SuDS ‘at Source’, Stormwater Attenuation Solution - Huddersfield University

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blueroof Case Study

ABG have helped deliver an innovative new student development in the heart of Huddersfield town centre. ABG’s blueroof has been used to create a roof capable of temporarily storing excess stormwater to meet the development’s SuDS requirements.The Student Learning and Leisure Centre (SLLC) development comprises four new buildings that adjoin each other, all constructed using a single steel frame and rising to various heights from two to four storeys. In the original plans three of the buildings were designed with a conventional green roof, and the fourth designed with a traditional warm roof.

Project information

Client Huddersfield University

Main Contractor GB Solutions

Installation ABG (Geogreen Solutions)

Architect Watson Batty

Scope of project Supply, installation and on-going maintenance of ABG blueroof and biodiverse surface finish

Benefits • Provides SuDS stormwater storage capacity on-site without the need for underground storage tank.

• Installation within existing programme of works.

• SuDS process at source within footprint of building

blueroof performance

Total restrictor outlets No. 10

Overall discharge rate l/s 5.8

Volume of stormwater stored at peak

m3 163

Over capacity in storage system % 38

Maximum time to discharge from start of rainfall event

hrs 12

Following consultation with ABG’s in-house technical department the roof design was switched to include the blueroof system across the entire development. The decision to switch to the blueroof offered a number of key advantages to the design and construction team. The primary advantage being that utilising the roof construction for the storage allowed the site to meet its SuDS requirements without the need to install an underground attenuation tank, a costly and disruptive operation, especially on a site with very tight operating conditions.

ABG’s blueroof required only minor detailing changes from the green roofs already specified; these included upgrading the thickness of the drainage layer to meet the storage requirements and the inclusion of the blueroof restrictor outlets to control the

stormwater discharge from the roof.

The simplicity of the blueroof design meant that the revised roof design including the water attenuation capacity was installed within the same time frame as originally scheduled for installing the green roofs. This saved the client time and the costs associated with the installation of an underground tank.

The blueroof system was then covered with a layer of lightweight engineered growing media and a specially selected biodiverse planting. It was installed during the summer of 2013 by ABG’s in-house installation team, Geogreen Solutions.

Geogreen Solutions are now providing an on-going maintenance service to the client on both the blueroof system and the biodiverse areas.

About ABG

ABG are a market leader in the development of high performance geosynthetic systems for use in the built environment. Established for over 25 years and based in the UK, in the heart of the Yorkshire Pennines, ABG have built a reputation for delivering innovative system led solutions combined with technical support and outstanding customer service. Contact ABG today to discuss your project specific requirements and discover how ABG knowledge and products can help on your project.

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