Project Manager – Assurance Services
Membrane specialist Russell Clarke puts the proof into waterproof.
As a project manager in BRANZ’s Assurance Services team, Russell specialises in waterproofing membranes, the systems that keep water out of buildings. His work covers low-slope roofs, below-ground tanking membranes, and under-tile waterproofing – areas where failure is often difficult and costly to fix.
He manages the appraisal process for these products, evaluating whether they are fit for purpose and meet durability requirements. This involves reviewing test data or commissioning further testing where needed, and working closely with the BRANZ materials team to determine how long a product is likely to last. Over his career, he’s issued around 280 appraisals and continues to oversee their revalidation.
Waterproofing is a high-risk area of construction, and there are only limited standards for membranes in Aotearoa New Zealand. In the aftermath of the leaky homes crisis, the building and construction industry sought independent assurance that membrane systems would perform. The person BRANZ turned to for that assurance was Russell – a role he still fulfils more than twenty years later.
Russell’s expertise is grounded in more than five decades working with materials, beginning in laboratories manufacturing foam and paint. While membrane technology continues to evolve, the basic materials are essentially the same: “When Noah waterproofed his ark, he used bitumen.” The challenge is not whether the materials will last; it's whether the buildings around them will. “Most of these membrane systems would survive a nuclear holocaust. It's usually the structure or joints that fail.”
While Russell’s experience shapes his work, he sees his biggest strength as relationship building. And as he looks to the future, he is focused on passing his knowledge and connections to the next generation, ensuring his legacy continues.
"I’d say my job is 80% attitude and 20% aptitude. Relationships are what really matter."