CA1187306A

CA1187306A - Drainage system

Info

Publication number: CA1187306A
Application number: CA000420638A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Joseph Sartor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-31
Filing date: 1983-01-31
Publication date: 1985-05-21

Abstract

INVENTOR : JOSEPH SARTOR

INVENTION: DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR
HORIZONTAL SURFACE

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A drainage system for a horizontal surface such as that defined by a structural concrete panel is described. The drainage system includes a cladding constructed of a multiplicity of rectangular panels in edge-to-edge abutted relationship placed over the horizontal surface. An upper face of each panel has a criss-cross network of intersecting grooves which place side edges of the panel in fluid communication with other side edges. The opposing, lower face of each panel has a second criss-cross network of inter-secting grooves which also place the side edges of the panel in fluid communication. The depths of the grooves are such that the first and second networks intersect at a multiplicity of points so that water can travel between the opposing faces of the panels.
Each panel has water-permeable filter material cover-ing the upper face of the panel. Thus, in a typical application such as landscaping in which dirt is deposited on the cladding or the provision of a terrace above a parking garage in which gravel is deposited on the cladding to support a deck, any dirt entrained by water flowing into the cladding does not enter the grooves of the panels. The generally horizontal surface of the concrete slabs can be slightly inclined and provided with appropriately positioned openings to permit removal of water from the panels of the cladding.

Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTIO~

The invention relates to a drainage system which can be formed over a horizontal surface that supports certaln structure through which water may be expected to travel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has specific (though not exclusive) application to building structures in which a generally horizontal concrete slab supports a deck constructed of panels of marble, concrete or the like. In such a structure the deck is normally spaced from the concrete slab by a layer of gravel.
The gravel is intended to provide a generally level horizontal surface for resting of the deck (the con-crete slab perhaps being contoured for reasons described below) and also facilitates drainage of any water towards a drain or outfall location. A
particular concern in such construction is to prevent leakage of water into cracks in the concrete.
Conventional practice is to apply a water-proofing membrane to the concrete slab prior to depositing the gravel and the panels of the deck. In typical applications this procedure involves applying a primer to the surface of the concrete slab followed by application of a bonding coat which is typically ~J

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hot asphalt. Overlapping layers of felt are laid on the bonding coat and a flood coat of hot asphalt is applied to the felt during on-going construction work.
A layer of thick asphalt felt is applied to the resulting membrane to prevent damage from an overlying layer oE
gravel.
The procedure described is fairly typical and in most instances the only variation is in the construction of the water-proofing membrane. Some-times a primer is applied to the surface of the concreteslab followed by a rubberized asphalt or synthetic material which provides a more flexible membrane capable of accomodating some mov~ment of underlying structure.
Concrete slabs have been overlaid with sheets of modified rubber or synthetic material with approp~
riate joint treatment to prevent passage of water. A
less common practice is to use a sheet me-tal cladding formed, for example, of copper. In all such variations horizontal drainage of accumulating water is typically through the spaces of an overlying gravel layer.
In the past, it had been common practice to allow accumulating water to rest directly on the water proofing membrane of the concrete slab. Problems have been associated with such a practice, in particular the tendency of water to permeate the water-proofing membrane at weak points especially if any substantial 3C~

head oE water pressure develops. Consequently, it is now common practice to attempt to lead water away from the surface of the concrete slab by sligh~ly inclining the surface or contouring the surface to direct water to the edge of the slab or to drains provided in the concrete slab.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
-In a first aspect, the invention provides drainage panel having a first network of intersecting grooves formed in one face of the panel to place each side edge of the panel in fluid communication with the other side edges. A second network of intersecting grooves formed in the opposing face of the panel also places each of the side edges in fluid communication with the other side edges. The first and second net-works are in fluid communication at a multiplicity of points so that water can flow between the opposing faces of the panel and in particular between the networks of grooves.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a drainage system which can conduct water horizontally atop a generally horizontal surface such as that defined by concrete slab. The drainage system in-cludes a cladding formed of a multiplicity of panels of the type described above in edge-to-edge abutted relationship with water able to flow between abutted ~873~36 side edges. In a preferred embodiment, the panels of the drainage sys~em are covered with a water-pervious filter material which prevents entrainment of dirt into -the drainage system. Additionally, the panels are pre-ferably constructed of an insulating material so thatsubjacent structure is protected to some degree from external temperature variations. Various applications illustrating the benefits and advantages inherent in such drainage system are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

- The invention will be better understood with reference to drawings in which Fig. 1 is a fragmented perspective view of a drainage panel constructed according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the drainage panel;
Fig. 3 is a fragmented view along the lines 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a building structure incorporating drainage panels of the type of Fig. l;
FigO 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the building structure of Fig. 4 with the panels used in an alternative manner;;

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FicJ. 6 is a fragmen-ted perspective view from above -the building structure of Fig. 3; and Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of panels constructed according to the inven-tion in landscaping applicationO

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
_ Reference is made to Fig. 1-3 which illustrates a :Eirst em~odimen-t 10 of a drainage panel constructed of expanded polystyrene. The drainage panel 10 has a generally rectangular shape with a pair of opposing faces 12, 14, a first pair of opposing side edges 16, 18 ~ and a second pair of opposing side edges 20,22. The face 12 is formed of a first criss-cross network of intersecting grooves. The first network consists of a first set of parallel grooves 24 (only one typical groove specifically indicated) and a second set of parallel grooves 26 (only one typical groove specifically indicated) which are perpendicular to the first set of grooves 24. It will be apparent that the first and second sets 24, 26 of grooves place each side edge of the panel in fluid communication with the other side edges.
In Fig. 2, the face 14 of the panel 10 is seen to have a second network of grooves of similar con-figuration. The second network consists of a first set 28 of parallel grooves and a second set 30 of parallel grooves which are perpendicular to the first set of grooves 28 (only one groove of each se-t specifically indicated). It will be apparent that the second network of grooves also places each side edge of the drainage panel 10 in fluid communication with the other side edges.
Each side edge of the panel 10 has a longitud-inal recess, such as the recess 32 indicated in Fig. 1.
Each recess is in fluid communication with the recesses of the second network of grooves. The object in pro-viding such recesses is to ensure that the second net-work of grooves of any panel can be readily placed in fluid communication with that of a second, identical panel abutted at one side edge without concern for perfect alignment of grooves. This is not a critical consideration with the first network of grooves which are intended to reside in the upper surface of a cladding layer formed of abutted panels and which will probably not be required to transfer large quantities of water horizontally. I~owever, the second net-work of grooves ~ay be required to convey large quantities of water as will be more apparent with the description below of particular applications for panels such as the drainage panel 10.
The depth of the grooves in the drainage panel 10 is of some significance. The first network of grooves has a substantially uniform depth "a" which 3~
g is lndicated in the view of Fig. 3. The second net-work of grooves has a substantially uniform depth "b"
also indicated in the view of Fig. 3. The sum of the depths a and b is greater than the spacing between the opposing faces 12, 14 so that the first and second networks of grooves intersect at a multiplicity of points, such as the point 34 indicated in Fig. 2. In the drainage panel 10, parallel grooves of each of the first and second networks are spaced apart by about three inches cen-tre-to-centre. As between the first and second networks, parallel grooves are spaced apart by one and one-half inches. This relative horizontal displacement of the grooves of the first and second networks ensures the integrity of the panel 10.
A cover 36 ~fragmented in Fig. 1) of spun-bonded polyproplyene ~or any other suitable water-pervious filter material) is secured to the face 12 of the drainage panel 10, over the first network of grooves. The cover 36 can be attached by any suitable method depending on the materials involved, including adhesive bonding, heat bonding or mechanical attachment.
A preferred method (~hown on the panels of Fig. 7) is to form slits in the side edges of the panel and to wedge edge portions of the cover in-to the slits. The general object of providing the cover 36 is to ensure that dirt entrained with water travelling from the face 12 to the Eace 14 does not ultimately clog the drainage panel 10 or par-ticularly a drain to which the drainage panel 10 or 3~6 similar panels are coupled. As an alternative, when a cladding layer is formed of pan~ls such as the drainage panel 10, a cover of suitable filter material may be laid over the upper sur~ace of the layer and secured in any convenient manner.
Fig. 4 illustrates a particular application for drainage panels similar to the panel 10, involving a structural slab 38 which supports a deck 40 constructed of rectangular panels 42 of concrete or any other desired material. Such a structure might typically be a terrace provided above a parking garage, the concrete slab forming the ceiling of the garage. The concrete slab 38 has a .
generally horizontal surface 44 which is contoured or inclined (exaggerated in Fig. 4) to cause water to flow towards a drain 46. A water-impermeable membrane 48 of any suitable matexial is formed over the surface 46 to prevent penetration of the concrete by water, and extends partially into the drain 46 where it is held by a conventional compression ring 50 bolted to the drain 46. A protective layer 52 of any suitable conven-tional material is laid over the membrane 48 to prevent abrasion or puncturing. A layer of gravel 54 is laid over the protective layer 52 to provide a more horizontal surface for laying of the deck 40. Immediately atop the gravel layer 54 is laid a drainage cladding 56 of panels such as the drainage panel 10 in edge-to-edge abut-ted relationship. The nature of the cladding 56 will be more apparent f.rom the view of FigO 6 in which the deck 40 has been partially broken away to show two panels 58, 60 of the cladding 56. A cover 62 of water-impervlous filter material covering the drainage cladding56 has been Eragmented at 64 to better illustrate the panels. A layer oE mortar 65 is applied to the cover 62 and the deck panels 42 are set and levelled in the mortar.
The drainage cladding 56 provides two functions or advantages. First, it replaces a conventional layer of insulation which is commonly required by structural engineers to protect an underlying concrete slab from exposure to extreme temperature variations. Second, in applications where such an insulating layer immediately below a deck is required, the cladding 56 reduces the thickness of gravel required. At a peak in the concrete slab 38, conventional practice dictates that a thickness of gravel not less than about one and one-half inches be provided to ensure proper horizontal drainage of water. Because the panels of the cladding 56 permit horizontal drainage of water, the cladding 56 may be made to rest directly atop the peak in the concrete slab 38, thereby reducing the requirement for a thicker gravel layer. This reduction in height required can contribute to a reduction of the amount of excavat.ion required in a particular construction site and in some ~3731~)6 applications can significantly assis-t in meeting height restrictions imposed on particular construction. The grooves of the panels may cause some reduction in the insula-ting value of the cladding 56, but spaces between more conventional insulating sheets would also reduce their effectiveness, and the cover 62 of filter material can to a certain extent compensate.
Fig. 5 illustrates another application for drainage panels similar to the panel 10, which makes better use of the drainage and filtering functions of the panels. Much of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5 is identical to that of Fig. 4, and consequently like components have been .
labelled with like reference numerals. In this particular applieation, the rela-tive positions of the gravel layer 54 and drainage cladding 56 have been interchanged. The eladding 56 is now located direetly atop the membrane 48 eovering the eonerete slab 38. The proteetive layer 52 has been eliminated as the drainage cladding 56 proteets the membrane 48 from eontact with the gravel layer 54. Beeause of the seeond network of drainage grooves in each panel, water aecumulating at the membrane 4& ean in typieal applieations flow substantially freely towards the drain 46. In this applieation, the eover 62 removes not only dirt entering from above the deek 40 but also any dirt entrained from the gravel layer 54. It will be appreeiated from Fig. 5 that the term "generally horizontal" as used in the speeifieation and in the 1)6 appended claims contemplates surfaces which are not perfectly horizontal, and contemplates surfaces which may be inclined or contoured to assist in drainage.
The drainage panel 10 is preferably constructed oE a material wi-th insula-ting qualities, semi-rigid, and suitable Eor underground service, such as a synthetic resln material. The dimensions of the drainage panel 10 may typically be 32 inches by 48 inches by 3 inches, with roughly 3 inches spacing between parallel grooves, but these dimensions are exemplary only, and the dimensions may be appropriately selected for any particular application.
A preferred embodiment of a drainage panel and certain applications having been described, it will be appreciated that certain advantages can be attained over prior art practices. In many instances, construction height requirements can be reduced because a layer of panels can simultaneously provide a measure of insulation (which must otherwise be provided by an insulating cladding) and the drainage functions of a corresponding thickness of gravel. With a cover of fil.ter material the panels can reduce the entrainment of dirt particles into drains thereby obviating costly potential blockages. In some applications the panels can replace a protective layer normally placed over the water-impermeable membrane commonly applied to a concrete slab thereby eliminating construction materials and permitting an additional reduction of height requirements.

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-- 1'1 --Another application contemplated for the drain-age system is in landscaping over a structure such as a parking garage or indoors. A typical application of this nature is illustrated in Fig. 7 in which a garden 70 is shown supported above a concrete slab 72 (inclina-tion exagqerated) which might constitute the ceiling of an underground parking garage. A waterproofing membrane 74 is applied to the top surface of the concrete slab 72, and a drainage cladding 76 is rested on the water-proofing membrane 74. The cladding 76 is similar to thosedescribed above, constructed of a multiplicity of in-dividual drainage panels in edge-to-edge abutted relation-ship. The panels of the cladding 76 are similar to the panel 10 except in the manner in which filter material lS is applied to the panels. In a panel 78 (which is typical), longitudinal slits have been formed along the side edges of the panel, intermediate of the opposing faces of the panel, and edge portions of a rectangular sheet 80 of spun-bonded polyproplyene have been wedged into the slits to secure the sheet 80 to panel 78. A typical longitudinal slit 82 is illustrated at a side edge 84 of the panel 78 where the sheet 80 has been removed for purposes of illustration. The wedging of edge portions of the sheet 80 into the slits of adjoining side edges is apparent at 86, 88. A
significant difference between the panel 78 and the panel 10 is that the side edges of the panel 78 are not under-cut to assist drainage between adjacent abutted panels~
Instead, the thickness of the sheets of filter material overlapping side edges of the panels ensures that grooves are provided between adjacent panels, such as the groove 90. ~ soil bed consisting of a layer of topsoil 92 supported by a layer of subsoil 94 is deposited directly on the cladding 76. Those familiar with the landscaping arts will appreciate that a gravel layer normally supporting the subsoil layer 94 has been eliminated.
The drainage function normally performed by such a gravel layer is provided by -the cladding 76. The cladd-ing 76 also replaces layers of insulation and protection board which might normally be located on the water-proofing membrane 74. The drainage system can belocated over a horizontal surface where a garden is to be provided and dirt then deposited on the covering material of the drainage system to serve as a bed for plants. In such instances, entrainment of dirt with water that flows into any drains provided is particularly critical. The drainage system ensures that water can be conveniently drained from the bed without risk o~
blockages.
It will be appreciated that particular embodi-ments of a drainage panel and drainage system have been illustrated, and that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or ~73~i the scope of the appended claims. For example, the grooves of the drainage panel 10 may be more closely positioned (for example at a spacing of one and one-half inches centre-to-centre~ to render the panel 10 more flexible. The panel can then be made to conform more readily to a curved surface immediately atop a concrete subway tunnel. A cladding formed of such panels contoured to the surface of the subway tunnel during construction would facilitate drainage of water to sidewalls of the subway tunnel where a vertical drainage system could then be used to remove the water. This is one particular application contem-plated by the inventor for the present invention.
It will also be appreciated that the term "generally horizontal" as used in this disclosure and in the appended claims contemplates the general plane of a structure or surface being inclined from a perfectly horizontally orientation, and the term should be understood primarily in contradistinction to vertical.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Drainage apparatus, comprising:
a panel having a pair of opposing faces and a multiplicity of side edges which connect the opposing faces;
one of the opposing faces having a first network of intersecting grooves which place each side edge in fluid communication with the other side edges;
the other of the opposing races having a second network of intersecting grooves which place each side edge in fluid communication with the other side edges;
the first and second networks being in fluid communication at a multiplicity of points whereby water can travel between the first and second networks.

2. Drainage apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the panel consists of a water-impervious insulating material and has a generally rectangular shape.

3. Drainage apparatus as claimed in claim 2, comprising a cover of water-permeable filter material secured to the panel and overlaying the one of the opposing faces.

4. Drainage apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which at least a first of the side edges and an opposing second of the side edges are each formed with a longitudinal slit, and the cover of water-permeable filter material has opposing edge portions wedged in the longitudinal slits of the first side edge and the second side edge whereby the cover is secured to the panel.

5. Drainage apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the first network of grooves generally has a depth greater than a first predetermined depth, the second network of grooves generally has a depth greater than a second predetermined depth, and the sum of the first and second predetermined depths is greater than the separation of the opposing faces.

6. Drainage apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the first network of grooves comprises a first multiplicity of generally parallel grooves and a second multiplicity of generally parallel grooves which are transverse to and intersect the first multiplicity of grooves and in which the second network of grooves comprises a third multiplicity of generally parallel grooves and a fourth multiplicity of generally parallel grooves which are transverse to and intersect the third multiplicity of grooves.

7. Drainage apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the panel has a circumferential recess formed in the side edges of the panel and extending longitudinally along each of the side edges of the panel, the circumferential recess being in fluid communication with the second network of grooves of the panel.

8. A drainage system for a generally horizontal surface, comprising a drainage cladding including a multiplicity of panels in edge-to-edge abutted relationship, each panel having a pair of opposing faces and a multiplicity of side edges which connect the opposing faces, one of the opposing faces having a first network of intersecting grooves which place each side edge in fluid communication with the other side edges of the panel, the other of the opposing faces being located against the generally horizontal surface and having a second network of intersecting grooves which place each side edge in fluid communication with the other side edges of the panel, the first and second networks of grooves of each panel being in fluid communication at a multi-plicity of points whereby water can travel between the first and second networks, the side edges of each panel being in fluid communication with abutting side edges of other panels in the cladding.

9. A drainage system as claimed in claim 8 in which each panel consists of a water-impervious insulating material and has a generally rectangular shape.

10. A drainage system as claimed in claim 9 comprising a cover of water-permeable filter material overlaying the one face of each panel.

11. A drainage system as claimed in claim 10 in which each panel has a circumferential groove formed in the side edges of the panel and extending longitudinally along each side edge of the panel, the recess being in fluid communication with the second network of grooves of the panel, whereby, the side edges of each panel are placed in fluid communication with abutting side edges of other panels in the cladding.

12. A structure comprising:
a structural support member having a generally horizontal surface;
a cladding located over the generally horizontal surface, the cladding including a multi-plicity of generally rectangular panels in edge-to-edge abutted relationship, each panel having a pair of opposing faces and side edges which connect the opposing faces, one of the opposing faces having a first network of intersecting grooves which place each side edge in fluid communication with the other side edges of the panel, the other of the opposing faces being located against the generally horizontal surface and having a second network of intersecting grooves which place each side edge in fluid communication with the other side edges of the panel, the first and second networks of grooves of each panel being in fluid communication at a multiplicity of points whereby water can travel between the first and second networks, the side edges of each panel being in fluid communication with abutting side edges of other panels in the cladding;
water-pervious filter material covering the one of the opposing faces of each panel; and, drainage means communicating with the generally horizontal surface for draining water therefrom.

13. A structure as claimed in claim 12 having a bed of soil located over and vertically supported by the filter material.

14. A structure as claimed in claim 12 comprising a deck of upper panels located over the filter material.

15. A structure as claimed in claim 12 comprising:
a layer of particulate drainage material located on the filter material; and, a deck of upper panels located over the particulate drainage material.