What are sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) and why do we need them?

Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs), is a philosophy that takes into account the long term environmental factors in excess water drainage and are becoming an increasingly important part of planning proposals, with the Government stating:

“The requirement to meet housing needs must be balanced against other important considerations, such as protecting the Green Belt or addressing climate change and flooding”

Plain English Guide to the Planning System

There three main benefits of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs)

Although the benefits to SUDs are far reaching, the three main benefits are as follows:

1.      Flood prevention

To sustainably prevent flooding of urban areas populated by homes, carparks and other infrastructure. With an increase in localised flooding in the UK over the last decade, legislation and design guidance is moving towards increased regulations in relation to surface water drainage. Sustainable urban drainage systems are a natural approach to resolving drainage issues associated with property developments and construction sites and working to prevent future surface water flooding in populated areas following the completion of building projects.

2.      Benefiting the environment

A natural process of pollutant breakdown allows the excess water to be re-directed back into the urban watercourses without risk of damage to the habitat or its occupants.

Filter drains and bio retention basins are just two examples of how SUDs can be implemented without harsh impacts on the local aesthetics. They consist of gravel and sand to filter out pollutants before the water enters the wider environment. Permeable paving and filter strips are other examples of how little impact SUDs has on the area in which it is utilised.

As well as keeping flood risks down and providing safer habitats for wildlife, the use of SUDs allows new development of houses and business where existing sewer systems are close to full capacity.

3.      Foul drainage

The purpose of using SUDs to support existing sewerage systems is to naturally treat water close to the source and allow drainage straight into water courses, rather than over burden the sewer systems. This prevents overflowing of sewers in the event of unusually heavy rain fall.

Gemma Design’s engineers frequently liaise with the Sewerage Undertakers over the adoption of new drainage systems and proposed connections to existing systems. We also have strong links with the Environment Agency for obtaining permits where septic tanks and package foul treatment plants are required.

How Gemma Design implements SUDs

With the philosophy behind sustainable urban drainage systems central to Gemma Designs’ own philosophy as civil engineers, we use Micro Drainage software, the industry specific software that produces cost effective solutions for all surface water and foul water systems. Micro Drainage allows us to design hydraulic systems that ensure all our projects stay compliant with relevant legislation.

Gemma Design is proficient in designing systems that include an assortment of interventions such as:

·         Soakaways

·         Pipes

·         Connections with existing systems

·         Flow control

·         Adaptation liaison

·         Headwalls

·         Culverts

Gemma Design keeps informed about the changes of regulations and legislation by staying up to date with the Flood Water Management act 2010, The Sewers for Adoption (7^th Edition), Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology).

For further information on the uses and benefits of SUDs please see our website, or get in touch with one of our engineers.

Gemma Design

Department for Communities and Local Government - Plain English guide to the Planning System

NetRegs - Environmental guidance for business

Demand for civil engineers increases

A recent report from New Civil Engineer, says that "almost half [of respondents to a poll] had seen demand for their services rise." According to the civil engineering on-line news provider, even though the figures showed a fifth of contractors were less busy in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same period last year, the industry on the whole was experiencing an increased demand for civil engineering services. This quarter marks the ninth consecutive quarter of growth.

Need for new homes

It appears that the growth this year was linked to the private housing, commercial and infrastructure sectors, with England leading, followed by Scotland and then Wales.

Gemma Design can concur that indeed there has been an increased requirement for the services of civil engineers. Projects such as Greenfields Extra Care, Tenison Road, Cintradel and Anstey Hall Barns have provided interesting and at times, challenging engineering projects.

The growing confidence in the economic recovery has resulted in an increased number of enquiries across all sectors of the residential market including residential care homes, affordable housing, developer led schemes and bespoke houses for individual clients.

Civil engineering - an attractive industry

Gemma Design is committed to investing and training in new technologies, such as SOFiSTik finite analysis software and have an ongoing interest in the use of BIM. BIM will soon be compulsory for all publicly funded works, meaning all civil engineering companies will soon be required to make use of collaborative working using BIM, encompassing all the main stake holders within a project.

The future of engineering is set to become more interesting to the next generation of engineers with BIM and the new modelling and analysis software packages that come along with it. And as the demand for new housing increases, so will the demand for highly trained civil engineers.

Apprenticeships for future engineers

In order to satisfy the demand for new housing and the associated infrastructures, the civil engineering industry must create new job opportunities and training. A number of apprenticeship schemes have been devised by large employers such as Balfour Beatty and Ibstock Brick. On offer is vocational training to those who wish to earn while they learn, gaining nationally recognised certification at the end of it.

It's not just employers that are championing apprenticeships, the Government has shown their backing for the initiatives and offered support to employers who want to take on young engineers in training.

The future looks bright

The Institute of Civil Engineers has a section of their website dedicated to the next generation of civil engineers and offers advice on A-Levels, apprenticeships and other qualifications. Civil engineering is an industry that is not only dedicated to excellent standards and quality, but ensuring those standards go on into the future.

For further reading about how the industry is developing, apprenticeships and careers in civil engineering follow the links below.

Engineering Careers

New Civil Engineer

Institute of Civil Engineers

Increasing design productivity with a collaborative 3D BIM approach

The benefits of a collaborative approach to any kind of project have long been recognised. And in the construction industry where so many disparate elements and professions come together to create a single end result collaboration is not only beneficial but saves time, budgets and oversights. The Government recognises this and from 2016 all government funded projects must include BIM. But Gemma Design has long believed that putting the 3D BIM approach to full operational use makes the best use of the technology available and is one of the structural engineering firms leading the way ahead of the government’s deadline to embrace this technology. 

Project profile - Barns Road, Cowley, Oxford

Barns Road was a project that required a mix of load-bearing masonry and steel framed construction for the ideal structural design. The completed project, by developers Haboakus, is to provide 40, one and two bedroom apartments, with a roof garden for residents and a community garden at ground floor level. The Barns Road building will also be the new location for a furniture recycling store, operated by homelessness charity, Emmaus.

Barns Road, Architect's impression courtesy of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Haboakus is the joint venture between HAB and GreenSquare. British designer and Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, MBE heads up HAB with projects that focus on sustainable buildings and affordable homes. GreenSquare is a major provider of housing, regeneration, care and support commercial services across Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Barns road is part of a larger regeneration scheme within Oxford City.

Linking design models and data sharing

The engineers at Gemma Design linked the 3D BIM model, used to create the drawings and the analytical model, used for analysing and designing the structure.

Linking the two types of model this way meant that the engineers could then share the data with the steel frame subcontractor, Feltham Construction and the award winning architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.

Three ways design productivity increased

1.      Time saving

All parties involved with the project were receiving real time changes to the models, eliminating the necessity for lengthy email threads or telephone conversations between numerous people.

2.      Increased accuracy

With only one set of data submitted for checking, the accuracy is improved and all three parties are notified of recommendations and changes.

3.      Improved collaborative relationships

The working relationships between the agencies involved in the data link are improved with the introduction of sharing real time data.

Gemma Design - Ahead of their time

Although this collaborative approach is fairly new to the design industry, Gemma Design have been applying it to all their projects since the publication of The Government Construction Strategy in 2011, in which a collaborative 3D BIM approach is required on all of its funded projects by 2016.

Rhys Skym, Technical Director for Gemma Design said,

"We believe the collaborative approach will streamline the processes, both in design and execution, which the construction industry have to go through when a multiple stakeholder project is underway.

The use of BIM encourages project teams to work in a co-operative manner to identify and address problems before they arise on site. This leads to a reduction in errors, cuts down on waste and results in an increase in productivity across the board. This will make working in the construction industry a less confrontational and more enjoyable experience for all."

For further reading on the construction strategy and the Barns Road project, follow the links below:

The Government Construction Strategy 2011

Feltham Group - Barns Road Project

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

HAB Housing - Barns Road Development

GreenSqaure Group

Kevin McCloud - Wikipedia

Do I need an architect, surveyor or structural engineer?

When planning an extension or renovation to your home, you'll need to determine when you need an Architect, a Surveyor and a Structural Engineer.

These three roles can come together to make your home improvement dreams come true, but they all come from a very different section of the building industry and may not actually be compulsory...

The role of an Architect

Often utilised as the lead consultant, or project manager on building projects, Architects approach your remodelling or renovations from an aesthetic point of view. They consider space, light and best function of all aspects of your building. Architects are also useful to help you determine whether you have permitted development rights, or whether you must apply for planning approval. They will help you go through this minefield of a task and even liaise with the local authority on your behalf. Having said that, an Architect is not always necessary and the expense can be avoided if you know which local authority departments to get in touch with. If you plan to make internal home improvements, an Architect may not be needed at all.

What does a Surveyor do?

Surveyors have a varied role, from land Surveyors, to party wall Surveyors. Their area of concern over your building is the value of the land and its proper use. If you plan to embark upon a new build project, Surveyors are a must, but not necessarily needed for a loft conversion unless a Party Wall Award is necessary.

 Why do you need a Structural Engineer?

A Structural Engineer on the other hand, will almost always be of paramount importance. Whether your home improvements are external or internal, if you aspire to appear on Grand Designs with your new build or are simply adding an extension, you will need to ensure structural credibility and demonstrate that to your local authority. In any building project that requires the movement of walls, or other supporting structures you must satisfy the terms of building regulations. Structural Engineers can assist with the processes of obtaining Building Regulations Approval.

General rule of thumb

If there's no building yet, get all three involved, if the building is going outward, get an Architect and a Structural Engineer and if you're staying inside, just get a Structural Engineer!

Contact Gemma Design on 01993 705522 or on info@gemma-design.co.uk

Inspiration for this blog taken from: http://www.gemma-design.co.uk/refurbishment.html & http://www.aleckassociates.co.uk/do-you-need-an-engineer/

A further bit of news

Gemma Design have added to their portfolios;

Green Fields Extra Care. Leighton Buzzard

The project comprises the construction of 82 flats in a flagship Extra Care Home divided into 4 Blocks.

Block 1 and Block 3 are 3 storey load bearing masonry buildings with loose steel beams and columns as required where walls do not stack. Overall stability is provided by the cellular nature of the masonry walls at all floors along with precast concrete diaphragm floors and roofs.

Block 2 is a 4 storey predominantly load bearing masonry building with loose steel beams and columns and steel frames as required where walls do not stack. Overall stability is provided by the cellular nature of the masonry walls at all upper floors along with precast concrete diaphragm floors and roofs. At ground a combination of cellular walls and a steel table sway frame provides stability.

Block 4 consists of two single storey steel frames supporting low level grass roof canopy areas and linking Blocks 1 and 2 with communal and dining space for both the residents and public. The steel frames curve on plan and elevation and were analysed utilising a number of methods including CSC Fastrak Building Designer to ensure all effects of the complicated roof were considered.

Through out the project value engineering proposals were considered, offered and in the majority of cases implemented. These included a lighter more economical roof construction; a load bearing masonry form as opposed to a fully RC framed solution which distributed the loads more evenly, which along with the specification of additional site investigation works allowed a traditional spread footing design to be employed. We were also able to get client agreement on revised layouts to enable a higher degree of stacking wall lines and the use of 75mm block work buttress walls for key internal partitions to reduce the number of windposts.