With more rain events, lasting for longer periods of time and hotter temperatures in the summer months, extreme weather systems are becoming the norm in the UK, with severe disruption from flooding making people’s lives a misery.

This, combined with rising sea levels, a growing population and built environment has increased the importance of our drainage systems.

Often out of sight and mind, we are dependent on these systems working to reduce the chances of flooding and the misery, the flood water causes when flooding happens.

Precast concrete drainage is not something that springs to mind as a superhero, but with the increase of extreme weather events, our UK surface water and foul water sewers are overworked and under maintained.

Reducing surface water and allowing us to travel safely, we rely on precast concrete gullies and gully covers to collect the water from roadways, which is then conveyed along the system, to the manhole (consisting of a seating ring, cover slab and chamber ring) and into the pipeline that acts to hold and store the rainwater, until its released further into the drainage system.

Gullies and Gully Covers

Designed to aid the removal of rainwater, floodwater and debris from roadways, gullies help to keep the roads clear and safe for road users.

Used throughout the UK road network, the gully cover sits under the gully grating on top of the gully itself and is designed to discharge surface water from roads and highways, where large volumes of surface water can build-up and convey it into the system.

Precast concrete gullies and gully cover slabs are robust in order to withstand the traffic movements, in which they are installed and are an important part of the stormwater management system.

Seating Rings

Offering a great alternative to engineering bricks, concrete seating rings, also known as adjusting units, provide an access point into surface water drainage systems, sitting on the cover slab, they help to adjust the manhole to the desired depth.

Cover Slabs

Available with different access sizes, dependant on application, heavy-duty cover slabs sit on top of chamber rings as a lid or biscuit. Made from high-quality precast concrete ensures that they can withstand heavy loads, making them a popular choice for roads, rail, housing developments, water and infrastructure projects.

Installed quickly, precast concrete cover slabs enhance security for the manhole by preventing unauthorised access to the underground network and a long lifespan provides a reliable performance over time. Overall concrete manhole cover slabs combine strength, durability and cost-effectiveness, making them a reliable choice for manhole construction.

Chamber Rings

Precast concrete manhole chamber rings are used to provide ladder, step or rung access to the below ground foul and surface water management drainage system and are circular in shape.

Delivered ready to install, chamber rings are designed to withstand infiltration, attack by groundwater and corrosive environments and have a design life of 120 years, making them a real sewer superhero.

Forming part of a manhole or inspection chamber, they are stacked on top of each to create the manhole or chamber and are essential for connecting pipes, changing direction, and accommodating junction within the sewer or drainage network.

Pipes

The inherent strength of a concrete pipe ensures its shape retention, allowing for even load distribution, easy installation and can hold surface water until it conveys I into the network.

Concrete pipes can be used in different ground conditions and more importantly the pipes are resistant to rodent attack.

Secure drainage systems

We can’t stop the rain, however stormwater management and drainage solutions are the key to reducing floodwater and the impact of flooding; we are building more infrastructure and homes, reducing the number of green spaces that naturally retain wate, which means our drainage systems have become overloaded, as the extra water runoff isn’t being compensated for.

By adding or improving your concrete drainage system, you will be able to fight against future water damage.

Concrete drainage systems – flighting flooding – a real superhero