Enkadrain Family of Drainage Products

Enkadrain is a proven drainage products that has been used worldwide for over 25 years in a myriad of applications. It got its first job in Europe More than 25 years ago successfully draining soil and offering hydrostatic pressure relief.

Over the years, the Enkadrain product line has grown to meet the demands of the rapidly changing construction market. As building designs have become more complex, architects and engineers have been called upon to work more creatively with materials that add value and save resources. Always innovative and on the cutting edge of technology, Colbond Building Products has now added a complete line of geocomposite drains made from recycled polymers that contribute to the LEED program.

Let's explore some of the areas that Enkadrain excels.

• Enkadrain 3000: A three-layer composite consisting of a polypropylene geotextile filter, a polypropylene drainage core, and a polypropylene nonwoven geotextile on the other side. This model is suitable for small and medium-sized applications that require moderate drainage.

This product is suitable for small and medium-sized applications that require moderate drainage, such as residential landscaping, building foundations, and retaining walls.

• Enkadrain 3601: A high-performance, three-layer composite with an HDPE drainage core and a nonwoven geotextile filter on one side. This model offers high drainage capacity and excellent filtration performance, making it ideal for applications such as highways, airport runways, and sports fields.

This high-performance product is ideal for applications that require high drainage capacity and excellent filtration performance, such as highways, airport runways, sports fields, and landscaping projects.

• Enkadrain 3801: A premium, three-layer composite with an HDPE drainage core and a nonwoven geotextile filter on one side. This model offers the highest drainage capacity of all Enkadrain models, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications such as industrial sites and high-traffic areas.

This premium product offers the highest drainage capacity of all Enkadrain models, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications such as industrial sites, high-traffic areas, and underground structures.

• Enkadrain 3511R: A three-layer composite with a polypropylene drainage core and a woven geotextile filter on both sides. This model offers high filtration efficiency and is resistant to clogging, making it ideal for applications such as green roofs and landfill drainage.

This product is designed for applications that require high filtration efficiency and resistance to clogging, such as green roofs, landfill drainage, and athletic fields.

• Enkadrain 3615:

• Enkadrain 3811:

Enkadrain for Planters and Plaza Decks

Enkadrain offers excellent drainage for planters and plaza decks. By replacing gravel, it reduces weight and increases soil area for a healthier root mass.

Enkadrain 3000R Series products are a new generation of the Enkadrain family. These new drainage composites are made of a post-industrial recycled polypropylene drainage core of fused, entangled filaments and a geocomposite fabric bonded to one or two sides. These products can contribute up to 2 LEED points when used in conjunction with other recycled content products.

A family of three-dimensional, multilayer drainage products consisting of a core of fused, entangled filaments and one or two nonwoven geotextile fabrics attached. Designed to relieve hydrostatic pressure from soils abutting below grade structures, Enkadrain provides a lightweight alternative to traditional sand and gravel drains. The geotextile filter fabric allows water to pass through to the polymeric core as it retains the surrounding soil. Ground water is then channeled through the Enkadrain core to a perforated pipe, weep hole or other discharge system before it ever reaches subsurface walls - keeping the structure dry.

Where Will You Find Enkadrain Products?

• Foundations & Retaining Walls
• Commercial Building
• Insulated Concrete Forms
• Planters Plaza Deck
• Beneath Slabs
• Underground Parking
• Lagging Walls
• Blind Forms
• Roof Gardens
• Wood Structures

Why Do Architects and Engineers Trust Enkadain Products on Their Projects?

• highly flexible - conforms to all surface shapes

• proven and predictable flow rates

• longer and wider rolls reduce installation costs

• no core overlap required - fabric overlap for easier seaming

• protects waterproofing during and after backfill

• continuous flow even under high loads

• fabric provides excellent bonding surface for shotcrete

Is Enkadrain Environmentally Friendly?

Enkadrain 3000R Series products are a new generation of the Enkadrain family. These new drainage composites are made of a post-industrial recycled polypropylene drainage core of fused, entangled filaments and a geocomposite fabric bonded to one or two sides. These products can contribute up to 2 LEED points when used in conjunction with other recycled content products.

A family of three-dimensional, multilayer drainage products consisting of a core of fused, entangled filaments and one or two nonwoven geotextile fabrics attached. Designed to relieve hydrostatic pressure from soils abutting below grade structures, Enkadrain provides a lightweight alternative to traditional sand and gravel drains. The geotextile filter fabric allows water to pass through to the polymeric core as it retains the surrounding soil. Ground water is then channeled through the Enkadrain core to a perforated pipe, weep hole or other discharge system before it ever reaches subsurface walls - keeping the structure dry.

What Are The Differences Between The Enkadrain Products?

Drain Flow (gal.min/ft):

When comparing Enkadrain 3611R, 3615R, and 3811R, regardless of the soil seepage (gal.min/ft)  or the backfill depth (10 ft to 40 ft), Enkadrain 3611R has the largest drain flow (gal.min/ft) value whether it's silty sand with a K value of .33, Clayey San K value of .42, or Sandy Clay K value of .56.  Enkadrain 3811R has the least amount of drain flow.

Sloped Green Roof Gradients:

For a Flat <1° (<2%) roof gradient, Enkadrain 90118, 9120, and 9125 are recommended.

For a Low 1-5° (2-9% ) roof gradient, Enkadrain 9010, 3611, 3615, 3811 and EnkaRetain&Drain 3111 and EnkaRetain&Drain 3211 are recommended.

For a Steep 5-20° (9-36%) roof gradient, Enkadrain 3610, 3801, 7910,  EnkaRetain&Drain 3111 and EnkaRetain&Drain 3211 are recommended.

For a Very Steep >20° (>36%) roof gradient, Enkadrain 3601, 3801 and 7910 are recommended.

Profile Heights of Enkadrain Drainage Products

Various green roof scenerios call for different Enkadrain products. Enkadrain comes in a thin, regular and high profile format.

Common Questions and Solutions:

Question:  For roofs that have ponding water which can cause plant distress, which Enkadrain should be used?

Answer: Enkadrain 9118, Enkadrain 9120, and Enkadrain 9125 will lift the growing plants above the ponding water.

Question:  The roof has sufficient fall to the drain, but we need drainage to convey rounoff to roof drains. What do you recommend?

Answer:  Enkadrain 9010, Enkadrain 3611, Enkadrain 3615, Enkadrain 3811 or Enkadrain 3811 will move the water.  If you need the drains to offer high water storage capacity, EnkaRetain&Drain 3111, or EnkaRetain&Drain 3211 will do the job.

Question:  The water on the roof runs off too quickly on steep slope, thus the growing substrate can become dry especially near the top of the roof.

Answer:  If you need to slow down the runoff and allow time for the rain to saok into the grwoing substrate, use Enkadrain 3601, Enkadrain 3801, or Enkadrain 7910.  If you need to retain the water and compensate for the higher runoff, then use either EnkaRetain&Drain 3111, or EnkaRetain&Drain 3211.

Question:  The roof has and exceedingly steep gradient and thus a very high runoff. We risk the green roof materials sliding off.

Answer:  Enkadrain 3601, Enkadrain 3801, or Enkadrain 7910.

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Turf Reinforcement Mats

Turf reinforcement mats offer erosion protection and control to hill sides.  They help the newly planted vegetation take root in the presence of flowing water. Water exerts extreme force on plants and can thus up-root them in its path.  

When it comes to tensile strength, how much is considered enough? The lack of standardized test protocol and lack of standardized specifications for Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRM’s) have led to much confusion in the marketplace. One particular point of confusion lies in the question of how much tensile strength is required of a turf reinforcement mat to provide satisfactory performance? 

Channel Linings:

For Channel Linings, there are two widely accepted methodologies that allow the designer to examine the permissible velocity or permissible tractive (shear) force to determine the suitability of a given lining. For slope design, some form of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is commonly used. It is important to point out that Tensile Strength is not used in any of these design methods.

A secondary consideration of tensile requirement of TRM’s depends on the severity of the exposure, primarily related to the depth of flow and the topography, as well as on how frequently the TRM is anchored to the ground surface. The most severe case would involve deep flow within a steep channel with infrequent anchoring of the TRM. Conversely, TRM installations exposed only to rainfall impact and sheet runoff on slopes of modest steepness would require minimal tensile strength.

Turf Reinforcement Mats Installation Stresses:

But what about installation stresses? Generally the greatest tensile stresses that TRM’s are exposed to occur during installation. The deployment, edge burial, pinning or stapling, and soil covering (if required) of the TRM may involve pulling on it, walking on it, pounding on it, driving on it, dumping on it, and/or compacting on it. These imposed forces are usually nominal, but they may be important to consider if the installer is inexperienced or careless.

Tension Resulting from Anchorage

The imposed shear will be resisted either by anchorage at points (i.e. pins or staples) or by anchorage in trenches. [The general usage of anchoring devices such as pins or staples is intended as a temporary means of securely fastening the TRM to the soil to ensure intimate contact between the TRM and the soil until vegetation is established. While anchor trenches are permanent and the pins or staples are temporary, it is prudent to assume these devices will contribute some tensile resistance.] These anchorages prevent the TRM from moving with the flow through developing tension in the TRM. The magnitude of the tension can be determined using Equation 1 and multiplying by the contributory area.

Tension Resulting from Anchorage

Calculation of tension resulting from point anchorage. The total required tension to be resisted by each anchorage point can be determined by multiplying the required tension by the contributory area for each anchorage. The contributory area is determined by anchorage spacing. Calculation of tension resulting from trench anchorage. The total required tension to be resisted by an anchor trench can be determined by multiplying the required tension by the contributory area. The contributory area is the unanchored length of TRM below the trench.

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• Parts made from plastic are strong yet lightweight. They are easy to maneuver and put to use.
• Hard plastic has excellent weather ability. It is durable, knock-and-scratch resistant.  Flexible plastic sheeting on the other hand does not weather well at all unless it has a U.V. additive added to the formulation to allow it to withstand the U.V. from the sun and atmosphere.
• Hard plastic such as HDPE does not rot or corrode.
• Plastic is remarkable in the fact that it has limitless possibilities in design achived by extrusion, bending and molding.  When plastic is made into its flexible form, plastic sheeting has countless applications it assists.
• Plastic both hard and in the flexible form can be sewn and nailed.
• Plastic can be recycled.
• It is a poor conductor of electricity.

Products Made Of Plastic in the Construction Industry:

• Insulation materials: PVC sheets, insulating membranes.
• Pipes  : Electrical Conduits, Rain Water & Sewage pipes, Plumbing, Gas Distributions.
• Cables : PVC Insulation on cables, Insulation Tapes .
• Flooring : Flooring tiles & Rolls .
• Domes / sky lights : Opaque as well as transparent.
• Roofing  : colored or Double skinned for insulation.
• Windows & doors : Extruded sections for Door and windows and panels.

Like any industry, when you work in that industry you come to understand what is mean by varying terminologies.  Let's take a look at some common terms that are used in the plastic sheeting world to help clarify what is mean by each term.

Q:  What is considered Hard Plastic Sheeting?

A:    Hard plastic sheeting is plastic that for the most part won't bend. For example, corrugated plastic sheets, polycarbonate plastic, Acrylic sheets, UHMW-PE plastic boards (Ultra High Molecular Weight- Polyethylene, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) to name a few.

Q:  Is 80 mil HDPE hard plastic?

A:  HDPE as it get thick seems hard, but a better term would be rigid.  It is surprising just how rigid thick HDPE actually is when you get it in your hands.

Q:  What is meant by "plastic panels"?

A:  Plastic panels are boards or panels made from plastic, and various types of plastic. Examples of plastic panels include- Plexiglas sheets, polycarbonate sheets, corrugated panels, etc. 

Q:  What is 6 mil plastic sheeting?

A: 6 mil plastic sheeting is referring to the thickness of generally flexible polyethylene film. 6 mil plastic sheeting can come in a wide variety of colors- for example- 6 mil black plastic sheeting, 6 mil white plastic sheeting and so on.  It someone wants a film that is thicker and a bit stronger than 6 mil, they would ask for 8 mil plastic sheeting or 10 mil and so on.

Q:  When is plastic sheeting for greenhouses used?

A:  Plastic sheeting for greenhouses is used most of the time. It is the most economical way to create a roof of a greenhouse.  Alternatives to plastic film for a greenhouse is making a Plexiglas greenhouse, or a glass greenhouse.  While 6 mil plastic sheeting is used for greenhouses, today there are much stronger forms of plastic sheeting such as Solawrap greenhouse plastic. It too is a polyethylene film, but it has a layer of bubbles in the middle which vastly strengthen the film.

Q:  What are acrylic sheets?

 A:  Acrylic sheets are hard plastic sheets that are used for a variety of things.  What is referred to as "Plexiglas" and "Perspex" are  brands of acrylic sheets. The subtle differences between acrylic and Plexiglas is that Plexiglas is harder than normal acrylic.  It is also more chemical resistant than traditional acrylic. There are colored acrylic sheets. acrylic sheets that are used in aquariums and so on.

Q;  Where can you buy plastic sheeting and hard plastic sheeting?

A:  Global Plastic Sheeting is a company that sells mostly flexible plastic sheeting- but they do have corrugated sheets which are hard plastic.  What differentiates Global Plastic Sheeting from big box stores is that they carry a very wide range of plastic sheeting in different mil thicknesses and made from different forms of polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, etc).  Plastic Sheeting from Home Depot is usually the thinner generic type of plastic sheeting.

Q:  White Plastic Sheeting is What?

A:  What is meant by white plastic sheeting is a polyethylene film that is white in color. It is also referred to as white poly sheeting. It comes in various mil thicknesses such as 10 mil white plastic sheeting.  White plastic sheeting comes in rolls  but can also come in white plastic panels. White plastic sheeting is quite common. You can find it on line at Global Plastic Sheeting, or big box stores such as Lowes.

 With so many types of plastic sheeting to chose from- thick, flexible, rigid, fire retardant, anti-static, string reinforced and more, ask lots of questions and get the best option for your project.

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What is Plastic Sheeting/ visqueen? Can it be recycled? What are some of the more common uses?

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Plastic sheeting is also referred to as "plastic film, visqueen, poly". An analogy would to plastic wrap one uses to cover food, only much thicker and it much bigger rolls. Visqueen is a brand of polyethylene plastic sheeting that is usually LDPE. Polyethylene can be recycles and breaks down in the sun if it doesn't have a UV additive to protect it.

There are so many varied uses for plastic sheeting which is often referred to interchangeably as "Visqueen." It's important to note that most of the plastic sheeting on this site is engineered plastic not "visqueen".  Engineered plastic is made from virgin resins, not reground plastic. Let's explore twelve of the common uses.                                                                                                                        

• Shelters or Temporary Protection

When hurricanes strike or disasters ensue, its plastic sheeting that is often used to create temporary shelters.  Often string reinforced plastic is used because it is stronger and will hold up to wind. 

• Coverings for Outdoor Equipment, Wood Piles, Furniture

String Reinforced plastic sheeting is commonly used as well as non-reinforced plastic to make covers for a variety of items.  Grommets and hems can be added to the plastic so it can be held down in place.

• Waterproofing Ponds, Lakes, Canals

Liners for ponds, lakes and canals use a variety of plastic sheeting called, High Density Polyethylene or HDPE to line their basins.  This virgin poly will hold up to the sun and elements. 

• Recreational Uses such as Ice Skating Rinks, Slip and Slides

The beauty of plastic sheeting is it can be engineered for specific uses.  With the addition of special additives, plastic sheeting can work long and hard for the application it was designed for.  Ice skating rinks and slip and slides are an example of this.  Very large or long rolls of plastic can be ordered from a manufacturer to serve these purposes.

• Rain Collection- Read about a winery who did just that.

There is special plastic sheeting that does not harm fish or humans and can thus be used for rain collection or aquaponics.  Plastic can leach out chemical especially if it is construction and agricultural grade- as that plastic is mixed with regrind that is not pure virgin polyethylene.

• Closing Off Rooms for Remodeling

With the help of an amazing product called ZipWall which will hold plastic sheeting up to the ceiling- you can close off a room where work is being done.  This is especially great if dust is flying around from workman activities.

• Abatement work for Lead Paint

Lead paint abatement is a big deal.  It is very important that lead paint that is being scrapped off a surface does not contaminate other rooms in the house.  This is a great place to use plastic sheeting. Anti-static fire retardant plastic is a great choice for this application because the lead dust won't stick to the plastic sheeting. It can be swept up and removed.

• Protecting flooring, carpeting, counters, Tubs

There are full lines of plastic that have adhesive on one side so they can stick to the surface they are protecting!  Each type (Carpet Plastic, Tile Plastic, Countertop Plastic, etc) have specially formulated adhesive so it sticks just right to that surface.  For example, you need a stronger adhesive to stick the plastic to carpeting than you do for plastic being applied to counter.  Self-adhesive plastics are great for protecting surfaces from dogs, children's activities, adult parties and more!

• Black Out Curtain for Halloween, Movie Sets, Museum Work

Black fire retardant plastic sheeting is used all the time by commercial haunted houses, movie sets, aerospace companies and museums to list a few.  This plastic is certified to be fire retardant- thus not contributing to a fire should one ensue.

• Greenhouse Roofing

Plastic polyethylene sheeting has been used for years and years to create greenhouses.  Today there are state of the art coverings for greenhouses that last a lot longer than the old school 6 mil plastics of yester-year.  This remarkable product is called, SolaWrap! It is plastic sheeting with bubbles in the layers.  The bubbles act to insulate the house from heat and cold, while adding strength. There are a lot more attributes that you can learn about by clicking on the link.

• Aquaponic

Today there is a specialized type of plastic sheeting that has been created especially for aquaponics. It is called Ultra FGC. Ultra FGC is a food grade compliant liner that was engineered to be not only better for the environment, but better for your business.  When we speak of the environment we mean minimizing the raw material usage- thus leaving a smaller environmental footprint. It's better for your business because we reduced the weight of the liner while increasing the capabilities and strength of the plastic.

• Under slab vapor barrier

Moisture resides in the earth and has a way of finding its way to the surface. This moisture is a problem for concrete slabs and the flooring that will be placed on the concrete. Under Slab vapor barriers are plastic sheeting barriers that are placed below the concrete to block the water from reaching the concrete.  Vapor barriers do have low levels of moisture permeance. Get a copy of the spec sheet for the vapor barrier to understand what grade of vapor barrier is being placed under the slab.

Back in the 1950's a 6 m

il layer of plastic sheeting was used as a "vapor barrier". Unfortunately, 6 mil plastic still lets water pass through its cell allowing water to come through. 6 mil is so thin, that often it tears when it is put in place. A stronger less permeable is a much safer solution.

Plastic sheeting is a polyethylene film that comes in many different colors and thicknesses. It also comes in a variety of grades or qualities.

Grades of Plastic Sheeting

 "Virgin Polyethylene" is the highest form of plastic sheeting today.  This varies wildly from Visqueen. Visqueen has become one of the generic names for plastic sheeting, just as Kleenex has become the generic name for tissue. When someone asks for Visqueen, they are referring to a lesser grade of plastic sheeting. The plastic sheeting known as Visqueen has become a generic name for Construction and Agricultural Grade Polyethylene sheeting (C&A film). C&A film contains up to 25% post consumer recycled content, and is made from the least expensive resins available at any given time. While it is excellent for use in many projects, it is not ideal for any use that requires sustained strength such as a tarp or for use as a vapor/moisture barrier or retarder. People will often do a search for "visqueen vapor retarder", or fire retardant visqueen" when they may be looking for an engineered plastic. An engineered plastic is one that is intentionally designed to meet certain measurable criteria to insure its suitability for the job it is intended for.

Thickness/ Gauge

The thickness of polyethylene is measured in mils, which equals one-thousandth of an inch, or 0.001 inch. Many of the local hardware or box stores will carry very light duty plastic sheeting that could be 1 to 2 mils thick.  Depending on the application will dictate how thick the plastic needs to be.  6 mil is a very common thickness for plastic sheeting- but it can go all the way up to 100 mil! Some refer to the thickness of plastic as "gauge"- but a more precise term is "mil".  Plastic wrap, typically sold on rolls in boxes with a cutting edge, clings to many smooth surfaces and can thus remain tight over the opening of a container without adhesive or other devices. Common plastic wrap is roughly 0.5 mils, or 12.5 µm, thick. Please note that the term "gauge" generally refers to the thickenss of metal.

Roll Sizes

There are so many different roll sizes, thicknesses, and colors on the market.  Here are a few examples:

• 20' x 200' Clear 2 mil Visqueen(Construction and Agricultural grade)
• 12' x 100' White 6 mil Anti-static Fire Retardant
• 3' x 361' GPS Blue 13 mil DeckProtek  Fire Retardant

Notice in the above examples that the last two examples have additives added to them.  An anti-static additive as well as a fire retardant additive can be added to make the plastic both anti-static and fire retardant. 

Plastic sheeting has come a long way with the applications and jobs it is able to assist. Bottom line is, plastic sheeting is a work horse for a variety of projects.

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 We are often asked what the "True" thickness of polyethylene (plastic sheeting) means. The plastic sheeting (engineered films) industry is somewhat unique in that lots of terms get used. "True" means that a film that says it is  6 mils in thickness will measure at that thickness of 6 mils by a micrometer. People in this industry understand that most films are +/-10%, so in the case of 6 mil, a 5.4 mil is commonly accepted as 6 mils.  When films are reinforced, meaning they have strings running through the film, then the film is often measured at the thickest point, where the reinforcement crosses.  Some of these films are as low as 3 mil between the reinforcement grid, yet are sold all day long as a 6 mil film.

There are films that are "true" 6 mil films. One of our films is called, PolyScrim 6.  This reinforced film measures at 6 mils.  Another example of a "true" 6 mil film is, Anti-Static Fire Retardant 6 mil.  It's important to note that plastic sheeting can be made to a multitude of thicknesses to suit the application's needs.  For example, plastic sheeting liners (geomembranes) that are used in landfills need to be really strong- and thus call for a thicker plastic than a job that isn't is rugged. 

If we look at the terminology behind the thickness of plastic sheeting, it starts with the Greek alphabet.  The Greek letter µ when by itself stands for micron. This term has recently been superseded by micrometer or µm. The thickness of plastic (plastic gauge) is expressed in microns. [1 micron (1μ) = 1/1000 mm] 

If you consider the application for the plastic film, now not only does the thickness comes into play but the additives that are added to make the film perform for its intended use. For example, often people need plastic that is fire retardant- so a 6 mil film won't do the job, unless it is certified as fire retardant. The same goes with whether a film will be in the sun.  Without UV inhibitors, a regular piece of plastic won't hold up over time to the sun regardless of the thickness.

There are so many things that go into making an engineered plastic film. Feel free to call us anytime to learn more. Thank you- 866.597.9298

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