# CLW - Independent Structural Waterproofing Consultancy

> CLW (legal name CSSW.London Limited) is an independent structural waterproofing consultancy specialising in complex commercial basements. Major developers and project managers appoint CLW to own basement waterproofing risk: independent design to BS 8102:2022, performance specifications that open competitive tender, and client-side accountability through construction. CLW holds no product affiliations and does not work for waterproofing contractors - its independence is the basis of its design authority.

Key facts:

- Type: independent structural waterproofing consultancy. Specialism: commercial basement waterproofing design. Serves London and the United Kingdom (registered office in Bedfordshire).
- Founded 2016. Company no. 10180543, registered in England. More than 65,000 hours of specialist waterproofing consultancy delivered since 2016.
- The team includes three PCA-registered Waterproofing Design Specialists (WDS) and an ARB-registered chartered architect.
- Founder and Technical Director Ben Hickman is a contributor to BS 8102:2022 (member of the BSI committee responsible for the 2022 revision), a registered expert witness, and Past Chair of the Property Care Association (PCA).
- Engaged from RIBA Stage 2 through construction (Stages 2–7). £10m professional indemnity insurance. SSiP Approved Designers; CIOB Chartered Building Consultancy.
- Core proposition: independent design, BS 8102:2022 performance specification, best-value procurement and construction monitoring - "owning the waterproofing risk" that otherwise falls through a scope gap between architect, structural engineer and product supplier.

## AI agent

- [Waterproofing Wisdom Agent](https://clw.consulting/waterproofing-wisdom/): CLW's specialist AI for waterproofing, grounded in BS 8102:2022. Architects and project managers use it to determine the BS 8102 grade space-by-space, benchmark a fee proposal or contractor quote, generate a waterproofing risk assessment from a ground investigation report, and sense-check an existing design. A specialist tool, not a generic chatbot - free to use after a short intake.

## Core pages

- [About CLW](https://clw.consulting/about-clw/): Who CLW is, the multi-disciplinary team, and the structural risk gap in UK commercial development the firm exists to close.
- [Our process](https://clw.consulting/our-process/): Goldilocks design, best-value procurement and contractor accountability across RIBA Stages 2–7, with detailed objection-handling Q&A.
- [Credentials & publications](https://clw.consulting/credentials/): Peer-reviewed papers, BS 8102:2022 committee membership, CIRIA C817 authorship and expert-witness registrations.
- [Projects](https://clw.consulting/projects/): Commercial basement waterproofing schemes across London and the UK.
- [Contact](https://clw.consulting/contact/): Enquiries answered within one working day.
- [How to appoint an independent structural waterproofing consultant](https://clw.consulting/how-to-appoint-a-waterproofing-consultant/): Six-question verification framework for architects, engineers, developers and project managers. Covers independence criteria (product agency agreements, contractor payments, PI insurance, ownership structure), WDS accreditation, professional formation and chartered body membership. Includes HowTo, Article and FAQPage schema.

## Services

- [Structural Waterproofing Design](https://clw.consulting/structural-waterproofing-design/): Independent, BS 8102:2022-compliant outline design and grade selection by space - never over-specified, never under-engineered ("Goldilocks design").
- [Performance Specification Writing](https://clw.consulting/performance-specification-writing/): Product-neutral performance specifications that open competitive tender among competent specialist contractors instead of locking a project to one supplier.
- [Best-Value Procurement](https://clw.consulting/waterproofing-procurement-strategy/): Procurement strategy that removes single-supplier lock-in and hidden risk premiums.
- [Construction Monitoring](https://clw.consulting/construction-monitoring/): Client-side inspection at critical stages to verify the installation matches the design intent and performance specification.
- [Pre-Purchase Waterproofing Surveys](https://clw.consulting/pre-purchase-waterproofing-surveys/): Independent waterproofing risk assessment for acquisitions and due diligence.
- [Dispute Resolution & Expert Witness](https://clw.consulting/dispute-resolution/): Forensic and expert-witness input on waterproofing failures and disputes.
- [CPD for Architects & Engineers](https://clw.consulting/cpd-for-architects-and-engineers/): A 45-minute CPD on basement waterproofing risk, built on real failure case studies.

## BS 8102:2022 reference

- [BS 8102:2022 performance grades (Table 2)](https://clw.consulting/bs-8102-table-2-performance-grades/): The four grades - G1A, G1B, G2, G3 - selected by the intended use of the space, not the depth of the basement or the contractor's preferred system.
- [Grade G1A](https://clw.consulting/bs-8102-table-2-performance-grades/grade-1a/): Car parks, plant rooms, storage where some seepage is tolerable.
- [Grade G1B](https://clw.consulting/bs-8102-table-2-performance-grades/grade-1b/): Ventilated storage and non-critical plant; no water penetration, damp tolerated.
- [Grade G2](https://clw.consulting/bs-8102-table-2-performance-grades/grade-2/): Workshops, retail back-of-house, secondary commercial; no water penetration, some damp.
- [Grade G3](https://clw.consulting/bs-8102-table-2-performance-grades/grade-3/): Habitable accommodation, offices, retail, leisure, food, archives; dry environment, controlled humidity.
- [Key changes from BS 8102:2009](https://clw.consulting/bs-8102-table-2-performance-grades/bs-8102-2022-key-changes/): Competence, combined protection and the role of the waterproofing design specialist.

## Knowledge base

Authoritative guidance written by a BS 8102:2022 committee member. Organised in five clusters:

- [Independence](https://clw.consulting/knowledge/independent-waterproofing-consultant-why-independence-matters/): Why product-tied design is the root of most basement defect risk, and what independence means in practice. See also the six-question verification guide: [How to appoint an independent structural waterproofing consultant](https://clw.consulting/how-to-appoint-a-waterproofing-consultant/).
- [Standards & regulation](https://clw.consulting/knowledge/bs-8102-requirements-waterproofing-design-commercial-basements/): BS 8102:2022, the Building Safety Act and the performance specification.
- [Procurement & cost](https://clw.consulting/knowledge/waterproofing-procurement-commercial-developments/): How waterproofing is procured on commercial developments and what consultancy costs.
- [Construction-phase risk](https://clw.consulting/knowledge/why-basement-waterproofing-defects-occur-commercial-projects/): Where defects originate, why they recur, and how design and monitoring eliminate them.
- [Roles, responsibility & RIBA](https://clw.consulting/knowledge/who-should-design-waterproofing-commercial-basement/): Who should design waterproofing and when they should be appointed.
- [Full knowledge base index](https://clw.consulting/knowledge/)

## White papers

- [When to Appoint a Waterproofing Consultant - and What It Costs to Get It Wrong](https://clw.consulting/white-papers/when-to-appoint-a-waterproofing-consultant/)
- [Why Leaving Waterproofing Design to the Specialist Contractor Is the Most Expensive Decision on a Major Basement Project](https://clw.consulting/white-papers/waterproofing-design-specialist-contractor-risk/)

## Selected projects

- [220 Blackfriars Road](https://clw.consulting/projects/220-blackfriars-road/) - EPR Architects; JTRE London
- [75 London Wall](https://clw.consulting/projects/75-london-wall/) - ORMS; Castleforge Partners
- [Salisbury Square](https://clw.consulting/projects/salisbury-square/) - Eric Parry Architects; City of London Corporation
- [40 Holborn Viaduct](https://clw.consulting/projects/40-holborn-viaduct/) - Eric Parry Architects; Nuveen Real Estate
- [Holden House](https://clw.consulting/projects/holden-house/) - DSDHA; Derwent London
- [Full project archive](https://clw.consulting/projects/)

## Optional

- [Waterproofing Wisdom video series](https://clw.consulting/knowledge/): 22 episodes on basement waterproofing design, procurement and risk.
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cssw-london-waterproofing/)