STP SuperTene
A cold-applied, self-adhesive SBS bituminous membrane that waterproofs foundations, wet areas and roofs without a single flame on site.
What is it?
A pre-formed, self-adhesive SBS polymer-modified bituminous sheet membrane with a polyester or aluminium film face and a peel-off silicon release liner.
Where is it used?
Below-ground foundations and basements, retaining walls, wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, balconies, terraces, parking decks and pipeline protection.
Why use it?
It waterproofs cold, without torching or hot bitumen, so it can be laid safely in confined spaces and near finished work while still giving a tough, elastic SBS barrier.
How is it applied?
Prime the substrate, peel the release film back gradually (about 50 cm at a time), roll the sheet onto the primed surface and press firmly with a roller, overlapping adjacent sheets.
About STP SuperTene
STP SuperTene is a self-adhesive waterproofing membrane built around SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) modified bitumen. The bitumen is blended with SBS elastomer to give it rubber-like flexibility, then formed into a sheet carrying a high-density polyester film on the exposed face and an easy-to-peel silicon release liner on the adhesive face. An aluminium-faced variant is also made where a reflective, more robust top surface is wanted. Because the underside is a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the sheet bonds to a primed substrate simply by being rolled down and pressed home, so no torch, no LPG cylinders and no molten bitumen are involved. That makes it a practical choice for basements, lift pits, water tanks and internal wet areas where an open flame is either unsafe or simply not permitted.
For engineers and applicators, the appeal of SuperTene is that it removes the biggest variables in membrane work. Torch-applied systems live and die by the operator’s flame control; a cold self-adhesive sheet takes that risk off the table and gives a consistent, factory-set bond thickness every time. It is supplied in 1 m wide rolls, typically 20 m long (about 20 sqm per roll) in 1.5 mm and 2 mm grades, which keeps handling manageable on tight sites. Space Arc supplies SuperTene across Delhi NCR and Pan-India and can carry out or supervise the application, including the primer, detailing at upstands and penetrations, and the protection screed that follows.
The technical insight
The performance comes from the SBS modification of the bitumen. Plain bitumen is strong in compression but brittle in cold and prone to flowing when warm; blending in SBS block copolymer gives the binder a genuine elastic recovery, so it stretches to bridge shrinkage and settlement cracks and then springs back rather than tearing. On SuperTene this shows up as a high elongation at break (greater than 200%) combined with a raised softening point (above 100 degrees C), meaning the sheet stays flexible in cold weather yet resists sagging in Indian summer roof temperatures. The self-adhesive layer is a low-temperature-tack compound that wets onto the primed substrate under roller pressure, forming a continuous bond with no air pockets when laid correctly. The polyester film face carries the sheet, resisting puncture, impact and tearing during backfilling and follow-on trades, while the reinforcement gives the dimensional stability that stops the membrane creeping at laps. Sheet-to-sheet overlaps are self-welded by the same adhesive, so the whole installation behaves as one continuous elastic skin rather than a set of loose panels.
Where it is used
- Below-ground waterproofing of raft foundations, footings and pile caps
- Basement walls, lift pits and retaining structures against backfill
- Internal wet areas such as bathrooms, toilets and kitchens before tiling
- Podium decks, balconies and terraces under a protection screed
- Covered car parks and service areas needing a flame-free membrane
- Anti-corrosive wrapping and protection of buried GI and steel pipelines
- Sandwiched waterproofing between structural slab and screed in multi-layer systems
- Confined and occupied spaces where torch-on membranes are prohibited
Key advantages
- Cold, self-adhesive application – no torch, LPG or hot bitumen on site
- Factory-set thickness gives a consistent bond and removes operator flame-control risk
- SBS modification delivers high elasticity and crack-bridging (elongation over 200%)
- Softening point above 100 degrees C resists summer roof and deck temperatures
- Good adhesion at low temperature and high dimensional stability at the laps
- Polyester film face resists puncture, impact and tearing during follow-on work
- Safe to use in basements, lift pits and occupied buildings where flame is banned
- Faster, cleaner installation with self-welding overlaps and minimal equipment
Limitations & considerations
- Bond quality depends on correct priming and a dry, clean, sound substrate
- Cold self-adhesive tack drops in very low ambient temperature, so cold-weather laps need extra care and roller pressure
- Exposed membrane must be covered by a screed or protection layer; it is not a long-term UV-exposed wearing surface
- Lower film-faced grades give less mechanical robustness than a heavier torch-applied reinforced membrane on very aggressive decks
- Sheet form makes complex geometries, pipe collars and tight corners more labour-intensive to detail than a liquid membrane
- Overlaps and terminations are the weak points and must be pressed and, where specified, sealed
Selection & best practice
Start with the substrate: it must be sound, dry, and free of dust, laitance, oil and sharp projections, with a smooth float finish and radiused fillets at wall-floor junctions. Apply the recommended STP primer and let it become tacky before laying. Peel the silicon release liner back gradually – no more than about 50 cm at a time – and roll the sheet onto the primed surface, pressing continuously with a roller to expel air and seat the adhesive; do not leave a stuck sheet loose over the next. Lap adjacent sheets and press the overlaps firmly so they self-weld, and give extra attention to upstands, drains, pipe penetrations and corners with cut pieces and pressure. On roofs, maintain at least a 1% fall with proper drainage and upstand detailing even on nominally flat slabs. Protect the finished membrane promptly with a screed or protection board before backfilling or follow-on trades, and avoid dragging heavy materials across the exposed sheet.
Specifications
| Product type | Self-adhesive SBS-modified bituminous waterproofing membrane |
| Application method | Cold, self-adhesive (no torch / no flame) |
| Top surface | High-density polyester film (aluminium-faced variant available) |
| Underside | Pressure-sensitive adhesive with easy-peel silicon release liner |
| Thickness | 1.5 mm and 2 mm grades |
| Roll size | 1 m wide x 20 m long (approx. 20 sqm per roll) |
| Elongation at break | >200% |
| Softening point | >100 degrees C |
| Priming | STP-recommended primer required before application |
Industry use cases
Basements & Substructure
Cold-applied tanking to raft slabs, pile caps and basement walls where a flame-free membrane is mandatory in deep, confined excavations.
Residential Wet Areas
Bathrooms, toilets and kitchens waterproofed under tiling without disturbing occupied floors above or below with torch work.
Commercial Podiums & Terraces
Podium decks, balconies and terraces sealed beneath a protection screed on hotels, offices and mixed-use developments.
Infrastructure & Pipelines
Anti-corrosive wrapping of buried GI and steel pipelines and protection of below-grade structures in utility and industrial projects.
Car Parks & Service Areas
Covered parking floors and plant rooms where fire regulations rule out torch-on membranes but a durable elastic barrier is still needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is SuperTene torch-applied or self-adhesive?
What thickness and roll size does it come in?
Do I still need a primer with a self-adhesive membrane?
Can I leave the membrane exposed on a roof?
Where should SuperTene be chosen over a torch-applied membrane?
Does Space Arc apply it or only supply it?
How we position STP SuperTene
Within the STP range, SuperTene is the cold, flame-free member of the family; where a heavier, heat-fused build is specified, STP’s own torch-applied SuperThermoLay APP membranes are the natural step up, and STP primers are the correct companion for priming. For exposed, UV-stable and trafficable surfaces such as balconies and podium tops, pair or substitute with a liquid polyurethane system rather than relying on a covered sheet. Across our other brands, a specifier weighing a self-adhesive sheet against a torch-applied roll should look at Fosroc Proofex Torchseal for large basements and podiums, and at Fosroc Nitoproof 800 where a seamless exposed coating is wanted; for crack-bridging cementitious tanking of wet areas, Dr. Fixit and Fosroc flexible coatings are honest alternatives to a sheet membrane.
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