Repair Systems — Basement Water Ingress
Cavity drain membrane systems
Technical product reference for cavity drain dimple membrane systems — Delta MS and equivalent products — used to manage and drain water ingress through basement walls and slabs in Australian Class 2 strata and commercial buildings. Covers system design (wall membrane, floor membrane, drain channel, sump), product selection, and limitations of cavity drain vs tanking approaches.
What are cavity drain membrane systems?
Cavity drain (BS 8102 Type C) membranes are studded HDPE sheets fixed to the interior face of basement walls and floors. They do not stop water — they manage it: water penetrating the structure runs down the cavity behind the studs to a perimeter drainage channel and is removed by a sump pump. This makes them the interior solution where positive-side waterproofing is inaccessible or the water table is too high for tanking.
Because the system relies on continuous drainage and pumping, a sump pump with backup and a high-level alarm are mandatory for habitable (BS 8102 Grade 3) spaces, and the membrane is only one part of a designed system (membrane + perimeter channel + sump). It carries an ongoing maintenance obligation, reduces floor area / headroom, and does not address the cause of ingress — a structural assessment is still required.
Product Reference
Individual products — one card each — scroll to view all
Delta Membranes
Delta MS 500
Studded HDPE cavity drain membrane (Type C)
Delta MS 500 is an 8 mm studded-profile HDPE (clear) cavity drainage membrane (BS 8102 Type C) for the internal faces of sub-ground walls and floors as a drained water-management system. Compressive strength >250 kN/m²; drainage capacity 2.25 L/s·m (135 L/min·m); air volume between studs ~5.3 L/m²; reaction to fire EN 13501-1 Class E; R-value ~0.12 m²K/W. It is fitted on the interior face (no adhesion; the studs provide stand-off) and forms part of a complete system with a perimeter drainage channel and a sump pump (with backup for habitable space).
Delta Membranes
Delta MS 20
High-drainage HDPE cavity drain membrane (Type C)
Delta MS 20 is a high-density polyethylene high-drainage cavity drain membrane (BS 8102 Type C) with superior drainage capacity and compressive strength versus the standard membrane — for high-performance water control where water pressure or the groundwater table is high, including floor applications. Confirm exact stud height, compressive strength, drainage capacity and fire class from the current Delta TDS / AU distributor.
Delta Membranes
Delta Geo-Drain (floor drainage)
Floor drainage geocomposite (cavity drain + filtration)
Delta Geo-Drain is a floor drainage geocomposite (a studded HDPE cavity-drain core with a bonded geotextile filter) for floor applications under a concrete topping. The geotextile filtration prevents fines from blocking the drainage layer over the life of the system. It is used with the wall cavity-drain membrane, perimeter drainage channel and sump pump to form a complete BS 8102 Type C drained system. Confirm the exact current Delta floor-drainage product, profile, compressive strength, drainage capacity and fire class with Delta Membranes / the AU distributor.
System Comparison
Cavity drain membrane systems — confirm all selections against the current manufacturer TDS before specifying.
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Disclaimer
This page provides general technical information only. Final product selection must be confirmed against the current manufacturer technical data sheet, project specification, substrate condition, and structural engineer advice where applicable. Basement and below-ground waterproofing involves hydrostatic pressure — confirm system selection with a qualified waterproofing consultant before specifying. Do not rely on this reference as a substitute for professional advice.
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