With more than 35 years in the construction sector, Colin Picton brings deep industry knowledge and an international perspective to his role as Fosroc ANZ’s Product Segment Specialist for Waterproofing and Sealants.
Originally from London, Colin’s career has seen him solve all manner of waterproofing challenges throughout the UK, Australia and the Asia Pacific. In his current role, he collaborates closely with the Fosroc ANZ national sales team, offering expert technical advice on waterproofing and sealant product selection and application. He also evaluates Fosroc ANZ's product range on a rolling basis, to ensure it continues to align with market demands and innovations in construction.
Ensuring durable and effective waterproofing
As Colin explains, waterproofing and sealants is a diverse segment with lots of complexity.
“It’s not just sheets, liquids and sausages. At Fosroc ANZ, we waterproof projects from the basement to the rooftop and everything in between, including the waterstops and joints. As a team, our top priority is to provide tailored, fit-for-purpose solutions. We don’t just shoehorn products in.”
Colin says Fosroc ANZ’s key point of difference is its wide range of high-performance products that deliver first class waterproofing and sealant outcomes.
“Proofex Engage is very popular as a unique, fully bonded system for below ground waterproofing of basement walls and foundations. As part of the system we have waterstops that can protect joints from water ingress as well as provide chemical resistance and then provide the appropriate sealant on top to suit the specific challenge, be it Nitoseal, Flamex or Thioflex.”
“Above ground, our solutions include Polyurea WHE110 spray applied membranes externally or Nitoproof membranes hand-applied internally to wet rooms or indeed externally to balconies and rooftops, exposed or paved.”
Colin is excited about the release of Proofex ORG and Proofex OFB – advanced Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) sheet waterproofing membranes that are particularly suited to roofing applications.
“Our new Proofex ORG and Proofex OFB see TPO membranes as part of our offer for the first time,” he says. "Innovations like this are part of the reason I enjoy my role, which comes with day-to-day diversity as well as the opportunity to build relationships with fantastic people across the Australian construction sector."
Local solutions, global perspective
Colin’s international experience gives him a broad understanding of wide-ranging waterproofing challenges.
“All over the world, waterproofing issues are similar, but the solutions are different depending on local construction dynamics. While other comparable nations such as Britain have strict waterproofing standards below ground, which we tend to reference as an industry, Australia has nothing of its own in terms of an Australian Standard. It’s in the pipeline, but a little way off at the moment.”
Raising the profile of waterproofing through industry engagement
Colin has seen first-hand the impact of inadequate or defective waterproofing and is a big believer in ongoing training to stay abreast of product developments and application techniques that can secure a building’s structural integrity.
“Education is key to preventing defects. Best practices must be understood and applied,” he says. “There’s growing interest in this area, as the construction industry and its regulators grapple with the fallout from major projects where waterproofing hasn’t been prioritised or correctly undertaken.”
Colin regularly delivers industry education seminars via his involvement with the Australian Waterproofing Institute (AIW) as a member of its National Technical Team. He strongly supports the Institute’s mission to “increase awareness of the critical importance of waterproofing to the construction industry and raise standards in waterproofing practice.”
To this point, Fosroc ANZ offers waterproofing training for engineers, architects, specifiers and applicators via its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.
“We’ve also invested in purpose-built training facilities up and down the eastern seaboard, where our experienced Fosroc team provide expert training on the science behind our waterproofing and sealant products, when to use them and how best to apply them.”
Raising the bar in waterproofing
Colin says Fosroc ANZ is dedicated to helping clients meet regulations and avoid costly issues.
“Through our free specification service, we actively assist construction professionals to identify potential problems and make the right adjustments for the best results,” Colin explains.
Fosroc ANZ leads the industry by publishing independent product test results on its website.
“We don’t just claim compliance – we prove it with publicly available independent test certificates as well as heavy investment in R&D. That’s the confidence we bring to the industry.”
The Fosroc difference
Colin believes that Fosroc stands out due to its high-performing waterproofing and sealant products and outstanding customer service.
“Our sales, specification and technical teams prioritise solutions over just selling products. Every team member is committed to delivering the best outcome for the end user,” he says.
“We also have strong production capabilities and reliable product supply nationwide. Plus, with our local presence, we provide expert on-site guidance on the most durable and effective waterproofing and sealant solutions.”
To get in touch with Colin or request advice about waterproofing and sealant products, complete the form at the bottom of this page.
Further information:
- Read our Proofex TPO Product Spotlight
- Download our Sealant Solutions brochure
- Download our Torch Applied Waterproofing brochure
- Download our Liquid Applied Waterproofing brochure
- Get waterproofing and sealant specification right with Fosroc ANZ’s complimentary specification service
