RAINWATER MANAGEMENT
StormTech holds more water
PAVING THE WAY TO NET ZERO
The construction industry is experiencing a notable shift, that puts environmental responsibility first.
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ustainability, once a fashionable buzzword, has finally become the driver of modern construction practices. However, this wasn’t always the case, says Andrew Leah, general manager at Duraproducts. Twenty years ago, the focus on recycling initiatives began, which marked a positive and noticeable step forward. However, the global economic downturn caused this initial progress to halt. “Thankfully, in the latter half of the past two decades, we have witnessed a remarkable resurgence. ‘Net Zero’ is no longer simply a slogan thrown around in sales meetings, but rather a true measure and target for all industry stakeholders to work towards. This collective commitment is crucial to achieving the ambitious climate targets set for 2040 and internal ESG goals. By embracing sustainable practices, the industry can build a more secure and environmentally responsible future,” he says.
Leah says that several factors are fuelling this positive change. Major construction companies are increasingly prioritising sustainability, driven by both Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments and the need to comply with stricter “green” building codes. Specifying sustainable materials at every stage of construction is essential for a truly sustainable built environment.
Government policies have also evolved significantly, he says. “Twenty years ago, the conversations lacked follow-up actions. Today, governments across the UK, Ireland, and the EU are setting clear regulations, solidifying the commitment to sustainability. Within this, the rise of Environmental Product Declarations
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(EPDs) and Lifecycle Assessments (LCAs) provide the supply chain with standardised quantitative measurements of what sustainability truly means.
“But perhaps the most significant change lies with the industry. We recently supplied recycled polymer kerbing for the UK’s first net-zero McDonald’s restaurant, a project demonstrative of the organisation’s commitment to the environment. This forward-thinking approach is filtering down the construction chain, with contractors and installers becoming increasingly invested in sustainable practices. It is only with environmentally-driven solution providers commissioning EPDs and LCAs that global contractors will choose green products and take action to reduce their footprint.” Leah adds that Duraproducts’ own journey reflects this evolution. “Initially, our recycled materials came solely from bottle tops and caps. Now, the possibilities extend to car bumpers and other flexible plastics – like sweet wrappers and salad bags. Constant innovation and industry investment allow us to adapt and expand our sustainable offerings while maintaining product strength and integrity to extend the lifecycle of our solutions.” He adds: “The past 20 years have been an ongoing legislative battle, but a truly rewarding journey. We have seen huge progress in the sector, particularly in the past decade, and we are really excited about what is to come. We’re proud to be part of the solution, providing sustainable options that empower the construction industry to build a greener future.” BMJ
Advanced Drainage Systems, the corrugated thermoplastic drainage pipes and water management systems specialist, has launched a new StormTech SC-800 arch-shaped chamber, which not only holds more water than the company’s the SC-740 – but also requires less embedment stone for installation. It also has a reduced minimum cover depth, resulting in greater storage capacity for the same footprint area and depth, plus reduced construction time and cost. The SC-800 maximizes storage within a compact footprint while its corrugated design pares down the minimum cover depth and provides superior structural integrity. The StormTech arch-shaped system directs first flush flow into the patented Isolator Row – an integral water quality treatment device that has two treatment stages: sedimentation and filtration. Isolator Row is independently tested and validated to remove more than 80% Total Suspended Solids (TSS), often avoiding the need for a costly sediment removal system upstream of the tank. Isolator Row can also remove other pollutants such as particulate- bound hydrocarbons and metals. Another two treatment stages can take place within the embedment stone: adsorption and biodegradation, leading to even greater removal efficiencies. Isolator Row is the only part of a StormTech system that needs maintenance, as the other chambers only receive ‘clean’ untreated runoff from flows exceeding the first flush flow rate.
StormTech’s arch design sheds load from the chamber to the surrounding stone, which forms a structural arch that transfers loads into stone columns between the chambers and spreads the load through to the native soil, resulting in extraordinary minimum and maximum cover depths. The new SC-800 chamber has a minimum cover depth of 375mm.
www.adspipe.co.uk.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2024
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