Install horizontal drainage composites/protection boards

The checklist

Pre-Installation

1. 1Confirm scope is horizontal only (decks, roofs, podiums), excluding vertical works; review drawings showing falls, outlets, and terminations; record approval with date, initials, and attached marked-up plans.
2. 2Verify product compatibility: drainage composite, protection boards, adhesives, and waterproofing membrane per approved project specifications and authority requirements; attach data sheets and lot/batch numbers.
3. 3Check weather and substrate conditions: ambient ≥ 5 °C, no standing water; log temperature and relative humidity readings with a calibrated thermo-hygrometer (photo of display).

Substrate Preparation

1. 4Clean horizontal slab/membrane surface by broom and vacuum; remove laitance and debris; verify surface moisture ≤ 5% by mass using a moisture meter; upload readings and photos.
2. 5Confirm design falls with a digital level or laser: slope within ±0.5% of design (target 1:80 to 1:40). Record measurements on a grid and attach screenshots.
3. 6Repair depressions > 10 mm or protrusions > 5 mm; use compatible patching compound; photograph before/after and note curing times per manufacturer.
4. 7Protect vulnerable membrane zones with temporary walkway sheets; record layout and confirm no sharp edges; daily photo log of condition.

Horizontal Drainage Composite Installation

1. 8Unroll drainage composite on horizontal plane with flow channels aligned downslope; install with geotextile filter facing up unless specified otherwise; photo of first course orientation.
2. 9Form shingle overlaps: minimum 100 mm on roll edges and 150 mm at roll ends; seal laps with compatible tape; close-up photos of seams.
3. 10Stagger transverse joints ≥ 300 mm between adjacent rows to avoid continuous seams; mark joint offsets on plan and photograph.
4. 11Avoid wrinkles and bridging; lift and relay panels to remove trapped air; acceptance: full support with no voids > 10 mm; photo evidence with straightedge.
5. 12Secure composite locally (adhesive dots or approved fasteners on horizontal plane) to prevent displacement by wind/traffic; record method and fastener spacing with photos.
6. 13Maintain 50 mm setback from vertical upstands; detail transition per approved drawings to preserve horizontal flow path; upload detail reference and photos.

Outlets and Terminations

1. 14Form recessed sumps at outlets (typ. 300 × 300 mm or as detailed) to encourage flow; confirm recess depth maintains falls; photo with tape measure.
2. 15Cut composite neatly around outlets and penetrations; maintain 25 mm clear annulus; fit strainers/flanges; torque fixings 4–6 N·m; attach torque-wrench photo.
3. 16Prove drainage path by controlled water pour: 5 L at high point must reach outlet within 30 s; record video and time stamp.

Protection Boards Installation

1. 17Install protection boards on horizontal membrane per approved project specifications and authority requirements; butt edges tight; acceptance: gaps < 3 mm; photo of joints with feeler gauge.
2. 18Fix boards with compatible adhesive/spot bedding (5–8 spots/m²) or approved mechanical means; record adhesive batch/coverage; verify no solvent attack (sample pull check, photo).
3. 19Achieve flatness: maximum 5 mm deviation under a 2 m straightedge; document checks at 10 m grid intervals with photos.
4. 20Chamfer board edges around outlets and maintain 25 mm clearance; confirm no reduction of effective outlet area; close-up photos required.

Inspection and Handover

1. 21Conduct final walk-through; verify no blocked sumps, no exposed membrane, and intact seams; compile punch list and close items with before/after photos.
2. 22Upload as-built drawings marking panel directions, lap locations, outlets, and product batches; obtain digital signatures from installer and inspector.

Preview the printable checklist

Preview page one below. Open the image or download the PDF for all pages.

At a glance

• Ensure continuous horizontal drainage performance by verifying slopes, correct geocomposite orientation, shingle-lapped seams, and sealed joints. The process protects membranes from damage, maintains flow channels to outlets and sumps, and documents compatibility across materials to reduce leaks, callbacks, and schedule risk.
• Interactive online checklist with tick, comment, and export features secured by QR code. It runs on site tablets and phones, timestamps readings, links photos and batch numbers, and delivers a clear audit trail from substrate preparation through outlet proofing to final sign-off for confident handover.
• Standardize installation quality by defining measurable tolerances—overlaps, flatness, clearances, and moisture limits—paired with practical tools like digital levels, moisture meters, torques, and straightedges. Evidence-based acceptance criteria prevent ambiguity, help supervisors spot issues early, and document corrective actions before covering works.
• Protect the waterproofing system with compatible protection boards laid to tight tolerances, avoiding puncture and bridging. Edge detailing, penetration cut-outs, and outlet chamfers maintain access and flow capacity, while temporary walkways and debris control preserve the membrane during subsequent trades and screed placement.

How to use this interactive checklist

1. Preparation: Gather approved drawings, product data sheets, calibrated tools (digital level, moisture meter, torque wrench), and PPE. Confirm the work area is horizontal (decks, roofs, podiums) and weather-suitable.
2. Open interactive mode on mobile or tablet. Create a checklist instance for the specific zone, tagging location, date, and stakeholders.
3. While inspecting, tick each item, add comments for nonconformities, and attach photos, readings, and lot numbers. Use timestamps for traceability.
4. If issues arise, assign corrective actions within the comment thread; retest and attach before/after evidence, keeping the full discussion auditable.
5. Export progress snapshots to PDF/Excel for coordination meetings, including embedded photos and measurement logs.
6. Sign-Off: Capture digital signatures from installer, supervisor, and inspector. The system applies a unique QR code for verification.
7. Archive the final export to your document control system and share the QR link with project stakeholders for quick future reference.

Design intent and horizontal-only scope

Horizontal drainage composites and protection boards ensure water moves efficiently across decks, roofs, podium slabs, and terraces without compromising the waterproofing membrane. This checklist stays strictly on horizontal works, excluding vertical interfaces, to control flow direction, maintain continuity, and protect membranes from puncture during construction and subsequent trades. Start by confirming design falls, outlet positions, and recesses that prevent ponding. Compatibility among drainage geocomposites, protection boards, adhesives, and membranes avoids chemical attack and delamination. Measurable acceptance criteria speed decisions: slopes checked with digital levels, moisture tested before covering, and laps verified by dimensioned photos. Practical risk controls—temporary walkways, staggered joints, and clearances at outlets—limit damage and keep drainage channels open. With these nuances captured, crews reduce leaks, callbacks, and rework, and inspectors gain verifiable evidence for sign-off before overburden or screeds conceal the system.

• Confirm falls and outlets before any roll-out begins.
• Record compatibility via data sheets and batch numbers.
• Use digital levels and moisture meters for evidence.
• Exclude vertical installations from this scope.
• Protect membranes with temporary walkways.

Installing and joining the drainage composite

Lay the drainage composite with channels aligned downslope and geotextile filter up, unless the system specifies otherwise. Achieve shingle laps to shed water at 100 mm along edges and 150 mm at roll ends, sealing with compatible tape to stop fines migrating into flow channels. Stagger joints to prevent continuous pathways that could deform under point loads. Remove wrinkles and air pockets to ensure full support and even flow, using a straightedge to confirm no voids over 10 mm. Keep a 50 mm setback from vertical upstands and detail transitions at changes of plane per approved drawings, preserving the horizontal drainage path. Around outlets and penetrations, cut neatly, maintain clearance, and install strainers or flanges as detailed. Verify performance by controlled water pours that confirm unobstructed flow without ponding.

• Align channels with the designed fall direction.
• Use shingle laps and seal seams with tape.
• Stagger joints at least 300 mm.
• Remove wrinkles; ensure full support under panels.
• Prove flow with timed water tests.

Protection boards, access, and acceptance cues

Protection boards shield the membrane and drainage layer from traffic and construction activities across horizontal fields. Install boards per approved project specifications and authority requirements, avoiding solvents that could soften membranes. Butt edges tightly with gaps under 3 mm and maintain a smooth, stable surface; check flatness with a 2 m straightedge for deviations under 5 mm. Around outlets, chamfer edges and preserve 25 mm clearance to avoid restricting capacity or trapping debris. Temporary walkway sheets prevent point loading and punctures during material handling. Before covering with screed or overburden, complete a final inspection, remove debris, photograph critical details—laps, joints, penetrations, and outlets—and capture batch numbers for traceability. Digital sign-offs close the loop and support future maintenance by showing what is hidden below.

• Butt boards tight; limit gaps to under 3 mm.
• Verify flatness: ≤ 5 mm under 2 m straightedge.
• Chamfer near outlets; keep 25 mm clearance.
• Avoid solvent adhesives; confirm compatibility.
• Document photos before covering the system.