"drainage"

Located at the first locks of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal, the second phase of the £1bn Middlewood Locks development in Salford delivers 546 apartments across 4 new buildings with private podium gardens. Phase 2 of the development is part of the wider mixed-use scheme to regenerate 25 hectares of brownfield land with new apartments, office space, a hotel, bars, restaurants, car parking and a gym.The large catchment area of the development discharges to the newly renovated balancing basins that service the confluence of adjacent canals and the River Irwell. An extensive podium drainage landscaping design was required to meet the site’s strict discharge limits and reduce the impact of surface water run-off to less than that of the pre-developed brownfield land.The ABG blueroof storm water attenuation system specified for the scheme covers over 9,500 m2 and restricts rainfall outflows to below the 16 l/s discharge limit on Plot G of the site and within the 20 l/s limit for Plot H. The system incorporates 27 ABG restrictor chambers above rainwater outlets which are configured to restrict outflow rates to within the discharge consents.The system is designed to attenuate a 1-in-100 storm event (data extrapolated from the local FEH 2013 flood report), plus 30% allowance for the effects of climate change. The geocomposite drainage and attenuation layers and network of restrictor chambers serve to filter surface water run-off pollutants to treatment train stage one of the SuDS process, meaning no other filtration measures are required. The top of the chambers are designed to sit flush with the porous resin paving surface, and different configurations and thicknesses of drainage composites were used to achieve the correct height of system to match the different surface levels. The ABG Deckdrain geocomposite layer provides multi-directional flow capacity to efficiently channel rainwater to the nearest restrictor chamber outlet whilst the integral geotextile filter helps to prevent the cuspated drainage core from becoming blocked.The choice of hard and soft landscaping materials specified for the development are of a very high standard and the inclusion of large areas of green spaces and substantial planting creates valuable new private gardens and amenity spaces for the area.The attenuation system configuration was designed and supplied by ABG and installed over a 6 month period by ABG Installs. As part of the storm water attenuation system design, a new restrictor chamber diffuser was developed to fit directly onto the downpipes of the apartment buildings. The attenuation voids were modified to allow for cable ducting to pass through them and a method was also developed to provide structural drainage beneath the concrete footings of the stone planter walls.

New Era cradles were used to lay a level decking system on a roof terrace that had natural sloped drainage. We used UC4 treated external swedish softwood battens and composite decking to ensure long lasting and maintenance free-use.

The Purple and Green MSCPs have capacity for more than 4,000 vehicles across five levels. The project’s scope involved concrete repair, structural strengthening using carbon fibre laminates, the replacement of the conduits, movement joints, drainage channels and deck waterproofing.

DCM Surfaces were excited to work on the prestigious residential development at Carrow Quarter, Norwich.The housing development comprises over 300 units and includes a landscaped communal area.The project included the install of the sub-base, Artificial Grass and Bound Gravel onto a Bauder Drainage system.

This large college needed to increase parking capacity for students and staff and commissioned a new 5,500m2 car park. Local planning guidelines encouraged a sustainable approach to drainage to avoid excessive run-off into the local catchment. It would be used throughout the year, so there was also a requirement to avoid standing water during heavy rain. As it would be in frequent use by large numbers of staff and students, the chosen surfacing needed to provide long term durability with minimal maintenance requirement.After discussions with the main contractor, Tarmac’s experienced team recommended ULTIPOROUS, their specialist porous asphalt car park surface. Using a modified binder and open aggregate structure, ULTIPOROUS combines excellent drainage characteristics with long term durability. It reduces direct surface water run-off to help meet planning requirements. It also eliminates the problem of both standing water after heavy rain and ice patches that can occur in cold weather conditions.

Wood Wharf consists of 2.6 million sq ft of residential space including up to 3,600 new homes offering the very best in city and waterside living. A Bespoke Shallow Wet room Drainage was required to fit within the POD manufactures and the Architects Design constraints. THE CHALLENGE Wood Wharf is a new district in Canary Wharf which is creating a vibrant new urban quarter. The size of the project itself poses a challenge due to the logistics that go into conducting work at various points throughout the site at any one point. The decision to have the wetrooms and bathrooms constructed off site by POD manufacturing would mean that time spent on site would be drastically reduced, however a bespoke drainage offering would have to be made available in order to present a drainage solution that would fit within the confines of the POD system. Due to the nature of the project, a sophisticated design would be needed within the bathroom in order to tie in with the rest of the interiors of the residential apartments. THE SOLUTION Wetroom Materials worked closely with the POD Manufacturer to present a wetroom system that would be able to adapt to the demands of the POD construction. Wetroom Materials have a range of different channel lengths that can be used on a variety of projects with different requirements; a channel length was specified around the parameters of the space available. Due to the limited floor depths within the suggested POD construction, Wetroom Materials offered a low-profile system starting from just 64mm, that still had the capacity to take a large flow rate. On the back of Wetroom Materials’ advice, the wetroom design was altered to have the drain running along the long wall in order to minimise the required floor depth needed to slope the floor space to allow the water to fall to the drain gulley, whilst still providing a level entrance point across the threshold to the shower area. The drain finish chosen was the HighLine Panel. The reason for this choice was to provide a clean, minimalistic finish that kept in line with the high-end nature of the entire project, while still providing a function and durable product that will stand the test of time. In succeeding to provide a drainage solution that adapted to the requirements of a POD construction, Wetroom Materials were able to reduce the project timescale and increase the site’s work efficiency.

Two renowned Alumasc brands, Harmer and Wade, were recently specified and installed for a new striking residential development in London.Newfoundland Tower, also known as “The Diamond Tower”, due to its unique diamond shape and diagonal structure, is a build-to-rent development in Canary Wharf, London. Harmer SML Cast Iron above ground, and Wade gulliesand linear drainagewere installed to provide an effective water management solution.The Harmer SML lightweight cast iron pipework system is dry-jointed, BBA & Kitemark certified, and has a proven track record in above-ground drainage. With its comprehensive range of fittings and accessories, Harmer SML is the ideal soil and waste system for above and below-ground drainage, including rainwater installations, and is fully compatible with other Harmer and Wade drainage products.“Harmer was chosen primarily for its longevity,” said Gary Zumeris - Area Sales Manager – Harmer SML, South. “It’s also easy to install and has excellent acoustic qualities. It’s a very quiet system, which is especially good in apartments or other high-density housing as you can’t hear fluids flowing down the pipes.“The Harmer system was also chosen for its fire-resistant properties, which is an important aspect, due to current legislation. Cast iron is highly specified in London currently, where most buildings incorporate cast iron for increased fire safety.”Harmer SML has the highest product reaction to fire classification possible, which is A1 for BS EN 13501-1, as well as a system fire classification of A2 for BS EN 13823 Single Burning Item A2, s1-d0.

Outdoor space is an increasingly sought-after commodity, with research suggesting that a well-kept stylish garden can add as much as 20% to a property’s value. Installing effective drainage is integral to the long-term health of a garden, which is why Langlea Garden Design and Construction pays close attention to the products it uses in its award-winning projects.

Heavy duty surfacing was required for new access roads and car parking areas as part of a project to extend this business park located close to the A1 near Biggleswade. Using HGV resisting Ultiphalt HD asphalt on access roads combined with ULTIPOROUS free draining asphalt on parking areas provided both sustainable drainage and long term durability.

The Gloucester Gateway M5 motorway services created a new sustainable standard in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The structures are built into the undulating hills softened with organic forms and green roofs. An ambitious landscaping solution required ACO to create a Sustainable Drainage System controlling rainwater run-off, while providing a high-quality habitat for wildlife to flourish.

Helios, the sun god of Greek mythology, is a three-metre high gilded bronze statue designed by renowned artist TB Huxley-Jones as the centre piece of the old BBC Television Centre courtyard. As part of the redevelopment of the iconic BBC Television Centre, civil engineers Arup required an engineered drainage solution for the courtyard surrounding the Helios statue and fountain.

Housing Association Cross Keys Homes manage four blocks of flats between Grove Court and Tower Court in Peterborough. Sporting flat roofs since they were built in the late sixties, it became apparent that significant repairs were required when problems with the internal roof drainage system were causing water ingress and damp problems in the flats and maisonettes...

The UNIFOLD® Gutter Lining System has recently been installed within five valley gutters, totalling more than 700metres, on the Argos Distribution Centre, Castlegate, Wolverhampton.The facility, operated on behalf of Argos by Wincanton, had experienced severe storm water ingress due to the overwhelming of the existing gutters and outlets, causing severe damage and disruption.The roof had been over-sheeted several years ago and the existing gutters were fitted with a continuous plastics liner at this time.This liner was not lying flat due to expansion and contraction problems, leaving raised areas within the gutter, further reducing the available capacity and contributing to the problems being experienced.Ampteam Limited along with rainwater drainage experts CRM Rainwater Drainage were invited to propose a solution to the problem.Survey and DesignFollowing a survey by Ampteam and CRM, a design solution was provided for the gutters.As the existing gutter had insufficient capacity and any modification to the roof at the eaves position to enlarge the gutter was not an option, the design solution required the use of all of the available space within the eaves cavity.The situation was complicated by the need to control works on the asbestos cement gutters on a building constantly in use. This in turn meant that no extra outlets could be introduced and the existing outlets could not be enlarged.The solution involved the installation of a multi-hinged Unifold gutter, fitted and sealed to the underside of the roof sheet in order to maximise the gutter capacity, combined with specially designed siphonic outlets. As the eaves conditions varied along the gutter runs and within each gutter and access was tight, the UNIFOLD® was supplied with 7no hinges.This facilitated relatively easy installation in very difficult circumstances.Siphonic OutletsThe UNIFOLD® gutter was also provided with factory fabricated side boxes to house the unique siphonic outlets that were designed and tested by Dr Malcolm Wearing of CRM Rainwater Drainage.Although the capacity of the gutters had been increased to the maximum given the existing roof conditions, these siphonic outlets, manufactured and installed by Aquaphonixs Limited, were essential to improve the drainage performance of the existing outlets and to allow the system to function without any additional outlets.Fan shaped, semi-circular siphonic outlets with an offset 100mm diameter tailpipe were specially designed to fit inside the UNIFOLD® side boxes and into the existing 150mm diameter outlets.The siphonic outlet tailpipes were connected to flexible tubes, sleeved into the existing plastic downpipes.The custom made outlets were optimised and tested in laboratory conditions and proved to provide a capacity of over 27litres/second, ten times the capacity of a standard 100mm diameter outlet.Calculations to prove the design solutions of both Unifold gutters and siphonic outlets were provided by CRM Rainwater Drainage.InstallationThe UNIFOLD® gutter system was installed by approved contractors Traditional Structures Limited who, due to the relative complexity of the contract, originally forecast a period of 7 weeks to complete the installation.First class organisation, excellent site personnel and attention to detail by both Traditional Structures and Ampteam Limited meant that the installation was completed in just over 4 weeks with no disruption to processes within the building.

2020 General Binding RulesFor decades, millions of septic tanks have been installed throughout the UK in rural and urban areas. Septic tanks are known to be ineffective at processing sewage to modern environmental standards, causing long-term damage to the country’s natural water infrastructure and wildlife.It was therefore inevitable that new rules and a code of conduct would be introduced to prevent the effects of wastewater pollution once and for all; The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2014 came into force on 1 January 2015 creating the General Binding Rules (GBRs) for septic tanks or small sewage treatment plants for domestic use. These rules are designed to reduce the level of pollution from sewage in the nation’s watercourses.The rules state that any existing septic tank discharging to surface water, ie, to a water ditch, stream or river, etc, must have been upgraded or replaced with a new package sewage treatment plant by 1st January 2020.  Failure to comply can incur significant fines from the Environment agency and delays in selling impacted properties.OptionsCurrent methods of discharging wastewater from septic tanksPrevious to the General Binding Rules, wastewater from septic tanks was typically discharged in the following two ways:Drainage fieldWastewater is released through a network of pipes in surrounding sub-soils, providing an additional form of treatment for the waste from the septic tank. This helps to ensure that the wastewater being dispersed does not cause pollution.Septic tanks discharging into a drainage field are not affected by the 2020 septic tank regulations.Directly to surface waterWastewater flows through a pipe directly into a stream, river or lake. Binding rules state that direct discharge from a septic tank into a watercourse is not permitted.So, what are your options?1. Connect to the main sewerThis may not be possible in remote locations, although pump chambers can be used to direct wastewater to the mains sewer.2. Install a drainage field(Designed in accordance with BS6297)This allows the septic tank to discharge wastewater into the ground instead of surface water. In many cases, the installation of a drainage field is not possible due to site constraints such as space and/or the soil not having sufficient drainage potential (ie, rock, clay, high water table).3. Install a Uni:Gem septic conversion unitA Marsh Uni:Gem can be installed and connected to a pre-existing septic tank. This treats the wastewater to a sufficient quality allowing it to be discharged to surface water. See below for further detail.4. Upgrade your septic tank to a Marsh sewage treatment plantThis eliminates the need for a drainage field and ensures that the wastewater is fully treated before being discharged. Options include the Ensign, Ensign Shallow and Ultra Poylok L.Uni:Gem★Marsh Industries, the leading UK manufacturer of package sewage treatment plants, produces over 3000 units per year. However the company’s range of Uni:Gem★ septic conversion units is the only product available on the market which can treat wastewater from an existing septic tank without the need for a complete replacement product or drainage field upgrade.To comply with the GBRs and current EN standards, the entire Uni:Gem range was redeveloped from the ground up and tested, not only to meet, but to exceed UK and International standards. The Uni:Gem★ was born – creating an ‘industry first’ 2020 compliant septic conversion unit with outstanding processing performance.The Uni:Gem★ range was tested in accordance with BSEN12566-3/A1:2009 and EN12566-6 standards at the PIA GmbH test facility in Aachen, Germany, over the course of 38 weeks with a daily loading of:Flow: 900 litres/day BOD: 360g NH4: 48gTesting occurred between November 2018 and August 2019 to ensure all seasons were covered whilst minimum/maximum temperatures were tested to assure Ammonia and BOD process reduction for the UK climate. Holiday periods were also simulated during the test procedure. Final test results yielded an output of 12.5:16:4mg/ltr (BOD:Suspended solids:Ammonia) that is well within national discharge consent requirements.The Uni:Gem★ is an extremely cost effective solution for converting any polluting septic tank into a fully compliant sewage treatment plant ensuring homeowners, estate managers, water companies/amenities have an effective way to keep the environment clean whilst providing a quick and efficient installation process.

After constructing a new building at their headquarters, J A Kent faced the challenge of managing additional rainwater run-off. They saw an opportunity to address this need while also boosting their site’s biodiversity value. Additionally, with a surge in customer inquiries about sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and biodiversity net gain (BNG), the firm aimed to deepen its understanding and demonstrate the effectiveness of these solutions.

The 16,500m2 new Faculty of Social Sciences building is designed to meet the future growth demands of the department up to the year 2035 and creates a world class, BREEAM outstanding building that encourages collaboration and enhances the Faculty’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research.The landscape design for the new University of Sheffield building set out to create a large area of public realm on the social sciences campus, with provision for sustainable drainage systems including extensive use of tree pits and rain gardens. As part of the SuDS design specifications, a Blue Roof stormwater drainage system was considered as an alternative option to underground attenuation tanks to keep surface water run-off within the discharge consent.ABG were able to demonstrate that specifying a shallow Blue Roof attenuation layer involved much lower carbon emissions than excavating underground storage tanks.The volume of vehicle movements required to install underground stormwater attenuation compared to the ABG blueroof system was calculated (delivered from ABG’s factory based 25 miles away), and a carbon footprint saving of 59% was estimated. The reduction in construction emissions was deemed particularly important given the site’s proximity to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.The 108mm ABG blueroof system design was fitted over a 4,500m2 roof catchment area by the ABG Installs team over a period of 8 weeks. The inverted roof system build-up includes a 245mm XPS insulation installed onto the waterproofing with a Water Flow Reducing Layer (WFRL) above. The ABG Deckdrain 4mm geocomposite drainage layer is installed above a 100mm void former, wrapped in a Terrex NW20 geotextile layer to prevent debris entering the drainage voids. The roof build-up is completed with a surface finish combination of stone ballast and 63mm pavers.For the majority of the year, the roof drains into the rainwater outlets as normal, however during prolonged spells of heavy rainfall the void formers begin to temporarily attenuate the stormwater. During storm periods the rainfall outflow rate is slowed using 13 stainless steel restrictor chambers, positioned above each rainwater outlet.This controls the volume of water that is able to discharge from the roof during the storm, minimising surface water run-off and reducing the risk of flooding in the local area. The system is calculated to only reach maximum attenuation volume during a 1-in-100 year storm event, as calculated using the Flood Estimation Handbook rainfall data for Sheffield, plus 40% allowance for climatic change. The system features an integrated overflow outlet in the event a storm occurs that exceeds this designed capacity.

Golpla-Recycled Reinforced Grass & Gravel Grass Paver Case StudiesDesigned to retain gravel and reinforce grass for a wide range of applications which include:Footpaths.Cycle paths.Access roads.Car parks.Caravan and campsites.Sports facilities.Emergency access.Wheelchair access.Inclusion in applications where high infiltration is necessary as part of SUDS (sustainable urban drainage system) schemes.

Network Rail’s nationwide initiative for high specification, durable AFA platform access bridges required AATi to supply re-engineered ‘Coverall’ combined stair nosing and step covers. These small design changes have again improved bridge construction techniques and the long-term performance of the stairway, and removed dirt-traps and improved drainage. AATi supplied their SN293 WL307 UR to fit the needs.

The Burrell Collection’s renaissance is an ambitious refurbishment which will allow visitors to explore all three floors in the building, set out as galleries, visible stores and special exhibition spaces. Arup was tasked to improve and reinstate the entire envelope of the building. The goal for the failing metal standing seam roof was to replace it with a new waterproofing system incorporating falls to provide effective drainage and to incorporate sustainable technology in the form of solar PV.

Bury St Edmunds Train Station required building envelope works due to the ageing condition of Grade II listed building managed by Walker Construction. A significant issue was water damage caused by water ingress through an inefficiently waterproofed roof, invasive plant species growing through brickwork, and debris around drainage points.The solution:AlphaGuard PUMA Liquid Applied Flat Roof System

Ronafix Pre-packed Screed 6-50mm was specified to be laid to falls to provide drainage to the new terrace construction, which provides access to student accommodation and waterproofing to the rear of the shop units below. Early application of the asphalt waterproofing was possible because Ronafix Pre-packed Screed 6-50mm dries faster than traditional sand and cement screeds, reducing the delay between application of the screed and waterproofing.

The A259 is a busy road that runs along the south coast passing through Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and part of Kent. The Highways Agency wanted to put measures in place that would improve part of the road close to the village of Guestling Green near Hastings. To make it more reliable and safe for users, the project involved resurfacing to prolong the life of the carriageway and also required a more effective drainage system...

As part of a major transformation of Wembley Park, which includes Olympic Way, Wade Stainless Steel Linear Channels and Streamline, and perforated gratings were installed beneath the Olympic Steps to provide an effective and long-lasting drainage solution.Built by developer Quintain in a joint project with Brent Council, the Olympic Steps come at the end of Olympic Way—the stretch of road linking Wembley underground station to Wembley Stadium. It was named Olympic Way after it was originally constructed for the 1948 London Olympics.The final stages of this redevelopment were the iconic steps that lead up to the national stadium. The original ramp, known as the pedway, was built as part of the old Wembley Stadium and acted as a bridge over the old coach parks. The Olympic Steps development replaced the outdated, concrete pedway and extended the Olympic Way, increasing the width by 50% and improving accessibility for all visitors in and around Wembley Park. Volker Fitzpatrick was the main contractor on the project.“Working closely with Mick Hawkins, the Site Manager, the aim of the project was to fulfil the client’s drainage requirements to tight deadlines,” says Brian Holden-Earl, Area Sales Manager. “The area is frequently used by visitors, so it was important to deliver our services within a specific timescale.”

We have overcome the challenge of installing low channels in an existing reinforced slab at the southern entrance to the French station.We have supplied mini range polymer concrete shallow drainage channels. This range is specially designed for areas with height limitation and load classes up to C250. Since this specific case involved a pedestrian tunnel, channels with heel-proof grates that comply with PMR regulations for people with reduced mobility were installed.

A complete package was supplied: not only the rainwater outlets and leafguards but all the fasteners required for fixing the roofing system too.For this project, Fixfast helped by providing the necessary rainwater calculations required for completion, ensuring the efficient and reliable drainage expected of the FarBo range once installed."Very friendly and helpful staff, good range of products and very good service overall"Stuart Marris - Contracts Manager at K&S Construction (Sussex) Ltd

DCM Surfaces were delighted to work on the project to install over 3000m2 of Rubber-Gravel Mix along Huddersfield Canal Path.Rubber-Gravel Mix is the ideal surface for sporting arenas, footpaths, canal paths, tree pits, cemetery paths or as a macadam replacement in hard to reach locations such as roof tops.Porous and slip resistant, Rubber-Gravel Mix is suitable for wheelchair users, and allows for sustainable drainage in cities, towns and countryside.

Across three floors, including their new product development labs and the new academy space, they chose Quadra 440 with XL dispenser in chrome with matching drainage font. This system dispenses an immediate draw off capacity of 40 cups; 150 cups of boiling and 175 cups of chilled filtered water every hour. The Billi under-counter systems are a great addition to their office space, giving their staff an opportunity to enjoy coffee alternatives.

SIEGENIA's ECO PASS SKY axxent threshold is paving the way for WeberHaus.As a premium provider of prefabricated houses, WeberHaus relies on high-quality solutions. The "German Dream Home" silver prize-winning luxury villa in the "World of Living" exhibition park in Rheinau-Linx bears witness to this: its extraordinary building architecture is underlined by its exclusive furnishings and equipment, in which eleven lift and slide elements along with the hardware technology from SIEGENIA bring light and spaciousness into the building. The six elements on the ground floor with the ECO PASS SKY axxent level threshold, in particular, provide room comfort.Daily added value for the residents"The interest in large-scale elements with a passage as level as possible, convenient operation and elegant design is distinctly increasing, even among younger home owners", reported Christoph Scheuring, PORTAL product manager at SIEGENIA. WeberHaus has been meeting these expectations recently with the Premium solution for the passage from the inside to the outside: the level threshold ECO PASS SKY axxent lowers the height of the threshold, including the running rail, to 0 mm without any incline.The additional benefits of such a solution for the producer of prefabricated houses, which has been relying on SIEGENIA for large-scale elements for a number of years now, is obvious: "The ease of use achieved by the reduction of the difference in level between the inside and outside to zero generates a daily added value for the residents," explained Daniel Eckstein, head of construction planning at WeberHaus.A solution with an elegant appearance awarded the Red Dot prizeThe elegant design of ECO PASS SKY axxent is also a persuasive argument for home owners. This begins with the optical adaptation of the threshold to the frame material. Moreover, the design of the fixed sash is optically appealing: by saving on the profiles, the portion of glass is maximised to such an extent that the glass is flush with the floor surface. And last but not least, the outside appearance is harmonious. There the elegant design of the grille for the threshold drainage flows seamlessly into the drainage gutter. The threshold therefore won the renowned Design Award „Red Dot: Best of the Best 2020“ for its trailblazing design. ECO PASS SKY axxent can also be convincing in terms of security with burglar resistance up to RC3.Technically mature, ECO PASS SKY axxent also exhibits its strengths with regard to sill installation. SIEGENIA cooperates with the drainage specialist Gutjahr to guarantee a specialised high-quality solution, both for design harmonisation of the threshold and drainage gutter. From the perspective of Daniel Eckstein, this is an advantage: "Beside the attractive, uniform, appearance, this allows us to achieve an optimum coordination of the drainage system and the connecting system with regard to the designing of the exterior area."Motorised operation for ease of use The motorisation of large-scale elements and their integration in Smart Home systems will play an ever increasing part in the future according to the estimation of the WeberHaus expert. „The motorised drive of lift and slide doors is a significant feature in the view of home owners: large window elements are heavy and consequently can only be moved with the application of force. Whereas, they can be really difficult to stop during the sliding process“, explained Daniel Eckstein. He therefore had one of the particularly large elements of the villa equipped with the motorised drive DRIVE axxent HSA smart from SIEGENIA. The fully automatic, partially concealed drive system has an elegant appearance and is convincing due to its concealed lift drive and its flat, discreet control knob. Operation is convenient: the sash can be opened and closed either by using the control knob, per radio remote control or via the SIEGENIA Comfort app.

CHALLENGEIlam Park was a popular tourist destination in the Peak District with a parking problem. The main car park is paved with asphalt but their sloped overflow car park suffered from rutted, unsafe and uneven surfaces due to poor drainage and puddling. More asphalt would create water runoff and drainage problems elsewhere so a permanent and durable permeable paving solution was required.SOLUTIONHanpaveTM was chosen as it’s a freedraining system that’s tested to bear almost any vehicle. There are no more problems with rutting or uneven surfaces. It’s also highly durable, weather-resistant and made from 100% recycled plastic. When installed on a properly engineered permeable base (no pipes or ducting required!), it can be in-filled with gravel or grass for an attractive, stable base that becomes virtually invisible to the average user.CONCLUSIONHanpaveTM was installed in 2019. We called in on a very wet day in November 2022 and the HanpaveTM grids were in excellent condition. Surfaces were even, rutting was gone and, even in torrential rain, puddling could only be found in areas paved with asphalt – not HanpaveTM. Despite some extremely hot summers, Hanpave’s unique expansion absorbing design and professional installation have given Ilam Park an effective, longlasting and attractive solution to their overflow parking problems.

Newtown Town Council and Powys County Council secured significant funding from the Welsh Government to undertake a major project that would see the centre of Newtown enhanced by a range of exciting measures to make the town Greener.The project’s implementation kicked off in February 2022, leveraging GreenBlue Products, with specifiers WSP leading the design and Travis Perkins overseeing the order. Specifically, using RootSpace G2 and ArborCell, – a load-bearing layer for additional attenuation. The HydroPlanter Max and Flex from the GreenBlue product range were instrumental in achieving the SuDS element for this project. Guying, Root Management and additional aeration were essential for the tree planting. Supported by Rootspace G2, crafted from 100% recycled polypropylene, addresses the needs of green infrastructure by providing ample soil volume for robust plant root systems. The HydroPlanter Max rain garden system is a bespoke option for sustainable drainage, boasting an integrated exceedance chamber for overflow management and maintenance in a rain garden scenario.A comprehensive public consultation involving residents and local business owners ensured that the community’s voice was heard in the redevelopment plans, fostering a sense of ownership and enthusiastic support for the project. The Growing Newtown initiative has encompassed green spaces and upgraded drainage, all contributing to the holistic revitalisation of the Newtown High Street vicinity.

Alicante Port, the well renowned commercial and cruise ship terminal has been upgraded to benefit from a Gatic Slotdrain high-capacity surface water drainage system.Slotdrain UltraSlot was specified during the re-conditioning of Dock 19 to increase capacity from 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) to 463,000 TEU.“UltraSlot was chosen by specifier SETI, SA, who are well established within the ports sector and who have worked with Gatic products for many years,” said International Sales Manager – Luis Triguero “The engineer in charge was familiar with the mechanical and hydraulic advantages of UltraSlot and requested a competitive price for the project. As Gatic is so well established in the Spanish market, we could exceed their expectations.”UltraSlot is used in external concrete areas which are subject to constant traffic, such as airports and ports. This high-capacity system is designed to ensure sufficient depth of concrete cover over the main body of the channel to withstand ultra-heavy-duty loads of up to F900 - 90 tonnes.“The biggest challenge we faced was ensuring the system could withstand the consistent, heavy traffic that will always be moving throughout the port,” continues Luis. “However, thanks to its capacity to bear heavy loads, UltraSlot proved to be one of the best drainage options on the market.”

Battersea Reach, an award-winning development consists of 1,350 apartments spread over 14 separate buildings surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens, shops and cafes. Buzon UK supplied and installed the DPH pedestal range for the composite decking and paving to many of the terraces and balconies across the 14 separate apartment buildings. The DPH pedestal system is perfect for use at roof level as they allow for 5% slope correction and can accommodate a range of services beneath floor level as well as giving excellent drainage.

On the shore of the Øresund strait facing Helsingborg is the 150-year-old Marienlyst Strandhotel. On 6 January 2018, after two years of development, the hotel in Helsingør opened a luxurious beach spa. This spa, with its luxury facilities, earned a Danish Beauty Award 2019 in the ‘Spa of the Year’ category. The Award-Winning beach hotel and spa chose Unidrain to feature throughout its impressive facilities. Not only are the drainage systems expected to uphold the high-end aesthetics, but it is paramount that they serve quality functionality.

One Bartholomew is a beautifully designed, highly advanced building in the heart of London – an anchor point for the Barts Square masterplan, which is home to approximately 236 residential units, 20,000 sq ft of retail and 258,000 sq ft of office space. Designed to meet the latest environmental performance requirements and to achieve BREEAM 2014 Excellent rating, the project uses INTRAgrille architectural grilles as the coverings for drainage systems and internal trenches. View the full case study to learn more

A new distribution centre at Littlebrook Business Park features market leading Gatic CastSlot Littlebrook (Orbital 47) is home to several industrial companies which rely on the near constant movement of goods.“Our work involved the installation of Gatic Slotdrain in a distribution centre at Littlebrook,” said Zach Graham, Alumasc Area Sales Manager for London and the South East. “The distribution centre is in an ideal location due to the surrounding environment with easy access to the M25. Further to this, as the loading area was fairly small, it is put under a lot of pressure every day, with constantly turning vehicles. This meant that any surface water management product installed had to be guaranteed to withstand extremely heavy and frequent loads.”In an area where unremitting, slow turning traffic is a major consideration, Gatic CastSlot, from the Gatic Slotdrain range, was an obvious choice in providing a reliable water management system for this project. Gatic specialises in integrated, high capacity surface water management and Engineered Access Covers, its surface water drainage systems have been used to capture, control and return run-off into the natural water cycle, even in high pressure situations.Gatic Slotdrain’s reputation as a front runner for surface drainage systems in infrastructure hubs such as ports, airports and industrial units, made it first choice for this project, and ideal overall for sites such as Littlebrook.

Amazon has invested heavily in its UK operations in recent years and more recently with the accelerated growth of online shopping, significantly increasing its number of warehouses across the UK. One such distribution centre is in Kingsnorth, Kent. This 34,000 square metre warehouse opened in 2018 and has benefitted from the installation of a Gatic Slotdrain CastSlot system.With its high-capacity surface water intake and high-performance loading capabilities, the CastSlot system from the Gatic Slotdrain range is specifically designed to bear load ratings of up to F900, which amounts to 90 tonnes – making it the ideal product for major distribution centres such as this. In an area where unremitting, slow turning HGV traffic is a major consideration, Gatic’s CastSlot drainage system provides reliable water management.“Gatic CastSlot was specified by global professional services firm RPS, to provide high-capacity drainage that had a discreet finish, within the service yard and car park for the distribution centre,” said Zach Graham, Gatic Area Sales Manager for London and the South East. “They valued the design put forward to them and accepted to take away unnecessary costs to client and project without reducing performance of the system.”“In addition, RPS have used the Gatic range before and will look to use the system on a design whenever possible.”