ACO RainDrain channel drainage driveway installation

Context

ACO Water Management’s RainDrain B 125 was utilised as part of a driveway installation at a home in Coulsdon, Surrey. Impermeable surfaces such as standard tarmac, concrete or block paving on driveways greatly increases the amount of water that runs from it when it rains so ensuring the right drainage system is installed is an important aspect. The upgraded driveway would incorporate block paving throughout the entire space and ACO worked closely with the contractor – Tom Parsons of Rainbow Gardening, to ensure the most appropriate drainage solution was used on the project.

Product used

ACO’s RainDrain B 125 was seen as the ideal solution - a polymer concrete light-duty channel drainage system with cast iron grating. One of the key considerations for selection of this product was the direction of the driveway's slope, which meant that the drainage needed to be situated at the front of the driveway. The system selected needed to withstand heavier wheel loads when compared to A 15 Load Class products. ACO’s RainDrain B 125 is certified to B 125 Load Class in accordance with BS EN 1433:2002. Careful consideration was also given to the style of the pavers and the high-quality channel drainage created a professional finish and completed the look of the project.

Thanks to its lightweight 1m channel design, which interlock, and clip-locking grating, ACO’s RainDrain B 125 is extremely easy and quick to install.

An element that also needed consideration was the fact that homeowners in England need to gain planning permission to finish a drive with block paving, unless of course the surface is permeable or a method of collecting the surface water and letting it soak away elsewhere is installed. As such, after collection, the rainwater from this driveway is firstly taken to the ACO RainDrain B 125 sump unit, which features a sediment bucket for collecting silt. The unit is then connected to an attenuation system, which allows the water to be released into the surrounding ground at a controlled rate.

Outcome

The drainage is in keeping with the customer’s property and helps to enhance the overall finished look of the driveway.