At present, the main building waterproofing materials in China are modified asphalt based waterproofing membranes, non curing asphalt based waterproofing coatings, and polyethylene polypropylene composite waterproofing membranes produced using asphalt and polyethylene (PE) as the main raw materials, accounting for over 80% of the waterproofing market share. In theory, asphalt and polyethylene are not aging resistant materials, and no matter how modified, it is impossible to fundamentally change and improve the aging resistance of products, let alone produce long-lasting waterproof materials. The current situation of large-scale leakage in building waterproofing projects in China is closely related to the production of various waterproofing materials using asphalt and polyethylene as the main raw materials. Moreover, asphalt also has environmental issues during production, construction, and use. The hot melt construction of asphalt based waterproof rolls and the heating construction process of non curing asphalt based waterproof coatings can generate smoke and unpleasant odors with strong carcinogens, and often cause accidents such as fires. Asphalt based waterproofing materials are not corrosion-resistant and can cause significant pollution to groundwater when applied in underground engineering, producing strong carcinogens and posing a long-term threat to human and animal and plant life. Aluminum foil butyl tape has long been prohibited from using asphalt based waterproofing materials for underground waterproofing. Due to environmental reasons, China has gradually banned and reduced the production and use of asphalt based waterproofing materials. The "Catalogue of Industrial Pollution Industries, Production Process Adjustment and Equipment Elimination in Beijing" stipulates that by the end of 2016, all asphalt based waterproofing material enterprises will be removed from the administrative area of Beijing, and some cities such as Qingdao have issued documents prohibiting the use of hot melt method to construct SBS waterproofing rolls. The elimination of asphalt based waterproofing materials is only a matter of time.
