Form-A-Drain Plus: the 3-in-1 Foundation Solution that Keeps Basements Dry

by Joe Harnois

January 26, 2026

Installing a basement foundation with Nudura insulated concrete forms (ICFs) provides exceptional structural strength, continuous insulation, and long-term energy performance. But a successful foundation also requires effective water management below grade. That’s where Form-A-Drain plays a vital role in ensuring the entire system performs as intended.

View this short video for a jobsite perspective of a Form-A-Drain installation.

Form-A-Drain is a purpose-built, 3-in-1 footing and drainage system that simplifies foundation construction and significantly improves the finished performance of an ICF foundation. It acts simultaneously as:

Footing forms — Form-A-Drain replaces conventional wood footing forms and stays in place permanently after the concrete is poured, eliminating the need to strip and remove traditional forms.

Foundation drainage — Its integrated drainage paths run continuously around the sub-slab perimeter, collecting groundwater at the optimal depth — typically several inches below the slab bottom — and directing it away from the structure or into a sump system. This helps reduce hydrostatic pressure and the risk of water infiltration around the ICF walls.

Radon mitigation infrastructure — With simple connections to outlet or vent points, Form-A-Drain can be adapted as part of a sub-slab radon reduction system.

By integrating footing forming and drainage into a single, permanently installed system before the concrete pour, Form-A-Drain improves reliability and helps maintain precise footing and slab geometry — a key element for stacking and aligning Nudura ICF blocks correctly.

To learn more about Form-A-Drain, visit our product page:
https://atlanticbuilderssupply.com/products/waterproofing-drainage-barriers/form-a-drain/