Blind Wall Application in Commercial Construction
What Is a Blind Wall?
A blind wall is a continuous, solid wall surface with no windows, doors, or other penetrations. In commercial construction, blind walls are common along property lines, against soil, or beside adjacent buildings, and they require robust blindside waterproofing and drainage. In commercial construction, blind walls are also referred to as blindside walls or blindside foundation walls.
- Structural / Architectural: A façade or side of a building with no openings. Property-line walls are often required to be blind to meet fire codes.
- Foundation / Below-Grade: In basements and retaining walls, a blind wall is built against soil or backfill with no access to the exterior (soil side). Waterproofing is installed blindside (before backfill or before the pour).
- Urban Design: Sometimes used for a “blank” elevation that doesn’t engage the street or public space.
Where Blind Walls Are Used in Commercial Projects
High-Rise Towers (Property-Line Firewalls)
- Alongside property lines where buildings are directly adjacent.
- Often double as rated firewalls.
Parkades & Underground Parking (Retaining Walls)
- Exterior retaining walls are blind walls fully against soil.
Shotcrete Shoring / Blindside Foundations
- On constrained sites, walls are poured directly against shoring systems (soldier piles, lagging, secant piles, or shotcrete).
- Drainage and waterproofing are installed first because the soil side is inaccessible later.
Big-Box Commercial / Industrial Buildings
- Side/rear walls often have no windows for fire separation or future expansion.
ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) & Tilt-Up Panels
- Common in warehouses, schools, and hospitals where efficiency and separation demand solid blind walls.
SUPERSEAL Waterproofing for Blind Walls
SUPERSEAL Double Drain with Geo, waterproof coating, and waterproof tape with a carrier sheet provides an unmatched blindside application with dual drainage.
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SUPERSEAL Double Drain with Geo
Installed with the geotextile side facing the shotcrete, it provides soil filtration and allows water to drain freely along the wall face. The opposite side (without fabric) creates an open dimple channel. -
Carrier Sheet
Applied over the dimpled side of the Double Drain (the side without geotextile), the carrier sheet completes the dual drainage and provides a smooth substrate for the waterproofing layer. -
SUPERSEAL Waterproof Coating (40 or 60 mil)
Sprayed onto the carrier sheet, it forms a continuous, seamless waterproof barrier. Once the shotcrete is placed against this system, the waterproofing is permanently locked in place. -
SUPERSEAL Waterproof Tape
Used to seal seams and terminations, ensuring the system remains watertight across overlaps and detailing.
Mmulti-layer Protection:
- The geotextile side against the shotcrete acts as a soil filter and drainage plane.
- The carrier sheet + waterproof coating create a durable, watertight barrier.
- The dual-dimple design relieves hydrostatic head pressure and directs water safely down to the perimeter drain.
Specifications & Instructions
Need help specifying your blind wall waterproofing system? Contact SUPERSEAL for expert guidance or request a quote today.