LANDSCAPING & EXTERNAL WORKS Purposefully porous


As a SuDS expert, Chris Griffiths of Marshalls explains why he is committed to bringing the approach into schemes using porous solutions to manage surface water in an increasingly challenging environmental context


decades, despite annual variation. Between 2011 and 2020, the UK experienced 9% more rainfall than in any period between the 1960s and 1990s. Moving forwards, we’re expected to see even wetter winters and drier summers. While summer rains will occur with less frequency, they’re likely to be much more intense, according to climate projections.


T


So where does this leave us when designing flood resilient spaces? And how can we mitigate potential damage and build in resistance to more extreme weather events?


Managing surface water through SuDS


Sustainable Drainage Systems (or SuDS) is a holistic approach for managing excess rainfall. By controlling the passage of water and slowing down surface water run-off, SuDS can collect rainwater at the source. Here it can either infiltrate into the ground or evaporate, helping to minimise future flood events. A mix of guidance and legislation is pushing for greater inclusion of SuDS into urban developments, not just for the proven drainage advantages but for the many other benefits that the systems provide. These include improving water and air quality, supporting biodiversity, and creating more appealing spaces for people to live, work and play.


Permeable paving = source control Well-designed drainage solutions should consider a range of measures to impact water flow rates, from soakaways and infiltration trenches to rainwater harvesting and permeable paving.


Permeable paving products offer a load-bearing surface coupled with source control attenuation for pavements and roads, car parks or public realm schemes, preventing surface water run-off by


ADF FEBRUARY 2022


collecting rainfall where it lands. Porous paving solutions provide an ideal dual- purpose SuDS method; encouraging water to soak down through the surface to be stored in a specially prepared sub-base. As well as cleansing the attenuated water (via both mechanical filtration and natural biological processes) the use of permeable paving also prevents water pooling, avoiding puddles and ice which can present a health and safety risk.


he latest State of the UK Climate report shows the weather has become wetter over the last few


105


WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108