SuDs

Circular concrete pipes have a circular cross-section measured at 90 degrees to the direction of flow and are typically used as part of a drainage system for the conveyance of foul and surface water. They can also be used for attenuation storage and the subsequent controlled release of surface water in sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Other uses include culverting of watercourses where construction can create an obstruction to the natural flow path.

Precast concrete pipes are classified structurally as rigid systems. They have flexible joints which enable ground movement to be accommodated along the length of the pipeline.

Why use precast concrete circular pipes?

• A full surround of granular bedding material is not always required, resulting in reduced installation costs, lower environmental impacts and less transport movements to site for the delivery of granular and from site for the disposal of excavated soil.
• Precast concrete is strong and durable, providing asset owners with low whole life costs and a proven service life of more than 100 years.
• Concrete pipes are resilient against damage from high pressure water jetting, a commonly used process for cleaning and blockage removal.
• Precast concrete pipes are a low carbon, sustainable product made from local materials that can be recycled end of life.
• Circular concrete pipes can be designed to withstand full highway vehicular loadings and can be constructed with minimal depth of cover.
• Circular concrete pipes are able to retain their shape over their long service life, preserving structural integrity and hydraulic efficiency.

What are elliptical concrete pipes?

An elliptical concrete pipe has an elliptical cross-section and is typically used as part of a drainage system for the conveyance of foul and surface water. It can also be used for attenuation storage and controlled release of surface water. Elliptical concrete pipes can be used with the major axis (widest part) laid horizontally or vertically and are typically used in situations where a traditional circular pipe may not provide the required hydraulic performance or where there are limitations on construction depth or width, for example due to other services located adjacent to the pipe run.

Why Use Precast Concrete Elliptical Pipes?

Precast concrete is strong and highly durable, providing asset owners with a reassuringly long service life and low whole life costs.

Precast concrete is a low carbon, sustainable material made from local materials that can be recycled end of life.
Elliptical concrete pipes can be designed to withstand full highway loadings and constructed with minimal depth of cover.

When laid with the major axis vertical, secondary inverting with a low flow channel may not be necessary.
In common with circular precast concrete pipes, a full surround of granular material is not always required, resulting in reduced installation costs and lower environmental impacts.

What is an ovoid pipe?

Ovoid pipes are "Egg-shaped" elements used to create a pipeline which can be used in drainage systems. In some situations, they may offer benefits over traditional circular pipes of equivalent full bore capacity as they have higher velocity at low flows, which can reduce the risk of siltation and blockages. 

Ovoid pipes are common in old Victorian brick‐built sewerage systems and in some cases, precast concrete ovoid pipes can be used to match or replace parts of the existing sewer network.

Why use precast concrete ovoid pipes?

• They are a strong and durable offsite solution with a proven long service life.
• Lower operating costs; in some cases, sewers may be laid without the need for pumping.
• Better self-cleansing velocities than circular pipes at low flows and therefore less risk of siltation and blockage.
• When installed at shallower gradients, reduced cost of trench excavation and backfilling compared with circular pipes.

What is a modular tank system?

Modular tanks are generally used below ground for the storage of foul and surface water.  They consist of prefabricated sections that can be assembled on site and configured to meet the layout of the design. The tanks are supplied complete with precast concrete base, wall and roof panels, which can be solid or slatted to allow water inflow.

In choosing an appropriate tank system, the specifier should consider structural design, water quality requirements, hydraulic design, installation cost and whole life cost, space constraints,  ease and speed of construction, sustainability, maintenance requirements and asset service life.

Precast concrete modular tanks are available with a range of fittings.

Precast Concrete Modular Tank applications include:

• Surface water storage and attenuation
• Rainwater recycling storage
• Waste water treatment (e.g. filtration, aeration, sludge, slurry)
• CSO Chambers

Why use precast concrete modular tanks?

• Faster construction time (quick installation; reduced cure time) compared with in-situ
• Lower plant and labour costs
• Precast concrete is strong and durable, providing asset owners with low whole life costs and a proven service life of more than 100 years.
• Precast concrete modular tanks are a low carbon, sustainable product made from local materials that can be recycled end of life.
• Precast concrete modular tanks can be designed to withstand loadings and in shallow or deep fill installations.
• Precast concrete modular tanks require minimal maintenance, preserving structural integrity and hydraulic efficiency.
• Precast concrete modular tanks can be manufactured with many different features.
• The self-weight of precast modular tanks provides natural resistance to flotation in high groundwater and during flooding.

What is a concrete manhole?

Precast concrete manholes are an access chamber designed for man-entry. They are used to inspect and maintain an underground utility network, such as a drainage system. 

Manholes are typically located where drain lines change direction, size or slope, and are spaced apart to allow for efficient work. Manholes may be located at boundaries, where traffic loads vary, and other demarcation locations.

An effective manhole needs to be safe, quick and efficient to install and remain watertight and structurally sound over a long asset life.

Precast manhole base systems are supplied with circular bases pre-configured with main channel, benching, inlet(s) and outlet. Manufactured with thicker walls, the cavity ring provides a high-quality off-site solution that reduces construction costs, installation time, environmental impact and improves performance.

Why use precast concrete manholes?

• Precast concrete is strong and durable, with a proven service life of more than 100 years. It is a low-cost option for asset owners.
• Concrete chambers can be designed to withstand the full load of road vehicles with the roof placed directly on the chamber walls. The cover plate is easy to remove and does not need additional support to resist traffic loads.
• The self-weight of concrete provides natural resistance to flotation during flooding and in high groundwater.
• Concrete manholes are resilient against damage from high pressure water jetting, a commonly used process for cleaning and blockage removal.
• Precast concrete manholes are a low carbon, sustainable product made from local materials that can be recycled at the end of life.

What is a multi-purpose chamber System?

Precast box, base and cover slab in a range of sizes and loading categories.

What are Soakaways?

Soakaways are below ground configurations designed to allow surface water to infiltrate into the ground. Typically, excavations are filled with aggregates or other filter media, often encased within a chamber or tank with perforations, that enable the water to soak effectively into the ground. The water must pass into the ground quickly enough to cope with the amount of rainfall anticipated in the design. The soakaway should be located in an area that will not cause problems with foundations or other structures.

Why use precast concrete soakaways?

• Precast concrete soakaways are strong, robust and proven with a long service life.

• They can provide easy access for maintenance.

• When suitably designed, they can be located in trafficked areas and withstand loads transferred directly onto them from the surface.

What is a Flow Control Chamber?

Flow control chambers are part of a surface water drainage system and can be used to manage discharges from new developments. They may also be retro-fitted to existing systems. The chamber accommodates a choice of flow controls and combinations and is designed to mitigate the risk of flooding, erosion and environmental damage.

Why use precast concrete flow control chambers?

• They are a strong and durable offsite solution with a proven long service life.
• They are not prone to flotation in flood and high groundwater situations and can be installed without ballasting during construction.
• They are designed to carry the traffic loads transferred directly from the access cover/frame which means that installation of precast concrete flow control chambers is a simple and straightforward process.
• They can be installed using conventional methods and unlike some other materials, do not need complicated construction design details that are complicated and costly to build.
• They are versatile and can be manufactured in a variety of sizes and configurations to suit the specifics of a design.

What is a Road Gully?

As the name would suggest road gullies are a drainage component designed to discharge surface water from roads and motorways. They can form part of a surface water management system. They are set below the road surface and located adjacent to the kerb side. Gullies are a flexible solution for a wide range of applications. This includes car parks, other hard standing areas and also form part of a sustainable drainage system (SuDS).

An open grating and frame assembly is constructed within the drainage surface over the gully. Intercepting surface water runoff that then passes into and through the gully.

Road gullies are a drainage component that have an outlet connection above the base of the unit. This allows silt and other solid material to separate out and collect in the sump below the outlet. This helps to prevent blockages occurring downstream within the pipeline. It also helps remove some pollutants that can attach to the silt particles collected in the sump.

In comparison to domestic gullies a road gully is created to be a lot more robust allowing it to withstand the heavier trafficked environments in which they are installed.

It is important that road gullies are regularly maintained to ensure optimum efficiency.

Why use a Precast Concrete Road Gully?

• They are strong, durable and proven with a long service life.
• They are not prone to flotation in flood and high groundwater situations and can be installed without ballasting during construction.
• Installation of precast concrete road gullies is a simple & straightforward process and does not require complicated, time consuming or costly designs.
• They are designed to carry the traffic loads transferred directly from the grating and frame assembly.
• They are heavy duty and can withstand highway maintenance activities and resurfacing works, subject to appropriate measures.
• They are versatile and can be used with a variety of pipe connections.
• They have a reduced thickness offering reduced weight and so provides a smaller footprint for better vehicle utilisation.

What is a High Capacity Road Gully?

A road gully by definition is an outside water drain pipe that's designed to discharge surface water. Rain water flows off the road surface into the road gully and then through underground pipes, sewer systems, soakaways, catchpits or roadside ditches, and on occasion directly into watercourses.

A road gully by definition is an outside water drain pipe that's designed to discharge surface water. Rain water flows off the road surface into the road gully and then through underground pipes, sewer systems, soakaways, catchpits or roadside ditches, and on occasion directly into watercourses.

A high capacity road gully has an enhanced capacity for first line separation of silt and surface water runoff from surfaces prone to flooding.

What is a Filter Gully?

Gully pre-fitted with filter for removal of oils and silt.

What are Hydrodynamic Vortex Separators?

A hydrodynamic vortex separator is designed for the effective capture and retention of insoluble particles carried within surface water runoff such as silt, other surface contaminants and some oils. Its design delivers separation across a range of flows in a smaller footprint than conventional gravity separators. It is normally installed within a special chamber at the head of a drainage system and is designed to reduce the amount of solid material passing into the main sewer, thus preventing the risk of reduced hydraulic capacity and blockages occurring within the network and to limit the transport of pollutants passing through the system.

Why Use a Precast Concrete Hydrodynamic Vortex Separator Chamber?

• Precast concrete is strong and highly durable, providing asset owners with a reassuringly long service life and low whole life costs.
• Precast concrete is a low carbon, sustainable material made from local materials that can be recycled end of life.
• Can be used in a variety of traffic and surface runoff environments such as housing developments, retail parks, highways, commercial and industrial areas.

What is a Treatment Chamber?

A variety of pre-configured chambers for removal of foreign objects and pollutants such as litter, oil, grease, silt & heavy metals.

What are Catch Pits? 

Catch Pits are access chambers for surface water drainage systems with an integral sump below the outlet invert level to allow for the collection and settlement under gravity of silt and other solid matter washed from the drainage catchment surface. As such, they can help reduce downstream blockages.

Why use Precast Concrete Catch Pits? 

• Precast concrete Catch Pits adopt offsite manufacturing principles.
• They are safer to construct and can significantly reduce the amount of construction time, which may include operating in a confined space below ground level.
• The advantage of reduced construction time often translates into installed cost savings.
• Precast concrete catch pits are water tight systems using similar principles to precast manhole systems.
• Precast concrete Catch Pits can be supplied to fit pipes of varying materials and sizes.
• Precast concrete is highly adaptable and can help future-proof new construction. Existing Catch Pits can often be retro-fitted with connections from new development.
• Precast concrete is strong and highly durable, providing asset owners with a reassuringly long service life and low whole life costs.
• Precast concrete is a low carbon, sustainable material made from local materials that can be recycled end of life.

What is a Filter Catch Pit?

Catch pit pre-fitted with filter for removal of oils and silt.

What are Concrete Headwalls? 

A concrete headwall is typically an outlet from a sewer that allows flow from upstream pipework to discharge into an open watercourse, such as a river, pond, swale and culvert. 

Concrete headwalls may also be used as inlets to surface water management systems receiving flow from a watercourse or open channel and conveying the flow downstream through an underground pipe.

Why Use Precast Concrete Headwalls? 

• Precast concrete Headwalls adopt offsite manufacturing principles.
• They are safer to construct than in-situ build and can be placed into position quickly, reducing construction time and installation cost.
• The advantage of reduced construction time often translates into installed cost savings.
• Removes the need for digging out extensive areas of embankment. An in-situ build can require extensive infrastructure such as temporary formwork and shuttering.  Precast concrete Headwalls are thus more environmentally sensitive.
• They can be supplied to fit pipes of varying materials and sizes.
• Precast concrete is strong and highly durable, providing asset owners with a reassuringly long service life and low whole life costs.
• Precast concrete is a low carbon, sustainable material made from local materials that can be recycled at the end of life.

What is a Cascade Unit?

To protect embankments from erosion.

What is a High Capacity Slot Drain?

Integrated gasket joint and excellent flow characteristics for surface run off and below ground applications.

What is a Perforated Drainage Trough?

For shallow and deep channel applications.

What is a box culvert?

A box culvert is a monolithic, flat-sided precast concrete structure with walls at 90 degrees to the floor and roof.  Box culverts were introduced to provide an easily-installed conduit for culverting of watercourses where construction can create an obstruction to the natural flow path.  Box culverts can also be used for attenuation of surface water as part of a sustainable drainage system (SuDS), horizontal tunnels and subways, sewers and access shafts. Smaller box culverts can also be used for dry networks including cabling. 

Box culverts are available in many different size and shape configurations. Square or rectangular units can be used as single or multi-unit runs, giving excellent structural and hydraulic performance. Extensive design possibilities can be achieved with the use of end walls, access points, vent holes, inlets, outlets, double rungs, splayed ends, starter bars and threaded sockets, a range of different inverts, low-flow channels and dished inverts. Cover slabs can also be supplied separately. 

Box Culvert Applications

• Watercourse diversion
• Attenuation and storage of surface water
• Open channels and sewers
• Pedestrian and vehicle subways
• Access shafts
• Service tunnels and ducts

Why use precast concrete box culverts?

• Precast concrete is strong and durable, providing asset owners with low whole life costs and a proven service life of more than 100 years.
• Concrete box culverts are resilient against damage from high pressure water jetting, a commonly used process for cleaning and blockage removal in sewers.
• Precast concrete box culverts are a low carbon, sustainable product made from local materials that can be recycled end of life.
• Precast concrete box culverts can be designed to withstand full highway vehicular loadings and can be constructed in shallow or deep fill installations.
• Precast concrete box culverts require minimal maintenance and are able to retain their shape over their long service life, preserving structural integrity and hydraulic efficiency.
• Precast concrete box culverts can be manufactured in a wide range of sizes and can accommodate many different features.
• The self-weight of box culverts provides natural resistance to flotation in high groundwater and during flooding.

What is a Rainwater Harvesting Tank?

Rainwater Harvesting Tanks provide storage of surface water arising from domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural developments that can be subsequently used for a range of general non-potable applications. Rainwater harvesting can help relieve the demand for clean water on our water infrastructure and can help reduce flood risk in overloaded drainage networks.

Why use precast concrete Rainwater Harvesting Tanks?

• They are a strong and durable offsite solution with a proven long service life.
• They are not prone to flotation in flood and high groundwater situations and can be installed without ballasting during construction.
• They may be backfilled with excavated soil and do not normally require a costly concrete or granular surround.
• If installed in trafficked areas, the precast tank is designed to carry loads from the surface which means that the design and installation of precast concrete Rainwater Harvesting Tanks is a simple, efficient and straightforward process.
• They can be installed using conventional methods and unlike some other materials, do not need complicated construction design details that are complicated and costly to build.
• They are versatile and can be manufactured in a variety of sizes and configurations to suit the specifics of a design.

What is a Rainwater Filter Chamber?

Rainwater harvesting pre-tank for leaf and grit removal.

What is a Grey Water Recycling Tank?

Domestic and commercial grey water recycling systems.