In today's regulatory landscape, one word rings louder than ever: competence.
With The Building Safety Act driving a culture shift, and Gateway 2 submissions placing greater scrutiny on the competence of designers and duty holders, the days of cutting corners in waterproofing are over. The Building Safety Regulator now expects that all those contributing to safety-critical design elements—like waterproofing—can prove they’re up to the job.
That’s where the CSSW qualification comes in. But what is CSSW—and what does having one really say about a person’s capability?
CSSW stands for Certified Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing. It's a formal qualification governed by the Property Care Association (PCA)—the UK body that sets professional standards for waterproofing practitioners.
To earn it, candidates must undergo:
This isn’t just a tick-box certification. It’s a robust, demanding process that tests real-world understanding, design competence, and technical judgment under pressure.
And increasingly, it’s being seen by developers, architects, and principal designers as the minimum threshold of credibility when appointing a waterproofing specialist.
Let's break down the core areas of competence:
A CSSW-qualified person has a deep understanding of:
They don’t just follow templates—they create bespoke waterproofing strategies that make sense for each unique project.
Competent waterproofing means knowing what’s under your feet. A CSSW specialist assesses:
Understanding soil behaviour isn't just academic—it determines what waterproofing approach will work and last.
CSSW-qualified individuals are trained to:
This is a major issue at Gateway 2. If no one’s owning the waterproofing strategy, it’s a red flag. At Premcrete, we back our designs with £10 million PI cover—but the principle applies to all duty holders: someone must take design responsibility.
A CSSW brings technical confidence around:
They understand not just the products, but when to use them, how they perform, and how to sequence them correctly on-site.
The CSSW course equips candidates to:
They help architects and principal designers prove they’ve brought competent specialists to the table—something increasingly required at design gateways.
CSSW specialists are trained to:
This is vital on refurbishments, failed basements, or any project with legacy risk.
Understanding detail is one thing—seeing it done right on-site is another.
While some CSSW outfits operate purely from a desktop, the best specialists combine theory with field experience. At Premcrete, we’re supporting groundworkers and installers daily, across dozens of live projects. That experience sharpens our understanding of:
Competence comes alive when it’s grounded in the realities of construction.
Especially for Type C systems, drainage is fundamental.
A CSSW-qualified person understands:
When things go wrong, a CSSW can help with:
At Premcrete, we even have a dedicated remedials team that focuses on remediating in the unfortunate event of a defect in the structure or waterproofing installation, that make lead to a leak.
Competent specialists are also trained in:
Waterproofing can be hazardous. The CSSW curriculum ensures professionals understand their duty of care.
While one certified person is valuable, a company with a culture of competence is gold.
At Premcrete, we’ve built that culture:
That kind of embedded knowledge ensures we’re not reliant on one person—we’re all operating to a shared standard of technical competence.
The Building Safety Act doesn’t just ask for design—it asks for proof of competence.
When it comes to waterproofing, CSSW certification is one of the clearest and most credible ways to demonstrate that. Whether you’re making a Gateway 2 submission, designing a complex basement, or simply trying to de-risk your build—a CSSW-qualified professional is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.