What good practice requires

Bette baths and shower trays are engineered to meet the requirements of DIN 18534, the German standard for interior waterproofing, alongside the European guideline ETAG 022 for waterproofing walls and floors in wet rooms. In the UK, British Standards and industry guidance likewise recommend tanking wet areas before tiling. Three principles matter for every installation: Waterproofing is essential. The areas beneath and behind baths and shower trays must be protected against water penetration. Silicone does not count. Sealant joints at the rim are not waterproofing. The rim must be connected to the waterproofing layer, for example with rim sealing tapes or an upstand. Reliability over decades. Waterproofing must perform for the intended service life of the bathroom. In private residential use, that is 20 to 25 years on average.

Which solution suits which installation?

Floor-level shower area, waterproofing done at the factory: BetteSeal+ arrives with the waterproofing membrane already fitted to the shower floor. Silicone-free, maintenance-free wall junction: The BetteUpstand replaces the silicone joint constructively and is tiled over directly. Classic installation with bonded waterproofing: The Sealing System and Sealing System Pro connect the rim to the tanking layer with sealing tapes. Waste connection and waterproofing in one step: The Easy Connect installation box and the BetteAir installation box combine both as a plug and play solution. Flexible complete system for shower floors: The Universal installation system includes support and sealing components for the widest range of installations.

Waterproofing baths and shower trays correctly

Tested watertight. So your bathroom stays protected for decades.

A neat silicone joint looks watertight. Reliable waterproofing it is not. Anyone installing a bath or shower tray properly needs sealing tapes bonded into the tanking layer, a factory-fitted waterproofing membrane or an enamelled upstand.

On this page you will find out why silicone alone is not enough, who is responsible for waterproofing, and which Bette solution suits your installation.

: Silicone joints are maintenance joints. They age, become porous and need renewing at regular intervals. That is why recognised installation standards, including the German benchmark standard DIN 18534 for interior waterproofing, are unambiguous: sealant joints at the rim of a bath or shower tray do not count as waterproofing. If water penetrates a failing joint, it causes damp damage in walls and floors that often stays hidden for years and leads to costly remedial work.

The waterproofing layer must therefore work independently of the silicone joint: with sealing tapes that connect the rim to the bonded waterproofing (tanking), with a factory-fitted membrane or, constructively, with an upstand.
: Bette baths and shower trays are engineered to meet the requirements of DIN 18534, the German standard for interior waterproofing, alongside the European guideline ETAG 022 for waterproofing walls and floors in wet rooms. In the UK, British Standards and industry guidance likewise recommend tanking wet areas before tiling. Three principles matter for every installation:

Waterproofing is essential. The areas beneath and behind baths and shower trays must be protected against water penetration.

Silicone does not count. Sealant joints at the rim are not waterproofing. The rim must be connected to the waterproofing layer, for example with rim sealing tapes or an upstand.

Reliability over decades. Waterproofing must perform for the intended service life of the bathroom. In private residential use, that is 20 to 25 years on average.
: Everyone involved in the build shares responsibility for reliable waterproofing: the designer who specifies the build-up, the installer who fits and connects the bath or tray, and the tiler who applies the tanking and bonds in the sealing tapes.

In practice, most failures occur at the interfaces between trades. Coordinated systems that include the sealing components, or arrive with them factory-fitted, reduce that risk considerably.
: Floor-level shower area, waterproofing done at the factory:

BetteSeal+ arrives with the waterproofing membrane already fitted to the shower floor.

Silicone-free, maintenance-free wall junction:

The BetteUpstand replaces the silicone joint constructively and is tiled over directly.

Classic installation with bonded waterproofing:

The Sealing System and Sealing System Pro connect the rim to the tanking layer with sealing tapes.

Waste connection and waterproofing in one step:

The Easy Connect installation box and the BetteAir installation box combine both as a plug and play solution.

Flexible complete system for shower floors:

The Universal installation system includes support and sealing components for the widest range of installations.

BetteSeal+: the waterproofing is fitted at the factory

With BetteSeal+, the waterproofing is pre-fitted to the shower base at the factory. At its heart is a continuous, 10 cm wide flange made from a single piece: no sharp edges, no adhesive or welded seams. The ultra-thin non-woven membrane flexibly adapts to corners and edges and is compatible with all standard composite waterproofing systems on the market. A sound insulation strip is included in the scope of delivery. BetteSeal+ can be combined with Bette shower bases with a side length of up to 1100 mm, including BetteFloor, BetteFloor Side, BetteUltra and BetteUltra Space.

More about BetteSeal+

BetteUpstand: silicone-free and maintenance-free wall connection

The BetteUpstand eliminates the need for silicone at the wall connection of bath and shower trays. The 35 mm high upstand on the rim of the tray is tiled over directly during installation. The result is a visually and hygienically perfect, completely maintenance-free finish against the wall, which protects against mould and water damage and saves on the recurring costs of replacing silicone joints.

More about BetteUpstand

Installation Box Easy Connect: Connection and sealing in one

The Installation Box Easy Connect is the plug-and-play solution for the secure connection of showers and baths. All sealing components are pre-assembled: the box is connected to the waste pipe and later integrated into the composite waterproofing. Thanks to the sealing sleeve supplied, there is no need for additional sealing tape around the rim of the bath. In combination with the Minimum Support, installation is particularly quick.

More about the Installation Box Easy Connect

Installation Box BetteAir: a perfect fit for the BetteAir shower tile

The Installation Box BetteAir is the plug-and-play solution for securely connecting the BetteAir shower tile. Like the Easy Connect version, it combines the drain connection and sealing components in a pre-assembled unit, but is precisely tailored to the particularly slim design of the BetteAir.

Find out more about the Installation Box BetteAir

Installation System Universal: maximum flexibility

The Installation System Universal, developed by Bette, is a versatile system for installing shower surfaces and shower trays. It offers maximum flexibility during installation and comes complete with all the necessary sealing components, ensuring the highest level of protection against moisture damage.

Find out more about the Installation System Universal