected the space. With the goal of achieving a Grade 3 habitable environment, as defined by BS 8102:2022, RAM’s team assessed the structural integrity, historic construction methods, existing waterproofing failures, and drainage conditions to guide Overbury (appointed project managers) in developing a robust and sustainable conversion strategy.

1. Persistent Water Ingress
   • Multiple sources of leakage were identified including areas above a riveted beam, an old flue infill wall, and an isolated column.
   • Historical attempts (e.g., injection with TamPur 150 - a Hydrophilic Flexible Polyurethane Grout) had failed to resolve these issues.
2. Aging Structure and Limited Records
   • The basement dated back to the 1860s, with infill and construction modifications over the years.
   • Lack of as-built drawings made it difficult to fully understand the existing waterproofing build-up.
3. Failed Surface Finishes
   • DLI tests showed defective paving finishes were permitting water to bypass the damp-proof membrane, causing leaks into the basement.
4. Retained Earth Against Wall
   • In certain areas, such as the flue wall, the original brickwork acted as a retaining wall with earth directly behind it, increasing hydrostatic pressure and risk of ingress.
5. Unconfirmed Structural Conditions

Visual signs of corrosion in reinforcement and steel beams prompted concerns about the structural integrity of certain elements.

DLI Report Actions:

• Simulated rainfall and flow tests suggested defects/pathways of ingress to the damp-proof membrane waterproofing beneath the paved walkway finishes.

Recommended:

• • Targeted removal of defective paved areas.
  • Close inspection of damp-proof membrane and installation of new membrane details.
  • Post-remediation monitoring and potential re-testing to confirm integrity.

Feasibility Study Recommendations:

• New External Waterproof Membrane (WPM):
  • Removal and reinstatement of paved finishes above affected areas to install a continuous, high-quality WPM.
  • Particular focus on areas around riveted beams and isolated columns.
• Internal Waterproofing for Retaining Wall:
  • Dismissal of injection-based solutions due to poor historical performance.
  • Recommended a dual system of Type A (barrier) and Type C (drained cavity) waterproofing applied internally to avoid costly excavation.
• Drainage & Services Review:
  • Investigation and repair of all drainage and service routes to limit water pathways into the structure.
• Structural Investigations:
  • Removal of corrosion from steel elements to assess structural loss.
  • Assessment of exposed reinforcement in concrete slabs to determine if strengthening works were necessary.

• A comprehensive understanding of the causes and pathways of water ingress was established.
• Clear, multi-phase remediation strategies were provided, tailored to:
  • Improve waterproofing integrity.
  • Preserve historic structural elements.
  • Allow successful future conversion to a habitable space.
• Provided Overbury with an actionable roadmap, including:
  • Immediate remedial works.
  • Optimum, long-term waterproofing strategies.

Conclusion

RAM Building Consultancy delivered a robust and technically detailed response to a complex and historically sensitive waterproofing challenge at one of London’s most iconic venues. Their integrated approach; combining advanced testing with practical engineering recommendations, positioned the Royal Albert Hall project for successful refurbishment and future use.