A fundamental but often forgotten part of construction: Drainage
Let’s face it, it’s not the most glamorous topic to talk about, but is necessary to every single commercial and residential property. The increase in rapid changes in weather conditions has led towards the implementation of more secure and robust drainage systems to ensure we are equipped for sporadic changes in climate.
How drainage works
Drainage is the removal of surface and sub-surface water from a particular area. The water can then be repurposed elsewhere to rivers, creeks and beach outlets to avoid saturation of land and damage to homes, commercial property and farm land. In particularly bad weather it is important that excess water is removed to avoid damage to buildings, potential flooding and hazards such as accidents caused by hydroplaning in vehicles.
Types of surface drainage
Surface drainage is the removal of water that collects on land surface. There are several ways in which to combat the collection of excess water via a surface drainage system. The main three to note are:
- Stand Alone– These pits are placed at the point in which the trench drain system empties the water underground
- Open Swales – An effective method that has been used for years, swales are open drainage channels that slow down passing water and absorb into the porous soil
- Grated Trench Drains – This system employs an angled grade on both sides of a linear trench to move water and waste into a point in the channel which is then evacuated into an underground pipe.
Drainage in construction
Drainage is a fundamental part of construction, essential in roads and the urban environment to remove surface and sub-surface water. This must be factored into any type planning by the project team of civil engineers, construction managers, architects, site managers and surveyors.
Drainage laws will be consulted during the initial stages before any system is put in place by the developer to ensure that where water is in short or excess supply, the correct design is used to manage run off.
Endurance
An option to ensure the longevity of particular drainage systems is to use trench systems that use polymer concrete, a STET material that is resistant to road salts and common chemicals. The polyester resin is reinforced with mineral aggregates and fillers to ensure it is durable and is used most commonly in building and construction industries due to its robustness.
ACO Polycrete is an established manufacturer of drainage solutions that use a modular approach to drainage systems. Ideal for construction companies, their product range includes heavy use and steel edge drainage systems as well as speciality products for commercial problem solving
