DELTA®-MS is a Dörken dimpled HDPE foundation membrane used for below-grade dampproofing, wall waterproofing under qualifying IRC conditions, and drainage and protection over other waterproofing. It is evaluated under ICC-ES ESR-2303, rated for walls up to 12 ft below grade, and sold in 65.6 ft rolls from 5’ to 9’10" wide.

DELTA-MS at a Glance

Attribute	Value
Manufacturer	Dörken Systems Inc.
Material	Co-extruded HDPE (recycled core, virgin outer layers)
Thickness	28 mil
Dimple height	5/16" (8 mm)
Compressive strength	approx. 5,200 psf
Roll length	65.6 ft (65’7")
Widths sold by Spycor	5’, 6’7", 7’, 8’, 9’10"
Code evaluation	ICC-ES ESR-2303
Primary uses	Foundation dampproofing; IRC wall waterproofing (low hydrostatic pressure); drainage and protection course

A below-grade leak is the most expensive callback in residential and light commercial work. It means re-excavation, a wet finished basement, and an unhappy owner. For homebuilders, general contractors, and below-grade waterproofing subcontractors, the membrane choice on a foundation wall is a liability decision, not a line-item decision.

DELTA®-MS is a mechanically fastened, post-applied dimpled membrane that goes on in one pass with no cure time. This guide covers when to specify it, what the code evaluation actually allows, the verified technical data, which roll width fits your wall height, and spec language you can drop into a Division 07 section.

When to Use DELTA-MS on Foundation Walls

Specify DELTA®-MS as the stand-alone system on IRC residential foundations with low hydrostatic pressure, and as the drainage and protection course over a rated waterproofing membrane everywhere else. The table below matches common site conditions to the right role.

Site or project condition	Role of DELTA®-MS	What to specify
IRC house, well-draining soil, footing drain in place	Stand-alone dampproofing	DELTA®-MS alone; no spray coat required on poured concrete
IRC house, clay or silt backfill, perched water	Stand-alone wall waterproofing (IRC, low hydrostatic pressure)	DELTA®-MS to the edge of footing, tied to the R405 footing drain
Finished or occupied basement	Waterproofing plus capillary break	DELTA®-MS; see our cold-climate basement guide
High water table or sustained hydrostatic head	Drainage and protection course	A rated sheet or fluid-applied waterproofing membrane, then DELTA®-MS over it
Commercial / multifamily under the IBC	Dampproofing, or protection course over waterproofing	Waterproofing per the design; DELTA®-MS protects it during backfill
CMU (concrete block) walls	Same as poured walls	Parge the block first; required by ESR-2303
ICF foundations	Same as poured walls	Screws into ICF cross-tie flanges; ICF-approved sealant
Foundation repair / exterior re-excavation	Retrofit drainage and waterproofing	DELTA®-MS plus a new or cleared footing drain; see Preventing Foundation Water Damage
Walls taller than 16 ft or deeper than 12 ft below grade	Outside the evaluated range	Consult Dörken technical services (1-888-433-5824) before specifying

DELTA®-MS Technical Specifications

Every value below comes from the Dörken DELTA®-MS Technical Data Sheet (03/30/2022) or ICC-ES ESR-2303.

Property	Value	Test method
Material	Recycled HDPE core between two virgin HDPE layers	—
Thickness	28 mil (0.7 mm)	ESR-2303
Dimple height	5/16" (8 mm)	ASTM D6364
Compressive strength	approx. 5,200 psf (250 kN/m²)	ASTM D6364
Air-gap volume	approx. 0.13 gal/ft² (5.3 L/m²)	ASTM D4716
Flow rate, gradient 1 at 100 kPa	10.6 gal/min/ft (132 L/min/m)	ASTM D4716
Flow rate, gradient 0.1 at 100 kPa	3 gal/min/ft (37.5 L/min/m)	ASTM D4716
Water penetration resistance	> 120 psi (815 kPa), watertight	AATCC 127
Vapor permeance	< 0.3 perms	ASTM E96, Method A
Service temperature range	–22°F to +176°F (–30°C to +80°C)	ASTM D5261
Minimum install temperature	–24°F (–31°C)	ESR-2303
UV exposure limit	Backfill within 30 days	ESR-2303
Depth / wall height	Up to 12 ft below grade; walls no taller than 16 ft	TDS; ESR-2303
Service life expectancy	> 25 years (pH 4–9, below 77°F)	TDS
Roll length	65’7" (20 m)	TDS
Code evaluation	ICC-ES ESR-2303; CCMC 12788 and 12658 (Canada)	—

How to Specify DELTA-MS

Dörken's own master specification places DELTA®-MS in Section 07 10 00 (Dampproofing and Waterproofing); ESR-2303 lists it under 07 11 00 Dampproofing and 07 13 00 Sheet Waterproofing. Adapt the sample language below to your project; the design professional of record remains responsible for the final specification.

Sample specification language

Products. Below-grade drainage and dampproofing membrane: DELTA®-MS by Dörken Systems Inc., 28-mil co-extruded HDPE dimpled membrane with 5/16" (8 mm) dimple height and minimum 5,200 psf compressive strength (ASTM D6364), evaluated under ICC-ES ESR-2303. Accessories by the same manufacturer: DELTA®-FAST'ners, DELTA®-MOLD STRIP, DELTA®-FLASH or DELTA®-TERMINATION BAR, and DELTA®-SEALANT.

Execution. Install dimples toward the foundation wall with the flat flange at the top, running continuously to the outer edge of the footing. Lap all joints 6" minimum with dimples interlocked, upper courses shingled over lower, and a continuous 1/2" sealant bead between sheets. Fasten vertical joints at 12" on center and horizontal joints at 3 ft on center. Terminate the top edge at grade with a termination profile fastened 8" on center. Seal all penetrations. Backfill within 30 days with clean soil free of rocks and debris.

Detailing requirements to call out on drawings

1. Substrate: poured concrete needs no primer or spray coat; CMU must be parged; ICF uses screws into the cross-tie flanges.
   
   
2. Fasteners: nails for poured concrete and CMU, screws for ICF, all Dörken-approved. Rolls wider than 7 ft get an extra row of fasteners mid-sheet.
   
   
3. Top termination: chalk line at grade; DELTA®-MOLD STRIP, DELTA®-FLASH, or DELTA®-TERMINATION BAR at 8" on center. Seal behind the flat tab when using a termination bar or mold strip.
   
   
4. Bottom: extend to the edge of the footing over the perimeter drain, per IRC R405 or IBC 1805.4.
   
   
5. Laps and corners: 6" minimum, dimples interlocked, sealant between sheets; vertical joints fastened 12" o.c., horizontal joints 3 ft o.c.
   
   
6. Limits: walls no taller than 16 ft; install at or above –24°F.

The step-by-step field process is covered in How to Install DELTA®-MS Dimpled Membrane. Download the DELTA®-MS Architectural Details for CAD-ready sections.

Building Code Requirements (IRC and IBC)

The IRC sets two tiers for foundation walls that enclose space below grade, and DELTA®-MS is evaluated for both under ESR-2303 in IRC jurisdictions.

Code section	What it requires	Where DELTA®-MS fits
IRC R406.1 Dampproofing	Dampproof from the higher of the footing top or 6" below the basement floor, up to finished grade; CMU must be parged	Evaluated as foundation dampproofing
IRC R406.2 Waterproofing	Required where a high water table or severe soil-water conditions are known	Evaluated as wall waterproofing for low hydrostatic pressure (perched water)
IRC R405 Foundation drainage	Perimeter drain at the footing	Required with DELTA®-MS; the membrane drains to it
IBC 1805.2 / 1805.3	Dampproofing or waterproofing based on hydrostatic pressure	Evaluated as dampproofing only; use as a protection course over IBC waterproofing
IBC 1805.4 Subsoil drainage	Drainage system at the foundation	Required with DELTA®-MS

Check local amendments. Some jurisdictions go beyond the model code. Minnesota, for example, requires waterproofing in all soils except Group 1, and Lucas County, Ohio requires it on all one- to three-family basements. Confirm with the building official before bidding.

DELTA®-MS Submittal Checklist

A complete submittal package gets the membrane approved on the first review. All documents are free downloads from Spycor Building Products.

• Technical Data Sheet
  
  
• ICC-ES Evaluation Report ESR-2303
  
  
• Installation Instructions (must be on the jobsite during install)
  
  
• Architectural Details
  
  
• Safety Data Sheet
  
  
• Accessory list: fasteners, termination profile, and sealant
  
  
• Roll widths and quantities per wall elevation

Order DELTA-MS From Spycor Building Products

Spycor Building Products stocks the full DELTA®-MS line with free shipping on every roll, plus the fasteners, termination profiles, and sealant the ESR-2303 installation requires. One order covers the whole wall system.

Shop DELTA®-MS rolls and accessories →

Bidding a subdivision, multifamily, or commercial foundation? Call 877-293-0784 for skid pricing, or (843) 517-8180 for product questions. For manufacturer technical support, Dörken's line is 1-888-433-5824.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DELTA®-MS code-approved as foundation waterproofing?

Under the IRC, yes. ICC-ES ESR-2303 evaluates DELTA®-MS as foundation dampproofing and as wall waterproofing for low hydrostatic pressure. Under the IBC it is evaluated as dampproofing only, so on commercial work it is typically specified as a protection and drainage course over a waterproofing membrane.

Do I need to spray dampproofing on the wall before installing DELTA®-MS?

No, not on poured concrete. DELTA®-MS is evaluated as a stand-alone system and needs no primer or coating. Concrete block walls must be parged first, and the designer may still call for a spray coat under special conditions.

What width of DELTA®-MS do I need for a basement wall?

Measure from the outer edge of the footing to just below finished grade and choose the next roll width up. Most full-height 8–9 ft basements use the 8’ roll; taller or deeper walls use the 9’10" roll.

How much wall does one roll of DELTA®-MS cover?

Every roll is 65.6 ft long. Coverage is 328 sq ft for the 5’ roll, 433 sq ft for 6’7", 459.2 sq ft for 7’, 524.8 sq ft for 8’, and 645 sq ft for 9’10". Deduct for 6" laps, corners, and waste.

How deep can DELTA®-MS be installed?

Dörken rates it for foundation walls up to 12 ft below grade. ESR-2303 does not cover walls taller than 16 ft.

Can DELTA®-MS be installed in cold weather?

Yes. ESR-2303 allows installation down to –24°F, and there is no cure time before backfill. Store rolls out of direct sunlight.

How long can DELTA®-MS stay exposed before backfilling?

Backfill within 30 days. The membrane is not designed for prolonged UV exposure.

Can DELTA®-MS protect a spray or sheet waterproofing membrane?

Yes. It is compatible with common spray-applied systems and shields them from damage during backfill while adding a drainage plane.

What is the minimum order for DELTA®-MS at Spycor Building Products?

The 5’ roll ships as a single roll. The 6’7", 7’, and 8’ rolls are mix-and-match with an 8-roll minimum, and the 9’10" roll has an 11-roll minimum. All rolls ship free.