ACO TECHNOLOGIES PLC - WATER MANAGEMENT
Suppliers of: Surface water drainage, drainage channels, slot drainage channels, channel drainage systems, storm water management systems, SUDS drainage systems, Threshold drainage channels, Linear drainage channels, Road drainage systems, Kerb drainage systems
ACO Water Management
Throughout the world ACO is recognised as a world leader in the design, development and implementation of sustainable surface water management systems.
Through client-based research and constant innovation, ACO Water Management has evolved from its origins in line drainage to an award-winning supplier of an unrivalled range of products and support services that provide the complete and effective management of surface water: from system design through collection, cleaning, storing and on-site source control allowing the safe release of run-off back to natural watercourses.
Covering applications as diverse as retail and commercial developments to major national transport and infrastructure projects, the ACO Water Management range assures industry leading sustainable drainage performance and environmental protection.
The range includes high performance surface water drainage systems, award-winning attenuation and infiltration solutions, as well as hydrocarbon separators and vortex flow control systems. For more information visit www.aco.co.uk
Useful Resources:
- NBS Specifications: Click here
- CPD Seminars: Click here
- Social Media: View ACO Water Management on Twitter / LinkedIn
- Video: Access ACO Product Videos on YouTube
- Hydraulic Design Software: ACO Hydraulic Design software for the design of surface water management schemes.
- Surface & Grating Visualizer: Click here
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ACO Water Management Main Product ranges:
The Civils + Infrastructure range has pioneered the management of surface water and today provides architects, specifiers and engineers with a complete package of integrated systems suitable for use across the entire spectrum of civil engineering projects.
The Building + Landscape range is tailored to the demands of residential developments. Easy to use and install, products have finish options that both complement and enhance the aesthetic qualities of any domestic property.
Tailored to the demands of domestic applications, the market leading range provides customers with the most complete and stylish surface water management offering for driveways, patios, level doorway thresholds, landscaped areas, roofs and wetrooms.
The Building + Landscape range is certified and tested to the highest performance standards for the domestic environment.
ACO Sport provides specific drainage solutions and stadia products for sporting facilities, stadiums and arenas. These systems are designed to maximise the functionality of the athletic facility without disrupting the performance of athletes and players.
ACO Wildlife includes toad tunnels and amphibian fencing systems, focuses on the protection of vulnerable species whose habitats are increasingly under threat.
ACO Building Drainage specialises in the development of drainage products and corrosion resistant drainage systems for application across the internal and external built environments. See the ACO Building Drainage page for more information.
The Surface Water Management Cycle
To help architects, designers and contractors meet the legal requirements that now tightly control the way surface water is managed, ACO has created its unique ‘Surface Water Management Cycle’ – Collect, Clean, Hold, Release - the four core processes now required for the complete and sustainable management of surface water drainage.
SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage)
ACO is proud to be at the forefront of SUDS innovation. Our unrivalled experience and industry leading approach to sustainable surface water management makes us the ideal partner to help realise SUDS objectives. With world-class, integrated solutions, such as our new StormBrixx attenuation system, already aligned to the new legislation and policy agenda, we create lasting, measurable change.
The unique ACO Hydraulic Design software built to enable the efficient and accurate hydraulic design of surface water management schemes using channels as the means of conveyance.
Further technical information is available to download from the ACO Website or via the BPi Download Library
ACO Launches Vortex Flow Control Calculator for Attenuation Tank Design and Specifica
With stormwater flow control critical to avoid flooding, ACO has launched its new online Vortex Flow Control calculator to help find the right attenuation configuration while saving time and money.
Part of ACO’s QuAD Design Tools, the Vortex Flow Control (QuAD-VFC) calculator is a free cloud-based software that supports the design and specification of its Q-Brake and Q-Plate range. Both ranges are used to prevent downstream flooding by controlling the release of stormwater before it discharges into a watercourse or sewer.
Created to support architects, specifiers, consultants and contractors involved in stormwater attenuation, QuAD-VFC uniquely calculates the vortex flow control dimensions to achieve the required head and flow rate. These rates, along with the flow curves, are then instantaneously displayed on screen. With calculations able to be made instantly, the new tool helps to speed up specification, by taking into account other parameters such as the chamber design and outlet dimensions.
Dr David Smoker, Technical Director at ACO Technologies, said: “As we have seen recently through storms Arwen, Dudley and Eunice, the UK’s weather ecosystem is becoming more and more volatile, and we’re receiving large amounts of rainfall in short times that are overwhelming watercourses and sewage systems.
“This makes the planning of stormwater attenuation tanks and chambers all the more vital. With our new Vortex Flow Control software, users can ensure they get the right flow control solution, quickly and easily. Designs can also be shared by email to help make decision making faster. Another key benefit is that the tool can help potentially save money on projects by reducing attenuation volumes, instead using a Q-Brake to release water from the system in a controlled manner throughout the rainfall event.”
The Vortex Flow Control calculator comes with a raft of other functions alongside its automatic calculations. This includes downloadable designs that can be saved or shared as PDFs, password protected project management so projects can be retrieved (and edited) at a later stage, and exportable head and flow data for input into third party hydraulic design software.
Q-Brakes work by using ‘vortex control’ to control the release of stormwater. Each unit is custom built to suit the site requirements and is available from 2-100 litres per second and up to 3m design head.
For projects where vortex flow control is not suitable, users can specify ACO’s Q-Plate solution instead. The orifice plates are also tailored to specific performance requirements to provide optimum hydraulic efficiency.
Both the Q-Brake and the Q-Plate are manufactured from grade 304 stainless steel to withstand corrosion. The ranges are available with either a curved back to install directly onto the wall of a chamber, or a flat back to mount on a headwall.
Alongside the QuAD-VFC software, ACO has also recently launched its StormBrixx Configurator for stormwater tank specification, with both geared towards helping planners better manage sustainable drainage system (SuDS) projects and bring stormwater control to the forefront.
“At ACO, one of our key objectives is to help those in control of urban planning and development to better mitigate the potential for flooding,” said Smoker. “By creating these tools, the right configuration of flow control, chamber design and tank volume can be achieved, ultimately helping to prevent flooding damage and disasters while saving costs.”
For more information about the Vortex Flow Control Calculator, please visit https://www.aco.co.uk/vortex-flow-calculator.
Stormwater Tank Specification Made Simple with ACO’s New StormBrixx Digital Tool.
Designing and specifying attenuation or infiltration tanks for flood mitigation and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) is now easier than ever with ACO Water Management’s new StormBrixx Configurator.
The free-to-use digital tool is designed to help plan and project manage underground geocellular stormwater systems, taking users through several steps to a final specification. This includes helping specify the function, either attenuation or infiltration, and the right size and shape of the tank based on either the physical footprint available, or by the volume of water that the tank needs to store.
The StormBrixx Configurator is ideal for architects, specifiers, consultants and contractors, and it comes just as evidence suggests flooding and extreme rainfall events are increasing in the UK. According to the latest State of the UK Climate report from the Met Office, 2011-2020 was 9% wetter than 1961-1990.
Dr David Smoker, Technical Director at ACO Technologies, said: “We’re entering a crucial period with construction in the UK. With many building and civils projects in the pipeline, it is vital that flood mitigation and sustainable drainage is considered at the outset to avoid future flooding risks.
“With our new StormBrixx design tool, specifying stormwater tanks is made much simpler. Users can access the tool online, share the specification to other stakeholders or decision makers, and have early sight of costs and materials needed.”
Stormwater attenuation tanks are designed to hold large volumes of rainwater and slowly release, or attenuate, the water to avoid flooding. Alongside function and size, the configurator will help users specify the tank inlet connections, outlet connections, access locations and options for maintenance. Additionally, ventilation and overflow options can be designed into the tank through the tool.
Once the design is ready, users can share the specification through email, or save and view projects at a later date. Users will also receive a bill of materials to help with budgeting and project management.
ACO’s StormBrixx Design Tool has launched alongside two other tools that ACO has developed – a new Vortex Flow Calculator (QuAD-VFC) that also helps with the rate of attenuation, and ACO’s Habitat Matters Mapping System for Biodiversity Net Gain measurement.
“Improving our built environment all starts with good planning, and our new suite of design tools is all geared towards helping those involved in creating effective sustainable drainage systems. Along with energy efficiency measures, reusing rainwater and managing surface water is key to sustainable construction. Ultimately, this reduces the risks of surface water flooding, and improves the surrounding environment and ecology.”
For more about ACO’s Geocellular StormBrixx range and the StormBrixx Configurator, please visit https://www.aco.co.uk/stormbrixx-geocellular.
For more information on ACO’s sustainability initiatives, please visit www.aco.co.uk/sustainability.
