Prefabricated brick wall panels: economy or nightmare?

Prefabricated wall systems are becoming a popular element of building construction, lending themselves to streamlining construction schedules and reducing overall construction costs. They also offer the potential for increased quality due to assembly in controlled factory environments. This paper reviews basic principles and concepts for the design of waterproofing systems for prefabricated brick wall panels. Using a project case study, the author shows that failure to adhere to certain proven conventional practices can have serious adverse consequences.