Waterproofing

Flood Test Balloons

Inflatable test balloons and drain plugs for blocking wastes during flood testing of waterproofed wet areas, balconies and planters.

Narrow by category (9)

5 products

Flood Test Balloons products

Flood Test Balloons buying guide

Running a proper flood test

Plug the waste, fill to at least 25mm above the highest point of the membrane, mark the water level, and leave it for a minimum of 24 hours. Check the level and inspect the ceiling and walls below. A drop in level with no visible leak still means a leak — find it before tiling. Photograph the test with the level marked; it is the cheapest defect insurance available on a wet-area job.

Choosing and sizing a plug

Test balloons are sized to the pipe internal diameter and must seat in a clean, sound section of pipe. Inflate to the marked pressure — over-inflating can split the balloon or damage a PVC socket, and under-inflating lets it creep out under the head of water, dumping the test into the building below. Where the waste is not a suitable shape for a balloon, a mechanical expanding plug is the safer option.

Interpreting a failed test

A level that drops without visible water below usually means the leak is into the building fabric rather than through to a visible surface — often at the waste flange or into a wall cavity. Do not simply top up and retest. Drain, dry, and inspect the junctions and penetrations specifically; those are where nearly all failures occur. Recoating the field of the floor will not fix a junction defect.

Timing the test

Test only after the membrane has reached the full cure time on the data sheet, not the recoat time. Testing a green membrane can damage it and produces a result you cannot rely on. Equally, do not leave the test until the tiler is on site — build the 24-hour test into the programme so a failure has somewhere to go other than straight into the tiling window.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a flood test run?
AS 3740 and most manufacturers require a minimum of 24 hours. Some specifications call for longer on balconies and planters.
How deep does the water need to be?
At least 25mm above the highest point of the membrane being tested, so the entire waterproofed area is under water.
Do I need to flood test a shower with a hob?
Yes. The hob is a critical junction and one of the most common leak points, so it needs to be within the tested area.

stocked at both jaden services trade counters — fairfield heights and prestons — with australia-wide delivery and trade pricing for regular accounts. Get in touch