Burdens - Hydro International Stockists
Main Contractor: Mowlem PLC
Groundworks Contractor:D20
Supplier: Burdens, Exeter - Both projects were supplied in 2005.
Case study printed on permission from Hydro-International (HRD)
Case Study
New primary and secondary schools were built in Exeter as a PFI venture between Mowlem plc and the Devonshire County Council Local Education Authority were subject to a maximum stormwater discharge level, as part of the planning consent, in order to comply with Sustainable Drainage Schemes (SUDS) guidelines. Hydro International's Stormbloc® modular blocks were selected to facilitate water infiltration of the soil for their compactness and because they could be inspected and easily cleaned out if required.
Due to the permeability of the local sub-soil, an infiltration method was used for all the water
runoff from the school developments. As Stormbloc® is more compact than a conventional
manhole with concrete lining and gravel bed soakaway, it required much shallower excavation. Its facility for inspection and cleaning of the blocks enabled the installation of an inspection chamber, so CCTV could be used and the Stormbloc® jet washed to remove any silt and maintain its full capacity easily. In addition, as it is loadbearing without heavy construction, it is easy to locate without using up valuable site space."
Two schools in the PFI venture used Hydro's Stormbloc® product. Bradley Rowe primary school (c. 400 pupils) - close to the centre of Exeter - was constructed as a total replacement of an existing school, including the provision of new sports facilities over demolished buildings. Its Stormbloc® installation comprised of 560 m3 of blocks in two soakaways, at two low points in the site, taking runoff from roofs, access roads, playgrounds and car parks.
On the eastern edge of Exeter, St Luke's secondary school (c.850 pupils) - has been constructed on a totally new site, including fully comprehensive school buildings, sports facilities and sports grounds. With a large potential catchment area and runoff volume, it has 1740 m3 of Stormbloc® blocks in five different locations to spread the infiltration across different portions of the site.
Product Dimensions & Benefits
Stormbloc® is available in eco-green polypropylene 800 X 800 X 663 mm blocks providing high volume water storage with a 95% void ratio. The system is designed so that, when installed, a 222 X 570 mm cross-section access tunnel runs through the blocks. This can be accessed easily by a CCTV or a high pressure jetting hose inserted to shift any accumulated sediment, silt or debris in the system, should the need arise - a feature which sets it apart from its competitors.
Burdens - Hydro-International Stockists.
Burdens depot network provides a route to market for HRD as a both a Stormbloc stockist and a Stormcell stockist. You can find your nearest Burdens depot via our depot locator page. Each of the depots has a team of specialists on hand to answer product queries and give technical support. This is back up by our partners at WTB Geotechnics whose geotechnical products form part of the specified membranes and geotextiles which complement both Stormbloc and Stormcell SUDS systems.