PLUMBING & DRAINAGE
KERB APPEAL
Sustainable
drainage options can be boosted by the use of recycled products as BMJ finds out.
W
ater. We either have too much of it or too little. Or it’s in the wrong place. In many parts of the UK, local
infrastructure is struggling to cope with more sustained and more frequent storm events, causing approximately £1.3 billion of damage per year. This is compounded by growing populations and urbanisation, which sees natural ground being replaced by hard, impermeable surfaces. Consequently, the market for water management products is huge, as an efficient drainage strategy is key to any new development. Aside from the prevention of flooding, water is a natural resource that needs to be managed as such. Modern drainage systems are now designed to manage and control run-off in a more responsible and environmentally friendly way.
“Sustainability is becoming a major focus in all industries, with humanity’s impact on the planet well reported. The construction industry is not exempt, and has been labelled the largest consumer of natural resources in the UK by Wrap,2 says Steve Bennett, managing director of Dura Products. “The sector uses around 400 million tonnes of materials and produces 100 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste (CDW) each year . As a leading industry, we must innovate and move towards a circular
economy. One of the best ways to do this is by adopting products and systems made from recycled materials,” he continues. Bennett explains that Dura Products has been manufacturing kerbing and drainage solutions from plastic waste since 2003. “Combined kerb and drainage and linear surface drainage systems continually and quickly collect run-off from any surface. Unlike the traditional kerb and gully method where flows compound on the surface, the collected run- off is contained and driven to outlet hidden within the channel body. Additionally, the units are designed with a large usable volume and manufactured from a hydraulically efficient material. This results in a very effective drainage system by creating fast flows with good silt transit. This also aids longevity of structure, system and product,” he says.
Traditionally, CKD units and linear surface drains are made from ground sourced materials which requires high levels of energy producing significant greenhouse gas emissions. The CKD and linear surface drainage products, Duradrain and Durachannel, are comprised of 70% recycled polymer, with each unit containing the equivalent of at least 182 recycled plastic bottles. Units of Duradrain and Durachannel both weigh less than 9kg, which allows for one-operative installation. This means fewer construction workers are needed on site at any one time, and therefore a reduced risk of COVID-19 transmission. In addition, the installation of concrete kerbs requires the operation of heavy machinery, which increases the risk of developing medical conditions such as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Exposure to carcinogenic respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is also eliminated when using plastic on site, as the material does not emit harmful airborne chemicals when cut unlike concrete. Bennett continues: “The UK government has set ambitious recycling and carbon emission targets such as the elimination of avoidable waste of all kinds and to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 . New targets and subsequent legislation are pressuring construction to become more sustainable, so an eco-friendly product offering is essential in order to keep up with expectations.” BMJ
February 2021
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
MARSH ADDS TEA-TIME TRAINING VIDEOS
The changing working emvironment means
companies are having to adapt their training provision.
Drainage product supplier Marsh Industries has launched a series of short product training videos, designed to provide a brief overview of its range of off-mains drainage products. The series, titled ‘Tea-break Training’, responds to the requests by merchants, architects, engineers and installers for product knowledge while in-person training is impractical due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Developed in-house, the videos are no more than seven minutes long and can be digested easily during a daily tea break.
Marsh Industries’ business development manager, Michael Harrison, who presents the video series, says; “Our Tea-Break Training videos will deliver 5-7 minute overviews of our core product ranges, enabling the individual to understand the basics of our offering and how to engage with us for further support.” “It is often a logistical challenge to bring together a team for a training session in the same place and at the same time, and this challenge is amplified due to the current working climate. However, in true Marsh form, we haven’t let this problem slow us down. Our Tea- Break Training videos can be absorbed quickly at a time to suit the individual and, of course, there’s no better time to do so than over a hot cup of tea.”
The first video in the series focuses on the company’s range of ‘domestic’ off-mains drainage products, and is now available on the Marsh website at
www.marshindustries.co.uk/ tea-break-training. Ensuing videos will cover the company’s range of commercial sewage treatment plants, pump stations, oil separators and more. Digital copies of the videos will also be made available on request. BMJ
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