The recently launched BRE ‘Green Guide to Specification’ provides independent endorsement of the low environmental impact of precast concrete paving, particularly in comparison with imported materials.
The Green Guide rates a wide range of elements from ‘A+’ for best environmental performance to ‘E’ for the worst. Three different paving scenarios are considered covering: Pedestrian Areas, including communal spaces, walkways and garden paving; Lightly Trafficked Areas, such as car parking; Heavily Trafficked Areas, for heavier vehicles or repetitive car traffic.
The summary environmental ratings for a range of precast concrete paving specifications – covering blocks, flags and ‘grass concrete’ units - are generally ‘A’ or ‘A+’ across all three scenarios. These ratings reflect the on-going environmental investments and improvements made by Interpave manufacturer members, as well as by the cement industry generally. Local material sourcing and product supply is also important, and equivalent paving products shipped into the country bear a substantial CO2 emission load. Some imported stone paving products are also included in the Green Guide – generally with much poorer environmental ratings than their precast concrete equivalents and half with the worst ‘E’ rating.
INTERPAVE RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENT ON SUDS
The consultation process forming a central part of the government’s water strategy for England Future Water, discussed below, has highlighted important issues for sustainable development. Interpave has published its response to the government proposals with the aim of ensuring that they can be delivered realistically and clearing up conflicts with other regulations.
In its consultation response, Interpave considers that a different approach is needed for permeable paving, which is unlike other ‘soft’ landscaping SUDS techniques and is often used in isolation, as well as part of a SUDS scheme. It uses established engineering technology with predictable performance proven over decades in the UK and abroad. For example, when it comes to adoption, while most SUDS techniques fall outside the immediate highway area, permeable paving simply provides a sustainable alternative to conventional paving with piped drainage, but on the same footprint. So, at adoption it will itself become the highway and it should be treated in just the same way as conventional highways and associated drainage.
Interpave welcomes proposed changes which will require planning permission for paving to front gardens of existing homes unless permeable systems are used. But other sustainable solutions are available to achieve the same result which should also be encouraged with permitted development rights - for example using impermeable paving draining onto ‘raingardens’ - and Interpave already has design guidance available: Click
here Permeable paving in front gardens may be considered by some to conflict with Building Regulations Part H which requires infiltration devices to be 5 metres away from buildings and roads. Interpave has pointed out that this requirement should not apply to permeable paving and has requested government clarification or a change to the regulations.
A letter to Defra summarising Interpave’s response can be downloaded here.
In addition, Interpave’s detailed answers to specific Defra questions can be downloaded here.
GOVERNMENT ACTION ON SUDS
Interpave welcomes the government’s water strategy for England launched by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn on 7 February and has the tools to help designers, developers and home owners meet the new surface drainage requirements.
The new water strategy ‘Future Water’ includes several proposals which have a major impact on our approach to surface drainage, encouraging the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) - including concrete block permeable paving. For an introduction to permeable paving, click here.
Surface water management plans will be required to co-ordinate activity, clarifying responsibilities for SUDS and adoption by local authorities. SUDS are already a clear requirement of government planning guidance – as discussed in ‘Permeable Paving and the Law’: click here.
But confusion over adoption issues has reduced their take-up by developers, an issue which the government is now determined to address with a consultation process. The new water strategy also calls into question the automatic ability to connect new development surface water drainage to the public sewer, strengthening the push for on-site solutions such as concrete block permeable paving. Interpave’s recently published ‘Permeable Paving for Adoption’ offers guidance to developers, designers and planners on successful adoption under the current regime: click here.
Finally, changes are proposed which will require planning permission for paving to front gardens of existing – as well as new – homes, unless permeable systems are used. Interpave has already recognised the need to address this issue and offers straightforward guidance for homeowners, contractors and others. In addition to concrete block permeable paving, solutions include use of ‘rain gardens’ to handle runoff from conventional precast concrete paving: click here.
CUTTING
In response to concerns about the impact of dust generation resulting from cutting building materials on site, Interpave has produced guidance for precast concrete paving products following discussion with the Health and Safety Executive. Click here >>
PAVING TRAINING
A programme of training courses covering all aspects
of paving and hard landscaping is being run by The
Hard Landscaping Training Group, an initiative funded
by CITB and supported by industry. The paving programme,
which runs to the end of November, includes individual
courses covering setting-out and installation of
paving blocks, flags, kerbs and channels. Of particular
importance is the permeable paving course, with this
essential sustainable drainage technique rapidly
growing in popularity. For information on this latest
programme of courses, the HLTG and other training
visit: www.hardlandscapetraininggroup.co.uk
INTERPAVE NETS SUDS
As part of its drive to develop permeable paving technology - a central component
of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) - Interpave is the main sponsorof this
year's SUDSnet National Conference. The one day National SUDS Conference -
being held at the TechnoCentre, Coventry University on 14th November 2007 -
will include a mix of research and practitioner papers on the latest SUDS-related
topics. More information on the Conference can be found at: http://sudsnet.abertay.ac.uk/SUDSnetNationalConferenceNov14th2007.htm
RESPONSIBLE
RAINWATER MANAGEMENT
Interpave’s new guide
offers straightforward information for home-owners,
designers and contractors on sustainable rainwater
management for domestic paving – such as
driveways, patios and paths. Two basic techniques
are covered: conventional precast paving draining
onto rain gardens and concrete block permeable
paving.Click here >
SUDS
LAW
With the recent publication
of the government’s PPS 25 Flooding guidelines,
a brand new Interpave brochure examines each of
the stages in development control to highlight
the clear requirements for SUDS - and hence Concrete
Block Permeable Pavements. Essential reading for
all those involved in planning and development. Click
here >
PERMEABLE
PAVEMENT DESIGN GUIDE UPDATED
Interpave’s definitive
technical document Permeable Pavements – guide
to the design, construction and maintenance of
concrete block permeable pavements, Edition 4 has
now been published and is available to download.
It provides comprehensive and detailed information
for planners, designers, engineers and other decision
makers.
Click
here >
MMC
AND MODERN METHODS OF PAVING
Concrete block paving meets
today’s ‘Modern Methods of Construction’ requirements
for fully engineered, prefabricated products and
the increasing use of efficient, fully mechanised
site processes adds to this. A new Interpave document
highlights three recent examples of machine laid
concrete block paving projects.
Click here >
