French Drain Systems
This underground drainage solution captures and redirects adjacent groundwater to prevent saturation and surface flooding in the yard and along foundations. They are a lightweight alternative to traditional gravel-filled systems.
French Drain Systems
The EZflow Poly-Rock aggregate is made of 100% recycled resins. The product (aggregate, mesh and pipe) together would constitute a 90% percent minimum recycled content by weight (mass).
The polystyrene aggregate will tolerate extreme temperature ranges, and has a continuous use temperature range of -108°F to +175°F. It does not become brittle at subzero temperatures and does not need to be buried any deeper for an installation in any other temperature range.
EZflow drainage systems are designed for use in residential and light commercial non-traffic applications. EZflow drainage systems are designed to withstand single pass construction wheel loading and occasional light vehicular load of up to 16,000 lbs per axle provided the product is installed in a trench with 12 in. of compacted fill placed over the bundles. EZflow drainage systems are not designed to be placed under live-load traffic conditions such as paved or non-paved roadways, driveways, or parking areas.
Yes, simply maneuver the aggregate to either side of your cut, use two long zip ties to tourniquet the area to be cut and proceed with the cut.
Yes, EZflow can contribute to the accumulation of LEED credits for a project when used as part of the Stormwater design, or by contributing to the proportion of recycled materials used on site.
EZflow’s Poly-Rock is an engineered aggregate that consists of hardened expandable polystyrene, an inert compound. Polystyrene does not absorb water, nor break down in water or other aqueous solutions.
EZflow must have a minimum cover of 6 inches for non-vehicular loadings and 12 inches minimum for H-10 vehicular loading. The maximum burial depth is 10 feet for typical soil profiles. Please contact DesignWorx at designworx@ndssupport.com for depths exceeding 10 feet.
The bundles are fabricated with corrugated polyethylene internal piping. Pipe sizes are available in 3 in., 4 in. or 6 in. diameters. EZflow couplers or other commercially available fittings allow for easy connections to pipes of varying makes and sizes.
Most clay soils are permeable, although at a significantly lower rate than granular soils. The ability of a subsurface drain to drain clay soils is a function of the clay soil’s permeability – i.e. the ability of the soil to transmit water to the drainage trench. Groundwater interceptor drains can work in these soils if designed properly. Groundwater interceptor drains in low permeable soil applications require a minimum of 4 in. of suitable fill material, coarse sand, placed above the drainage bundle and brought to grade. This can also be achieved with minimum of 2 in. of an overlying permeable strata, such as a low clay topsoil, mulch or decorative landscape stones over a minimum of 2 in of coarse sand. The interceptor drain should daylight to prevent saturation of the surrounding clay soils and to prevent the drain system from "bath tubbing."
A minimum of 2 in. of sand or pea gravel should be placed above the drainage bundle to provide a suitable base for the concrete. The basement drain lines should daylight to a sump or some other form of discharge. Note: this is only for non-load bearing applications.
The mesh is not typically measured by its thickness but rather its unit weight as measured in ounces per square yard. ASTM D-3776 is a standardized test for measuring the weight. The unit weight of the geotextile mesh is 2.5 – 3.5 oz/sq. yd.
The pipe typically has a recycled content greater than 90%.
The conveyance performance of each bead should be similar; the Transmissivity (flow through the system) will be similar, which will be one or two orders of magnitude greater than the native soils. EZ-Drain is available in smaller diameter bundles and the aggregate is smaller due to manufacturing considerations. “EZflow” will be used throughout this document to describe both products.
The AOS is a 30 U.S. Sieve (0.60 mm) for the geoxtextile mesh for the 7, 8, 10 and 15 inch products. All EZflow products are manufactured using a 30 U.S. Sieve geotextile mesh.
The pipe is the limiting factor in the product’s ability to contour. Any aggregate only bundle is capable of making very sharp bends such as 90 degree corners. The pipe bundles will require internal connection fittings to make bends of greater than 45 degrees.
Note the following individual weights (per stick/section of EZflow or EZ-Drain):
The EZ-Drain aggregate bead (Poly-Rock) is manufactured with expanded polystyrene.
Ezflow French Drains are manufactured in:
- Dallas, Texas
- Monticello, Illinois
- Phenix City, Alabama
- Portland, Oregon
- Salisbury, North Carolina
- Winchester, Kentucky
Similar to mineral aggregate, expanded polystyrene offers no nutritional value and is therefore left undisturbed by ground burrowing rodents and other pests.
Root intrusion should be no more of a significant factor than in any other type of drainage system. The same "best design practices" should be employed for EZflow that are applied on other types of drainage systems. If roots are a concern then commercially available root inhibitors are available (from other manufacturers).
