Aggregate Industries Offers One Stop Shop for SUDS

Aggregate Industries has developed a comprehensive range of source control sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) for the safe management of surface water.

Problems associated with failure of conventional surface water drainage systems are well researched and documented leading to increased awareness of the environmental impact of major flooding and pollution. The use of SUDS is recognised as an effective way to reduce this risk, with developers and local authorities being actively encouraged to adopt SUDS solutions by the Government, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Agency.

In compliance with the guidelines, Aggregate Industries has developed independently validated SUDS solutions to satisfy the requirements of relevant environmental authorities, from design and supply through to installation.

For any system a key element is to provide water storage prior to controlled runoff and the SUDS range offers options to suit specific ground and site conditions.

Unique in the market, Charcon Permavoid is a high-strength, highly-voided sub-base replacement system. Any number of Permavoid boxes can be linked together to form the crucial water retaining layer, or reservoir, within a SUDS pavement, and the relatively shallow depth required for installation has the added benefit of reducing the cost of waste aggregate disposal.

Permavoid can be used in all applications where a traditional aggregate sub-base can be used. With specialist membranes and textiles the system provides either an attenuation or infiltration drainage system.

Aggregate Industries also offers a ‘no fines’ granular material sub-base under license from Formpave who pioneered the system in conjunction with Coventry University.

Once the method of storage capacity within the system is selected a number of other design choices can be made. First is the type of surfacing material used to allow infiltration into the storage system, most commonly concrete block paving.

Charcon Infilta Block Paving is a rectangular system incorporating a 5mm spacer design. Each interlocking unit with its specially designed nib structure provides a 5mm void, allowing ingress of water through to the storage system. Available in Red, Brindle, Charcoal and Natural Grey, Charcon’s Infilta Block Paving offers all the aesthetic, strength and performance properties of other block paving, with the added benefit of sustainable drainage.

Alternatively, if conventional impermeable asphalt is used the water runs into Charcon’s Permakerb or Charcon Permachannel concrete products, which then disperse into a Charcon Permavoid storage system.

Permavoid systems require at least one layer of an appropriate geotextile to prevent the bedding layer contaminating the storage area. A geomembrane is also needed for attenuation designs to create a watertight structure and minimise the risk of subgrade softening. Charcon can also supply geotextiles and geomembranes.

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