PLUMBING & DRAINAGE
WATER MANAGEMENT FOR MERCHANTS
Four of the core sectors that merchants interact with on a daily basis need an understanding of water management trends for the year ahead as BMJ finds out.
W
ith 2021 looking set to be another year of change for the construction industry, it is vital that that merchants keep up-
to-date with the latest trends and challenges in the many different sectors they supply to. That’s according to Darren Crane, national sales manager – buying groups and independent merchants at ACO Water Management “Take landscaping, for example,” he says. “One of the defining trends of the first UK lockdown was the sharp increase in home improvements. With a large proportion of the workforce required to work from home, often for the first time, attention increasingly turned to ensuring home and garden spaces were making the most of their potential.”
A survey by
Money.co.uk of more than 1,000 UK homeowners showed 76% of respondents spent money on home improvements, averaging £4,000 per project. With many predicting that working from home will become a part of the ‘new normal’, this is a trend that looks set to continue, and merchants have an important role in understanding the different design requests landscapers are likely to receive when briefed for a renovation.
Crane says that key to most landscaping projects is achieving a slick aesthetic finish, and this includes the implementation of water management solutions, where drainage is barely visible but still able to effectively cope with the increasingly unpredictable British weather. “Discreet drainage is therefore likely to be a common request, with products such as our ACO HexDrain® Brickslot able to provide strong hydraulic performance in a visually striking package.”
Moving on to highways, Crane says that those tasked with delivering highway projects will need to adhere to an important legislative update this year. “The Environmental Bill is expected to make biodiversity a much more prominent part of the planning process, which will have a particularly big impact on the UK’s extensive road network.
“Merchants should familiarise themselves
with the latest systems and products that are specifically designed to mitigate the risk posed to biodiversity. Roads are clearly a significant threat to nature, which makes wildlife guidance systems a critical tool within highway construction. They allow small animals to cross roads safely where construction has interrupted migration, which is particularly common along the highway network,” he says. Suppliers are usually abreast of what’s required, so speaking to suppliers to ensure they are equipped with the most effective solutions, means merchants can prepare themselves ahead of upcoming legislative changes, he adds. “In turn, this will enable them to become a source of valuable knowledge to their customers, some of whom may be unaccustomed to working with biodiversity targets.”
Going green
Crane says that it is also important to recognise the issue of new build properties. “A combination of unpredictable weather patterns and a rising population means that a significant proportion of new homes are being built in areas at risk of flooding”
Since 2013, one in ten of all new homes in England have been built on land at the highest risk of flooding, which amounts to 85,000 homes. This means that planning and maintenance, especially with regards to water management, is absolutely crucial to the ongoing structural integrity of new homes. He adds that merchants should recognise the importance of systems and products that are specifically designed to improve sustainability in
February 2021
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
a project. “Sustainable drainage systems are a key component of any construction project, and the updated Environmental Bill is likely to draw further attention to this issue. By keeping up-to- date on the legislative and environmental factors, as well as the latest technological advancements, merchants will continue to be a vital asset to their housebuilding customers.”
The integration of the UK transport network shows no signs of slowing down, and with the ongoing construction of HS2, rail will continue to be an important element. Major rail stations are increasingly an intersection of several different modes of transport, including car, bus, bikes, and indeed pedestrians.
Crane says that this presents a challenge for those tasked with delivering water management, given the sheer range of considerations and factors involved. “Given that merchants have knowledge spanning multiple sectors and applications, they are a key source of expertise for those working on diverse projects such as rail. Crane adds that ACO has a range of training options for merchants to help enhance their understanding on specific products and sectors, as well as legislative changes. “We have an online training zone dedicated to this, helping merchants to build knowledge through training and certification.
“2021 will be full of challenges, and general trends such as sustainability are likely to impact all areas of construction. Landscaping, highways and rail are just three of the many areas that merchants supply to on a daily basis, and keeping up with the latest challenges and trends to these specific applications is vital,” he says BMJ
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