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MEL DRAIN - DRAINAGE COMPOSITE
Mel Drain is a dimple-raised, molded polystyrene sheet bonded to high strength polypropylene fabric. This geocomposite allows the passage of moisture through the fabric while preventing fine soils from entering the drainage channel. It can be used for commercial buildings, underground parking, retaining walls, plaza decks and more.
SHIPPING
✔ All items ship for free (standard ground, see map)
☏ Call: (800) 583-4891 for pricing and shipping questions.
Orders typically ship within 1 business day. Transit times are generally 3 business days. The day that the order is shipped is not counted as a transit day.
This product is warehoused in 11 locations across the country. *Subject to being out of stock at any particular location.
FAQ
Discover Why Mel-Drain Might Be A Perfect Choice For A Moisture Protection System
Soil is made up of many layers that dictate how well water can move through, therefore, good drainage plays an important part in a moisture protection system. Layers that are low permeability will capture water and create enormous pressure against below-grade walls.
It is a well-designed moisture protection system that protects the membrane and offers uninterrupted water flow that bypasses the soil layers that cause problems. It’s critical for engineers, architects and designers to keep water out of the below-grade structure by maintaining indoor air efficiency while helping to reduce the build-up of mildew and mold.
Mel-Rol, developed by W..R. Meadows, is a below-grade waterproofing system that should be used with this dimple board. The combination creates an excellent waterproofing barrier that resists the interruption of water, sending it away from the building by directing it to reservoirs or water tanks.
Mel Drain Installation
Features and Benefits:
- It provides high-flow capacities without clogging while easing hydrostatic pressure buildup.
- High-compression strength that is reliable and delivers long-lasting performance.
- Dependable for various job site conditions, is easy to install, and the installation costs aresignificantly lower than other products.
- It’s chemically-resistant to soil conditions and can be used in a variety of applications.
- This is part of the complete W.R. Meadows moisture protection systems. It’s trouble-free whileproviding a single-source solution.
You’ve Got The Requirements & We Have The Solution
Mel-Drain is a dimple-raised molded polystyrene sheet bonded to a super-strong polypropylene fabric. It allows the passage of moisture through the fabric while preventing fine soil and sediments from entering the drainage channel. There are different designs available, depending on the soil pressure and flow specifications. Also, there is an optional polyester backing film that’s available when in conjunction with a flexible waterproofing material.
The complete line of dimple board products offers excellent protection in horizontal, vertical, and various site applications. Used along with W.R. Meadows’ moisture protection system, this is the perfect choice for a prefabricated drainage system.
The Various Applications Include:
- Commercial buildings
- Retaining walls
- Underground parking
- Site drainage
- Basement walls
- Earth-sheltered homes
- Plaza docks
When using waterproofing membrane from W.R. Meadows, always use this product to create a long-lasting prefabricated drainage system.
All you have to do is unroll the drainage board on the wall or on waterproofing material. Pointing Mastic or Mel-Prime from W.R. Meadows can be used to attach this drainage board to the substrate. It can be cut with scissors or construction knives and is compatible with both vertical and horizontal applications. Always request free samples before starting your project.
Storage & Handling Directions For Mel-Drain
In order to store it at the job site or in a warehouse, please abide by the following requirements:
- Show caution when unloading the product to ensure the material is not damaged.
- The material should remain in their original packaging until it’s ready to be installed.
- Make sure the materials are stored in a protected environment until installation.
- Materials that are not shipped in UV-resistant bags must be stored indoors or under a UV-protective covering in order to protect the materials from direct exposure to sunlight.
- Materials placed in UV-resistant bags can be stored outdoors in a UV-exposed environment fora maximum of 180 days.
- If the material is not packaged and placed in a UV-exposed area, it must be installed within 14days.
- Never install materials during high wind.
- Do Not install when temperatures are below 20° F (-6.7° C) or above 100° F (37.8° C).
- Do Not expose the materials to chemicals that consist of strong acids, strong bases, or havehigh solvent content.
- Protect materials from damage caused by flames, on-site construction, or other harmfulenvironmental conditions.
About the Product
These products are made from geotextile filter fabrics with specifically designed drainage cores. The geocomposite allows for easy passage of moisture through the fabric while preventing soils from getting into the drainage channel. There are various drains designs available for your project needs, depending on compressive strength and flow rate requirements. You can also get an optional polyester backing film when used with flexible waterproofing material.
The drain line of products offers superior protection and drainage performance for vertical, horizontal, or site drainage applications.
What It Is Used For
Used with a total W.R. Meadows moisture protection system, it is the perfect choice for improved waterproofing protection for basement walls, plaza decks, commercial buildings, retaining walls, underground parking, earth-sheltered homes, site drainage, along with other applications.
Mel Drain Vertical Application
Excellent Benefits
It provides high-flow capacities without clogging, preventing hydrostatic pressure from building up.
It’s very easy to install, long-lasting under job site conditions, and installation is extremely affordable.
It’s chemically resistant to all-natural soil conditions, allowing for various applications.
Offers protection for waterproofing materials that improve waterproofing performance.
This is a part of the complete W.R. Meadows moisture protection system, is trouble-free, and a single-source solution.
Installation Instructions
For vertical below-grade installation, unroll it with the flat, core side against the wall or waterproofing material. Pointing Mastic or Mel-Prime from W.R. Meadows are excellent adhesives that are compatible with this installation.
The flat side core lip is overlapped to offer a continuous drainage layer. Extra filter fabric is provided at the edges of the overlapping for the next sheet.It is very easy to cut using construction knives or scissors.
For horizontal installations, unroll and overlap so the water runs through. If needed, add the appropriate ballast to hold down the drainage board.
Preventative Measures
Until it’s time to install, make sure the materials are stored in a protective environment. Materials that are not shipped in UV-resistant bags must be stored indoors or under separate UV-protective cover to protect the material from direct sunlight. Materials placed in UV-resistant bags can be stored in outdoor UV-exposed environments for a maximum of 180 days. Materials that are not packaged should be limited to exposure within 14 days of installation.
Avoid installing during times of high wind. Do Not expose the materials to chemicals that are strong acids, strong bases, or have high levels of solvents.
Protect materials from damage caused by flames or other environmental conditions that might lead to damage. It is not recommended that the materials be installed when temperatures are below 20° F (-6.7° C) or above 100° F (37.8° C). Do Not install when long-term operational temperatures are expected to be below ‐20° F (-18.9° C) or above 150° F (65.6° C).
Mel-Drain Rolls on the Jobsite
The Guide For Vertical Installation
For installation in vertical or near-vertical applications, the drainage board should be temporarily secured in place before soil back restoration or wall formation. The normal attachment includes construction adhesives, mechanical fasteners which usually involve using a nail gun, double-sided tapes, insulation anchors, and nails through washers or wood lathing. Construction adhesives that are high in solvent content should be avoided as the drainage composite can be damaged. Acceptable methods depend on what kind of substrate Mel-Drain is being attached to.
When attaching this product to concrete or wood, the best practices are construction adhesives, double-sided tape, or mechanical fasteners.
Attaching the dimple board to the soil, the most common practice is using 4" - 8" (101.6 203.2 mm) galvanized nails with a spacing of 4' (1.2 m). The length of the nails will depend on the surface which the drainage composite is being attached to. Nails should have heads and washers or use wood lathing to prevent the nail heads from being driven through the Mel Drain.
At the top edge, show caution when installing the fasteners. Use a Termination Bar from W.R. Meadows in all installations. Keep in mind, fasteners should only be used at the top edge of the installation. Do Not use fasteners in the waterproofing membrane installation below the top. Under no circumstances should you allow the waterproofing membrane to become damaged. If you need to use fasteners to pierce the waterproofing membrane, see our Fastener Penetration Technical Bulletin for all proper recommendations.