10 mil vs 20 mil...Decisions- Decisions: How to Select A Crawl Space Liner

How do you decide between a 10 mil versus a 20 mil crawl space vapor barrier?  It's kind of like choosing between a lightweight sweater and a thick wool sweater. What are the conditions that surround the situation? Below is a very simplified look at some of the considerations when deciding on a crawl space liner. If you are unsure, speak to someone who is well versed in these liners and can explain the differences to you. (760.597.9298)

10 Answers You Will Need To Know to Help Select the Best Liner for your crawl space:

1. Crawl Space Dimensions: What are the dimensions (length, width, height) of your crawl space?

2. Access Points: How easy is it to access the crawl space? Are there any obstructions or challenges for installation?

3. Moisture Issues: Have you experienced any moisture or water-related problems in the crawl space, such as leaks or flooding?

4. Ventilation: Is the crawl space adequately ventilated, or are there issues with humidity and condensation?

5. Insulation: Is there existing insulation in the crawl space? If so, what type and condition is it in?

6. Pest Concerns: Have you encountered any pest or rodent infestations in the crawl space?

7. Foundation Type: What is the foundation material (e.g., concrete, block, pier, beam) in your crawl space?

8. Current Liner or Cover: Do you have an existing crawl space liner or cover in place, and if so, what is its condition?

9. Future Use: Do you have any plans to use the crawl space for storage or other purposes?

10. Budget: What is your budget for a crawl space liner installation?

Things to Consider:

• If you have a rocky crawlspace in which you will be storing things and walking around, thicker is the smartest way to go. The thing about a crawl space is that you don't want to get it wrong the first time. You don't want to be sitting in your home after the job is completed and smell that awful musty smell that you had before the crawl space liner/ vapor barrier was installed.
• Whether you do the job yourself, or hire someone to do it, its a job that you only want to do once.  Select the strongest, most tear resistant crawl space liner you can, and sleep well at night.  
• A 20 mil string reinforced liner that passes the essential tests is your go to liner in many cases. Part of the assessment revolves around how you will handle radon. There are liners that block radon.

Tests for Crawl Space Vapor Barriers

• Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) test ASTM E 96 measures the water vapor transmission rate, or the rate at which water passes through the plastic sheeting vapor barrier.
• Elongation, Tongue Tear, Trapezoidal Tear and Load Yield are other tests that can tell you how strong the liner is under pressure.  Be sure to ask your installer, or plastic sheeting supplier for this information so you can make an educated decision about which crawl space liner you want to use.

What should you know about crawl space liners?

The Crawl Space Material

The material used for crawl space liners is of utmost importance when looking at how well the vapor barrier will function. Make sure to select a liner made from high-grade raw materials, such as virgin polyethylene, as opposed to "construction grade films" or C & A films. These plastic sheeting products are made from low-grade resins and post-consumer recycled materials, which will not provide the necessary protection from moisture and gases. While commodity films have their purposes in agriculture and construction sites, they are not suitable for crawl spaces.

The Life-Span of the Vapor Barrier

With the goal of one and done- One crawl space vapor barrier and never again have to do this job, the crawl space liners that are made from sub-par plastic or C & A poly AKA Visqueen will decay. The life span of a strong crawl space vapor retarder will resist decay and the attacks from moisture, organisms in the soil and chemicals. Weaker films will come apart and degrade over time.

Questions to Ask a Crawlspace Installer (and you should know the answers)

• What percentage is recycled material?
• Is it better to use 100% Virgin polyethylene?
• I would like to use reinforced virgin polyethylene, may I provide the plastic to install? 
• How will you install, tape and mechanical fasteners on the walls?
• What is the Water Vapor Transmission rate on your plastic?  
• What class is it?

The Issues in a Dirt Floor Crawl Space

• Wet and smelly area
• Allergenic mold spores and Mildew that contributes to rot and health issues 
• Rats/ mice, termites, cockroaches, ants, and crickets may party the night away in a dark wet crawl space
• Radon coming up from the earth

The best bet is to do your homework so you can decide if a lighter 10 mil crawl space liner will do the job, or something heavier such as a 20 mil liner. Knowing that there are certificates/ spec sheets that spell out how the liner is rated will insure you are getting what you are looking for.

 If you need further assistance, we hope you will call us at 760.597.9298.

Here's to your beautiful clean crawl space!

Become A Crawl Space Expert...Read these:

• The Comprehensive Guide to Crawl Space Vapor Barriers

• How Moist Crawl Spaces Affect Your Home's Air Quality

• Unveiling the Mystery: Crawl Space Encapsulation vs. Crawl Space Lining 
  
  
• Understanding Crawl Space Liner Thickness and ASTM E 1745 Compliance

• Signs Your Crawl Space Needs Lining and Why It's Essential

• Choosing the Right Permeance for Your Crawl Space Liner: A Homeowner's Guide

Visit the Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Liner Page Here

Are All  Fabric Structures The Same?

 What do you need to consider when selecting a fabric building manufacturer?

Engineering

Is the fabric building engineered to your site specifications?  There is a difference between having the building "designed" versus "engineered". A designed building may meet the size and dimensions the customer specifies, but it doesn't take into consideration the critical components of the environment- such as wind and snow loads, thermal factors, exposure factors and so on. With a Britespan fabric structure, you will get a quote for an engineered structure that will comply with all North American and International building codes.

Galvanizing

Is All Galvanizing the Same?

No! There are two different types of galvanized pipe: in-line (triple coat/Gatorshield or pre-galvanized) and post production hot dipped galvanized. While both use zinc coating, the application is the most critical part. 

Britespan applies hot dipped galvanizing to all of their trusses post production (after all fabrication is complete), which uses an entirely different process to ensure lifelong corrosion protection and a much longer service life. We start with untreated black structural steel.  We bend and weld the raw steel into our trusses.  Holes are drilled into the pipe to ensure the galvanizing reaches every surface.  After that, the trusses are submerged in a bath of molten zinc where they receive a coating on every surface inside and out that is three times thicker than the coating  on the outside of  in-line galvanized pipe.  This process means that your building will offer a service life that is approximately three times longer than the in-line galvanized alternative.

In-line galvanized pipe is rolled through a waterfall of zinc and the pipe is coated on the outside, painted on the inside, and is then sent out to be manufactured. The pipe is bent, welded into trusses, and shipped out.  Unfortunately, the welding of the trusses burns off the paint on the inside of the pipe, leaving it unprotected and susceptible to rust before it ever gets erected.

Trusses

Truss Weight- Some of the heaviest in the industry!
Many companies claim that they use as much as 30% more steel in their buildings. The question is, 30% more than what? In order to exceed required loading, Britespan has some of the heaviest trusses in the industry. For example, our 42’ truss weights 580 lbs, where as some of our competitors trusses weigh in around 360 lbs. Your building is not something you want to be lightweight.

Truss Depth

Geometry plays a very important role in the structural integrity of a building. The deeper the truss the more rigid it will be. Britespan’s trusses are commonly built deeper, allowing us to adhere to the strictest building codes and provides superior longevity in adverse conditions. Britespan trusses start at 18" of depth and go up to 96" of depth.

Many competitors choose to minimize this truss depth for the sake of price. This leaves the consumer wide open to all of the liability should there be a failure in the building.

Round vs. Square Tubing

Purlins and Cross Cables

Solid Mounted Purlins
What are purlins? Purlins are a section of pipe that keep the trusses spread apart and are responsible for withstanding the wind load against the ends of the building. Many companies use small diameter light gauge purlins. This often results in the building racking or collapsing in severe wind conditions. These companies may also use a saddle bracket and fork connection that wraps around the thruss cord for attachment. This allows for rotation around the cord and offers less rigidity in the connection causing the building to buckle under load. Britespan uses up to 4.5” purlins that are double bolted to the engineered structural truss, providing the strongest building possible.  There are no parts that can move or loosen over time, which increases the lifespan of your cover.

Purlin Construction
The key to ensuring your fabric building will last for a long time is to make sure that the steel remains as rigid as possible. Cover failures occur when the fabric rubs against the steel trusses. Purlins play a critical role in the rigidity of a building. Britespan buildings use a dedicated large diameter one piece solid purlin.  This system provides unparalleled strength and durability in high wind areas.

Cross Cables
The strength of a building is dependent on many factors.  While the amount of steel in the building is the biggest factor, you also need to look at the building’s rigidity.  The less the building moves the longer the fabric will last.  Cross cables in a building dramatically reduce the deflection of the building under load.  Cables must be secure and tight to achieve this benefit.

Britespan uses the best quality cables that are solid mounted to structural truss members that are specifically designed to do the job, and they utilize turnbuckles for easy tensioning. 

Many manufacturers overlook this element and weave their cables through many bays and wrap them around the web of the truss, which is quite often the lightest part of the truss. The cables can slide and move and require maintenance to ensure their tension at all times. This results in buildings that move more in the wind, reducing the life of the fabric.

Tensioning the Covers

Winch Blocks or Ratchet Straps
What is the most important factor in ensuring the longevity of your fabric building? Its ensuring your cover stays tight. Britespan utilizes the cleanest and strongest tensioning system.  Our 10,000 lb. winch blocks hold all of our covers on from 19’ wide and up. In order to be able to sell you a cheap building, many of our competitors will provide you with their standard ratchet strap fastening system. While this is a cost effective alternative up front, the cost of replacing your cover is not. Make sure your fastening system is up for the job!

Tension Pipe
The tension pipe is a pipe that runs parallel with your cover and is attached to the winch blocks. It allows you to put tension on your cover, which is required for longevity and warranty. A loose cover will rapidly result in cover damage that is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Britespan only uses large diameter or oval heavy gauge material for fastening pipe, which allows for even tensioning of the cover without fear of an over tension situation over the trusses.  This means your cover should last 20-25 years under normal circumstances.

The ROI of the Fabric BuildingWhen comparing the costs and advantages of different building types such as wood framed buildings or steel covered buildings to a Britespan fabric building, it can be difficult to know where to start. So we have broken out some of the important components to the performance of any type of building.

Windows for Lighting
A building with non-translucent roofing materials must add windows and or skylights to allow natural (free) daylight to enter the building. Typical window frames and glass for a 4x6 foot window will cost $500 to $1000 (installed estimate). Buildings may require dozens of windows to suitable light the interior. A Britespan building with the translucent fabric cover does not require windows. The light transmission through the covers provides a soft, pleasant interior lighting using natural (free) lighting, even on cloudy days. 

Nighttime Lighting

Without the daytime sunlight, most buildings will require some form of nighttime lighting. Equipment costs, installation costs, and operational costs must all be considered. For a wood or steel construction building, the owner will need to add enough lumens of light to properly light the working area of the building, consuming electricity every minute of use. A Britespan building will require typically 1/3 of the lighting as the bright white underside of the fabric roof reflects and disperses the artificial lighting broadly and evenly, reducing shadows and reaching all areas of the building. 

Ventilation
Britespan buildings feature a high roof design which results in a large volume of interior air space. In agricultural uses, this draws the warm moist air up and away from livestock. With the ability to offer side ventilation, end wall ventilation and roof ventilation, warm moist air, including odours, can easily be vented from buildings. In commercial, retail and industrial uses, the non-permeable fabric cover allows for increased control and air management. Ventilation and heating/cooling systems do not need to compete with the many sources of air inflow/outflow of a conventional building. 

Painting and Re-roofing 
Conventional buildings such as wood sided buildings require frequent maintenance, such as painting or staining, to maintain their visual appearance. In addition, roofs of shingles or tar have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced in a time consuming and labour intensive disruption to your business. If a Britespan building ever needs to be re-roofed the cover replacement techniques can be performed in less time that would normally require removing and re-shingling a roof.

Construction Time
Building construction is necessary, and can be a lengthy process, from site prep to foundation to framework to roofing and siding to interior prep and finishing. Wood and steel buildings with their labour intensive construction techniques, can keep your business waiting on construction for months. A Britespan steel-framed fabric building is pre-engineered at the factory and shipped in component pieces, ready to be erected. With rapid construction techniques, a Britespan building can be erected in weeks instead of months. This minimizes any interruptions to your business operations. 

Insuring your Fabric Building

Protecting your investment is paramount.

Insurability 

Can a Britespan Building be insured?  YES!

Britespan Building Systems Inc. was formed on the foundation of providing the best value to its customers. We are not willing to sacrifice top quality product for the sake of price when selling our buildings. When purchasing any type of building, you are making a substantial investment. Have you ever considered that this investment might not be insurable? Britespan buildings are engineered to comply with the most current building codes, have more steel, and can be insured investments for years to come. 

Of course, you want to make sure your new fabric building is protected by insurance in case something would happen. Some insurance companies have begun excluding or limiting coverage on buildings that do not meet the requirements of the building codes. It may also be difficult to get any value for an uninsurable building when it comes to the sale of the property. Britespan works hand in hand with insurance companies to eliminate the worry on their end. This means that your Britespan building will be insured like the rest of your buildings. 

Why you must meet building codes? Liability 
Some building owners may think it is unnecessary for the building to meet the requirements of the building codes if it is for their own personal use. You should seriously consider the matter of liability if someone is injured in any way while in your building. 

Do  Britespan builings come with a Warranty?
Warranties provide you with peace of mind that if something happens to your product, the company will be there to stand behind it. Warranty length is most commonly 15 years. Britespan offers a 16 year warranty, and we believe in our buildings so much that we actually manufacture our product inside one of our own buildings.

Why Should you Select a Britespan building?

1. HOT DIP GALVANIZING Post-weld hot dip galvanizing bonds to steel to provide lifelong corrosion resistance from the inside out.
2. CLEARSPAN INTERIOR With no interior columns, movement throughout the interior is easy for vehicles and equipment.
3. VENTILATION Large volumes of interior air space give you superior air quality and ventilation.
4. LIGHT Naturally bright interiors create comfortable environments and help reduce energy costs.
5. QUALITY Constructed from quality North American steel and engineered to comply with the most current building codes.
6. RETURN ON INVESTMENT Our structures provide large, bright, secure spaces with reduced operating and maintenance costs.
7. Proven Track Record Britespan has been in the fabric building industry since 1994, offering the widest product line available today. We design, engineer and manufacture each product line in-house. Our structures are engineered to be portable, temporary or permanent, with rapid installs even in remote areas.

We hope this information will help you make an informed buying decision. Watch this Britespan building from start to finish!

There are so many different types of tapes on the market. No wonder customers ask us all the time- 

• What is the best tape for sealing plastic sheeting?
• What's the best over-all tape?
• What's the best tape if the plastic will be outside in the sun?
• What tape should be used on a vapor retarder?
• What's the best tape to seal plastic sheeting that is put in a crawl space?
• What's the best waterproof tape?
• Is there a fish safe tape?
• Is there a tape that adheres to steel?

What is the best tape for sealing plastic sheeting?

When looking to seal plastic sheeting, the environment that it is being used in is what will dictate the best tape to select. Is there moisture, high humidity, sunshine, or water? Is the tape sealing two over-lapping sheet's of a crawl space liner in a moist basement? Or are we talking about sealing a tear in a slip and slide tarp. Is the tape going to be in the sun? For this post, we are going to introduce the films that Global Plastic Sheeting favors.

The best Over-All Tape:

Our most versatile tape, that is water-proof, fish safe, and has UV to protect from the sun's rays, Ultra Perm is the best selection. This tape is EXCEPTIONALLY STICKY. When it is put down, it's not coming up.  If you have a tug of war with two sheets of plastic, the plastic will break before the tape let's go (in most cases).

The Best Tape for a Crawl Space Liner or Vapor Barrier:

If you are sealing a crawl space liner or vapor barrier, Vapor Seaming Tape is a great choice. it is chemical resistant- not that you have chemicals in your basement- and has a nice strong hold. It will resist the moisture coming up from the ground.  If you want a double sided (two-sided) tape for this application, the Butyl Seal Tape is a great choice. It is waterproof, aggressive, flexible and non-hardening.

The Best Tape That is Fire Retardant:

There are two choices when it comes to the tape being flame retardant. Polyken 225 FR  meets FAR 25.853 (a)  and is used in the aerospace industry. It is used in areas where flame retardancy is required.  225 FR seals duct work, fiberglass insulation and more.

Global CFRP Tape is also fire retardant, and virtually leaves no adhesive residue on applications lasting up to 60 days.

The Best Waterproof and/or Fish Safe Tape?

Ultra Perm is the clear cut choice here. It can be used in your pond, slip and slide tarp, and anywhere there is water.  This beast of a tape grabs on, and doesn't let go!

If you really want to be sure and select the best most cost effective tape for your project, just give up a call. If we can't help you, we will attempt to direct you to someone who can. We want to help, and don't want you to get stuck!

Synthetic tur drainage becomes a big deal with rain hits the field. The volume of rainfall plays a factor in how much water must be removed. How well and quickly the water drains from the turf will determine how quickly the game can go on.  When it comes to subsurface synthetic turf drainage there are 3 products that significantly stand out. Below is a brief description of each product with links to the full specification pages.

• Enkaturf Drain 9320
• Enkamat Plus 7420
• Enkadrain Shockpad

Enkaturf Drain 9320

Enkaturf Drain 9320 is a subsurface drainage system that is used beneath natural and synthetic turf fields. It  is a 6 inch wide strip drain product consisting of a 1 inch thick nylon core of fused, entangled filaments completely encased in a nonwoven heat-bonded geotextile fabric.

What Sets Enkaturf Drain 9320 Apart?

Enkaturf Drain strips eliminate the need for perforated drainage pipe and the associated ordeal of installing a larger diameter drain with surrounding aggregate.

The flexible, lightweight characteristics of Enkaturf Drain make it much easier to install than hard, plastic drainage pipes.

• Multiple contact points between core and fabric eliminate fabric stretching into the core
• Core is resilient and will not crack – even under construction vehicles
• Crushed stone can be placed directly on top
• No special couplings or fittings needed at junctions
• Can be installed vertically or horizontally for complete design flexibility

Why Use This Synthetic Turf Drainage Product?

•  Excellent durability
• Thin profile significantly reduces turf trauma during installation
• Conforms to irregular surfaces and corners with complete and effective coverage
• Geometric structure creates safe flow path even during backfill
• Continuous flow even under high loads
• Long rolls reduce installation costs by eliminating interlocking and excessive seams

Enkamat Plus 7420

EnkamatPlus 7420 is a 3-dimensional heavy duty Enkamat core heatbonded to an eight ounce polyester geotextile fabric. The Enkamat core is produced from nylon monofilaments fused together at their intersections.

What Sets Enkamat Plus 7420 Apart?

The 95% open structure of the nylon core allows water and other liquids to drain through to the turf below while providing a tough, walkable surface for players and coaches. Enkamat Plus has a Class A Flame Spread rating per ASTM E84.

Why Select This Synthetic Turf Drainage Product?

•  Rolls out and rolls up in no time flat
• Reusable time and again
• Protects natural turf from being destroyed during games
• Water flows through and does not build up on the surface
• Provides air space between the turf and foot traffic
• Easy to store

Enkadrain ShockPad

Just like the name describes, Enkadrain ShockPad is a full-field drain designed for synthetic turf playing fields and playgrounds that also offers a shockpad layer for player safety. Player safety guidelines for shock absorption has increased over the years. Enkadrain ShockPad comes in full-length rolls for easy installation and quick coverage of the entire field. Other subsurface drain materials, such as aggregate, are reduced because of Enkadrain's characteristic open, entangled filament design and flow rate.

Enkadrain® ShockPad is made of a proprietary polypropylene blend that gives the product exceptional resiliency properties. This drainage composite consists of a polypropylene drainage core of fused, entangled filaments and a geocomposite fabric bonded to each side. The entangled filaments are molded into a pyramid pattern that maintains the flexible design of other Enkadrain products. The second fabric eliminates the need for a filter fabric and stops penetration and migration of soil fines.

Why Select Enkadrain ShockPad?

• It double as the drainage layer and shock absorbing layerProprietary polymer formulation significantly improves energy restitution and shock absorption (Gmax) 
• Reduces infill amounts
• Excellent durability
• Second fabric eliminates need for filter fabric
• Continuous flow even under high loads
• Increased flow rates over same thickness nylon and HDPE drains
• 3” fabric overlap flap on both sides

When synthetic turf drainage is your priority, please consider looking into these established products.

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.

To learn more about these high quality products or request a sample, please click here

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.

For a more in-depth look at this subject, complete with diagrams, please click here.

• 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.