Abstract: In a metal building wall construction intended especially for house basement walls, the walls consist of edge interlocked metal panels resting on the web of an upwardly-open perimeter channel that delineates the basement floor. A flange on the channel inner side sets the depth of a poured concrete floor and acts as a screed for levelling the concrete. The perimeter channel web is wider than the panels are thick and they are supported at their inner face by spaced tabs struck up out of the perimeter channel web to leave internal drain holes which permit escape of water received in the perimeter channel. Since the thin passsage between abutting edge webs unavoidably promotes capillary action whereby water can be drawn into it from the adjacent soil, the passage is provided along its length with an enlargement forming a vertical longitudinal drain passage that will trap the water moving into the passage and cause it to travel downwards to the perimeter channel and through the drain holes.

Abstract: In a metal building wall construction intended especially for house basement walls, the walls consist of edge interlocked metal panels resting on the web of an upwardly-open perimeter channel that delineates the basement floor. A flange on the channel inner side sets the depth of a poured concrete floor and acts as a screed for levelling the concrete. The perimeter channel web is wider than the panels are thick and they are supported at their inner face by spaced tabs struck up out of the perimeter channel web to leave internal drain holes which permit escape of water received in the perimeter channel. Since the thin passage between abutting edge webs unavoidably promotes capillary action whereby water can be drawn into it from the adjacent soil, the passage is provided along its length with an enlargement forming a vertical longitudinal drain passage that will trap the water moving into the passage and cause it to travel downwards to the perimeter channel and through the drain holes.