AquaShield®
Torch-applied APP-modified bituminous waterproofing membrane with a glass-fibre-reinforced core, supplied in rolls.
AquaShield® at a glance
The essentials specifiers and contractors ask first — answered straight from the product data, with links to go deeper.
What is it?
AquaShield® is STP Limited's pre-fabricated plastomeric waterproofing membrane: a glass-fibre-reinforced bituminous sheet whose bitumen is modified with APP (atactic polypropylene). It is a factory-made roll membrane, not a liquid coating, and is fused to the substrate by torch.
Where is it used?
It is specified for membrane waterproofing of medium-to-large roof slabs (domestic, commercial and industrial), terraces and podiums, basements and underground car parks, swimming pools, and civil structures such as bridges and tunnels.
Why use it?
APP modification gives the bitumen excellent resistance to both hot and cold service temperatures and good ageing behaviour, while the non-woven glass-fibre core gives dimensional stability; together they deliver a durable, seamless-lapped membrane that is faster to install over large areas than coat-by-coat liquid systems.
How is it applied?
The primed substrate and the membrane underside are heated with a gas torch until the surface embossing/PE film melts, and the roll is then bonded and rolled into place with overlapped, heat-sealed laps. Always work to the current STP TDS for priming, lap dimensions and detailing.
Key advantages
- Factory-controlled thickness and quality — a uniform membrane independent of site applicator technique, unlike coat-by-coat liquid systems
- APP (plastomeric) modification gives good resistance to high roof-surface temperatures with retained flexibility for handling and detailing
- Non-woven glass-fibre core provides dimensional stability and tear/puncture resistance
- Heat-welded laps form continuous, monolithic seams rather than mechanically overlapped joints
- Fast coverage of large horizontal areas compared with multi-coat liquid membranes
- Suitable for buried and structural waterproofing (basements, podiums, car parks) as well as exposed roofs
- Available as a mineral-top (MT) grade for built-in UV protection and a walkable finished surface
Specifications
- Product type: Pre-fabricated plastomeric APP (atactic polypropylene) modified bituminous waterproofing membrane
- Reinforcement: Non-woven glass-fibre (fibre-glass) mat core
- Form / supply: Roll membrane; torch face protected with a meltable polyethylene film
- Application method: Torch-applied (heat-fused) onto a primed substrate
- Thickness range: 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm
- Variants: AquaShield (PE film top) and AquaShield MT (mineral-top / granule finish)
- Typical lap overlaps: ≈100 mm end laps and ≈75 mm side laps (confirm against TDS)
- Detailed strengths, elongation, softening point, roll size: Request the official STP Technical Data Sheet for verified values
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About AquaShield®
A plain-language overview of what AquaShield® is, the problem it solves and how Space Arc Engineering positions it in a specification.
AquaShield® is a pre-fabricated bituminous waterproofing membrane from STP Limited (formerly Shalimar Tar Products, a Berger group company). Its core is a non-woven glass-fibre mat, and the surrounding bitumen is modified with atactic polypropylene (APP) — a plastomeric modification that broadens the membrane's working-temperature range and improves durability compared with plain oxidised bitumen. It is supplied as a roll, with the torch face protected by a meltable polyethylene film, and is installed by heat-fusing it onto a primed surface.
Because it is a factory-made sheet of controlled thickness, AquaShield delivers a consistent, monolithic waterproofing layer once the laps are heat-welded — there is no dependence on coat thickness, drying time or applicator brush technique as there is with liquid membranes. This makes it well suited to large horizontal areas and buried/structural waterproofing where a robust, puncture-resistant barrier is required.
AquaShield is offered as the standard film-faced membrane and as AquaShield MT, a mineral-top (granule-finished) variant. The mineral surface adds UV and weathering protection and a walkable, finished face for exposed roof applications, whereas the plain film-faced grade is typically used as a buried layer, under screeds/protection, or within multi-layer build-ups.
The technical insight
Why AquaShield® behaves the way it does — the mechanism behind the performance, in specifier-friendly terms.
Atactic polypropylene blended into bitumen produces a plastomeric binder: it raises the softening point so the membrane resists flow and sagging at high roof-surface temperatures, while retaining enough flexibility to be handled and detailed at moderate temperatures. The non-woven glass-fibre reinforcement carries tensile and tear loads and resists dimensional change, keeping the sheet stable during torching and in service. Installation relies on the heat-fusion principle — the torch flame brings the underside bitumen to a molten, tacky state (signalled by the disappearance of the surface embossing or PE film), so the membrane bonds directly to the primer and to itself at the laps, forming continuous welded seams rather than mechanically lapped joints.
Where AquaShield® is used
Typical applications AquaShield® is specified for, supplied by Space Arc Engineering across Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, Noida and Uttar Pradesh.
- Waterproofing of medium-to-large roof slabs (domestic, commercial and industrial)
- Terraces and podium decks
- Basements and underground car parks (structural / buried waterproofing)
- Swimming pools and water-retaining structures
- Bridges and tunnels
- Base / first layer within multi-layer membrane build-ups and damp-proofing
Key advantages
The properties that make AquaShield® the right choice — drawn from the manufacturer's product literature.
- Factory-controlled thickness and quality — a uniform membrane independent of site applicator technique, unlike coat-by-coat liquid systems
- APP (plastomeric) modification gives good resistance to high roof-surface temperatures with retained flexibility for handling and detailing
- Non-woven glass-fibre core provides dimensional stability and tear/puncture resistance
- Heat-welded laps form continuous, monolithic seams rather than mechanically overlapped joints
- Fast coverage of large horizontal areas compared with multi-coat liquid membranes
- Suitable for buried and structural waterproofing (basements, podiums, car parks) as well as exposed roofs
- Available as a mineral-top (MT) grade for built-in UV protection and a walkable finished surface
Limitations & considerations
Where AquaShield® is not the right answer. Check these constraints from the manufacturer before specifying — using it outside its scope is the most common cause of failure.
- Requires open-flame (LPG torch) application by trained applicators — not a DIY brush/roller product, and unsuitable where hot works are prohibited or near flammable materials, insulation or membranes
- Plain film-faced grade is not UV-stable for permanent exposure; it should be buried, protected, or substituted with the mineral-top (MT) grade where left exposed
- Detailing at upstands, drains, pipe penetrations and internal/external corners needs skilled torch work; poorly fused laps are the usual cause of failure
- Not a decorative or wall-finish coating and not a thin elastomeric crack-bridging film — it is a structural sheet membrane and is over-specified for minor surface refurbishment
- Substrate must be sound, dry (typically low moisture), primed and properly falls-graded; torching onto damp or contaminated concrete compromises the bond
Selection & best practice
How to decide whether AquaShield® fits your job — and how to apply it so the repair lasts.
Specify AquaShield where you need a robust, fast-to-lay sheet membrane over medium-to-large slabs or for buried structural waterproofing, and where trained torch-on applicators and safe hot-works conditions are available. Choose AquaShield MT (mineral top) for exposed roofs that will remain uncovered, and the plain film-faced grade for buried layers, under screeds/protection, or within multi-layer systems. Where open flame is not permitted, or for thin elastomeric/decorative crack-bridging on walls and small terraces, a liquid-applied coating (such as an acrylic or polyurethane membrane) is the more appropriate alternative.
Application best practice
- Prepare a sound, clean, dry substrate with correct falls; repair honeycombing and round off internal corners before priming
- Apply the recommended bituminous primer and allow it to dry before torching to ensure a positive bond
- Torch the underside until the embossing/PE film just melts — avoid overheating, which damages the bitumen and the glass-fibre core
- Maintain specified lap overlaps (commonly of the order of 100 mm at end laps and 75 mm at side laps) and check that molten bitumen bleeds slightly at every seam
- Stagger end laps between rows and give extra attention to upstands, drains and penetrations with reinforcing pieces
- Protect plain film-faced membrane promptly with a screed, board or protection layer where it will not remain exposed; use the MT grade where exposure is unavoidable
Specifications
Indicative properties from the manufacturer's literature. Always confirm batch-specific values against the current TDS before specification.
| Product type | Pre-fabricated plastomeric APP (atactic polypropylene) modified bituminous waterproofing membrane |
|---|---|
| Reinforcement | Non-woven glass-fibre (fibre-glass) mat core |
| Form / supply | Roll membrane; torch face protected with a meltable polyethylene film |
| Application method | Torch-applied (heat-fused) onto a primed substrate |
| Thickness range | 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm |
| Variants | AquaShield (PE film top) and AquaShield MT (mineral-top / granule finish) |
| Typical lap overlaps | ≈100 mm end laps and ≈75 mm side laps (confirm against TDS) |
| Detailed strengths, elongation, softening point, roll size | Request the official STP Technical Data Sheet for verified values |
Coverage, dosage, pack sizes and cure times vary with substrate and conditions — request the full TDS for certified technical data.
Industry use cases
Real-world scenarios where AquaShield® is the practical choice — the teams who reach for it and the jobs it does for them.
- Industrial and commercial roof decks where a fast-laid, durable sheet membrane is needed over large areas
- Below-grade waterproofing of basement rafts and retaining walls in residential and commercial projects
- Podium and terrace waterproofing beneath screeds, paving or landscaping
- Infrastructure waterproofing on bridge decks and tunnels
- Pool and water-tank waterproofing requiring a robust, continuous barrier
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about specifying and sourcing AquaShield®.
What exactly is AquaShield® — a coating or a membrane?
It is a pre-fabricated sheet membrane, not a liquid coating. AquaShield® is an APP-modified bituminous waterproofing membrane with a non-woven glass-fibre core, supplied in rolls and bonded to the substrate by torch.
How is AquaShield® applied?
It is torch-applied. The primed substrate and the membrane underside are heated with an LPG torch until the surface film/embossing melts, then the roll is bonded down and the laps are heat-welded to form continuous seams. It must be installed by trained applicators under safe hot-works conditions.
What thicknesses and variants are available?
AquaShield® is available in 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm thicknesses. There is a plain film-faced grade and AquaShield MT, a mineral-top (granule-finished) grade for added UV protection and a walkable exposed surface.
Why is the bitumen modified with APP?
APP (atactic polypropylene) is a plastomeric modifier that raises the softening point so the membrane resists flow at high roof-surface temperatures while staying flexible enough to handle and detail, and it improves weather-ageing performance versus plain oxidised bitumen.
Can AquaShield® be left exposed on a roof?
The mineral-top AquaShield MT grade is intended for exposed use and resists UV and weathering. The plain film-faced grade is not UV-stable for permanent exposure and should be buried or protected with a screed, board or protection layer.
Where should I not use a torch-applied membrane like this?
Avoid it where open flame/hot works are prohibited, near flammable insulation or finishes, or for thin decorative/crack-bridging needs on walls and small terraces — a liquid-applied (e.g. acrylic or PU) membrane is more suitable there. It also needs a sound, dry, primed substrate; torching onto damp or contaminated concrete compromises the bond.
How do I get verified specifications and pricing?
Request the latest STP Limited Technical Data Sheet for verified softening point, tensile strength, elongation, low-temperature flexibility, roll size and standards. Space Arc Engineering, as a distributor for STP Limited, supplies and applies AquaShield® with project guidance, pricing and availability across India.
References
Manufacturer and technical sources this page draws on. Always confirm current data against the live TDS before specification.
Source AquaShield® for your project
Space Arc Engineering is an authorised distributor for STP Limited, serving Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad, Noida and Uttar Pradesh. Talk to us for pricing, the technical data sheet and on-site support.
Or email info@space-arc.com · www.space-arc.com