Green Roofs for Roof Gardens & Planters, Green Roofs, Gardens & Planters Roof
INTRODUCTION
The Problem
Since historic times, civil engineers and builders have used
crushed stone (aggregate) or a combination of stone and some
sort of pipe for soil drainage. While providing reasonably
satisfactory results, aggregate drainage has several drawbacks.
Clean and properly sized material is often expensive
or not readily available. Transportation is expensive due to
weight and volume. Quality control requires close monitoring
of material and construction. Waterproofing materials have
to be protected from damage from the aggregate and installation
equipment. Aggregate tends to clog with soil over time,
thereby reducing drainage capability. Despite great care in
the design and construction of aggregate drains, their limitations
often result in increased hydrostatic pressure, which
increases loads on the structure and allows moisture intrusion
into the structure.
The Solution
The availability of plastic geotextile filter fabrics in the 1960's
led to the development of prefabricated plastic drainage material.
This new type of drain, sometimes referred to as prefabricated
drain, combined the soil retention capability of
geotextiles with the water carrying capacity of specially
formed plastic drain cores. The result was new and cost
effective drainage materials for subsurface soil drainage.
Continual development over the past forty years has resulted
in today's prefabricated sheet drains that are now available
with a wide choice of size, compressive strength, flow rate,
filtration, and chemical resistance to suit virtually any drainage
application.
Prefabricated sheet drains have two components that act as
replacements to the aggregate system 1) The geotextile replaces
the aggregate function for water collection and allows
the water to enter the drain without clogging the core and 2)
the formed plastic core replaces the pipe function for transporting
the collected water. Sheet drains typically have a flat
back, which is placed against the underground structure. For
use against soft waterproofing materials, drains may have a
film attached to the backside to protect waterproofing material
from flowing into the back of the cones in the drain.
Water, which flows through the fabric and into the core, is
removed in several ways depending upon the drainage situation.
One of the newest methods is through the use of the DRAIN system, which has a
larger profile core at the bottom to serve as a high flow conduit
to move water to the designated drainage exits.
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS TO FIT YOUR
Foundation Walls
sheet drain used on the outside wall intercepts
ground water before it reaches the structure. Water is
easily routed by the TOTAL-DRAIN system to a discharge
pipe or sump. The sheet drain reduces hydrostatic pressure
load on the walls and slab, which may permit a less expensive
structure. Sheet drain also protects waterproofing and aids in
keeping moisture from entering the basement, as well as reducing
heat loss into the surrounding soil.
Horizontal, or a combination of horizontal and vertical
drain, may be used.
Landfill Caps & Underdrains
sheet drain intercepts rain water in the landfill
cap and routes it away from the landfill. Installing
sheet drain under or on top of the landfill liner
provides controlled exit of leachate.
Athletic Fields, Golf Courses, Playgrounds,
& Landscaping
The high flow capacity of AMERDRAIN sheet drain and
AKWADRAIN sheet drain makes it ideal for quick drainage
of playing fields and golf courses where early use after rains
is desired
Retaining Walls & Bridge Abutments
Use sheet drain to reduce hydrostatic pressure
from the backfill behind the wall and maintain the stability
the entire height of the wall.
Lagging & Shoring Walls
Where space is limited and valuable or where aggregate drainage
would be difficult to install, sheet drain can provide drainage with
its small space requirement andlightweight material.
It can be attached directly to the wall
for full coverage or vertical strips based on drainage needs.
Parking & Plaza Decks
sheet drain is a cost-effective alternative to
aggregate for parking and plaza deck drainage. It is more
efficient and easier to handle than installing a typical aggregate
drainage system. AMERDRAIN sheet drain is quickly
and easily installed, and collects and transports water more
efficiently within a much more confined space. The use of
sheet drain under grouted brick or pavers in
driveways, prevent settlement and freeze-thaw problems
caused by saturated sub-base materials.
Shotcrete & Gunnite Walls
sheet drain in strips or with full coverage can
provide effective drainage for shotcreted walls. The formed
core provides a good surface for adhesion of reinforced
shotcrete or other construction materials.
Pond & Channel Liners
The installation of sheet drain under the channel
liner prevents uplift due to hydrostatic pressure. The chance
of structural failure, or leakage is also greatly reduced.
Earth, Rock & Rolled Concrete Dams
sheet drain may be used to prevent seepage
at the toe of the dam or as a vertical cutoff wall in the structure.
Slope stability during rapid draw down is also aided.
Tunnels & Box Culverts
Water can attack these structures from four directions: top,
bottom and either side. sheet drain provides
rapid removal of water to reduce hydrostatic pressure and to
reduce leakage into the structure. Reinforced shotcrete can
be applied directly to the sheet drain core.
Chimney Drains
sheet drain may be installed in vertical strips where
full coverage is not required.
GreenRoofs, Roof Gardens & Planters
Landscape architects sheet drain as a
lightweight replacement for aggregate drainage. The prefabricated
drain takes only ¼-1 (6-11mm) versus 4-6 (100-
150mm) for gravel, thereby leaving more room for soil. Hauling
gravel several floors up to a roof garden is avoided and lower
roof loads are possible.
