ACO TECHNOLOGIES PLC - BUILDING DRAINAGE
ACO BUSINESS CENTRE
CAXTON ROAD
BEDFORD
BEDFORDSHIRE MK41 0LF
Tel: 01462 810400
Fax: 01462 851490
Suppliers of: Internal and external drainage solutions, stainless steel floor drains, stainless steel gullies and channels, rainwater outlets, shower floor drains, bathroom and wet room floor drains, internal linear drainage channels, access covers, grease separators
ACO Building Drainage specialises in the development of corrosion resistant drainage systems and building products for applications across the internal and external built environments. Conceived to eliminate design risk, to optimise installation and to minimise lifetime ownership cost, every product in the range delivers exceptional levels of performance, finish and durability.
The technical expertise, global resources and fabrication capacity within the ACO Building Drainage division make it possible for architects, engineers and contractors to realise the highest quality and value when selecting from our standard products, or, when using our bespoke design service.
Indeed, whether you’re involved in designing or building a new project or upgrading an existing building, every aspect of the system must be carefully planned to meet the correct drainage requirements simply, quickly and within budget. Just call us for advice and help on the right system for your next project!
ACO BIM Files: This link will take you to the ACO BIM Library on the ACO website
Useful Resources:
- Social Media: View ACO Building Drainage on Twitter / LinkedIn
- Video: Access ACO Product Videos on YouTube
ACO Building Drainage’s extensive portfolio includes:
Wetroom & Shower Drainage Solutions
An extensive range of Wetroom products and shower drainage solutions.
Choice of ranges for different applications: Fixed Height and Telescopic gully systems, EG150 Eurogully range, Rodding Eyes, Micro Floor Gullies and Bespoke gullies.
Standard Stainless Steel and Galvanised Steel Channels
Includes the Modular 125 stainless steel channel system and the Deckline 125 galvanized steel shallow invert drainage system.
ACO Pipe® Stainless Steel Pipework Systems
ACO PIPE® presents a wide range of socketed waste pipework systems in thin-wall stainless steel for above and below ground drainage applications.
ACO HygieneFirst drainage systems fulfil the stringent hygienic requirements to minimise harmful bacteria and pathogen contamination of food arising from drainage elements by applying relevant hygiene design principles reserved for food contract surfaces
Products include FreeDeck - Level Access Flat Roofs and Terraces Drainage Systems & Watertight Rainwater Outlets.
Our engineers and designers can advise you on the right system to suit your project.
The range includes mobile grease separators, gravity grease separators, grease recovery units and grease traps. Visit our website to use our grease selector to find the right unit for your needs.
Products include the Uniface or UniTop range of aluminium or steel access covers.
Our ACO RoofBloxx rainwater attenuation system is designed specifically as a green roof drainage layer for use on blue, green and blue/green roof construction applications. Please contact us to discuss project requirements and for support with hydraulic calculations.
Anti-flood backflow valve systems, designed to prevent flooding resulting from sewer backflows. With models suitable for grey or black water applications, all systems are designed for reliable operation and long life.
Further technical information is available in the BPi download library or on the ACO Building Drainage website.
Aco Building Drainage Designing climate resilient Blue Roof attenuation systems.
Given the unprecedented extremes in climate change that the UK has experienced in the last few years, local and national planning policies have developed to ensure that developers, architects and engineers fully consider the impact that a changing climate will have on the performance of buildings.
For example, the recently revised London plan requires developers to incorporate ‘urban greening’ on new developments, and to consider rainwater water reuse as the priority in managing surface water runoff. This has seen a substantial increase in specification of blue roof attenuation systems, which are seen as an ideal method for managing both extremes of climate change in conjunction with green roofs, as they control run off and can help mitigate the effects of summer storms and the flash flooding, they can cause. Blue roofs also provide the added benefit of enabling water to be reused either as a passive irrigation system or as a more conventional rainwater harvesting system.
However, the design of blue roof attenuation systems is not governed by any specific standards, and it is important to understand the differences in function of a flat roof system and that of a blue roof attenuation system. The design of flat roof systems is governed by a well-established range of British and European standards, as well as Building Regulations. These standards promote the fast and efficient removal of rainwater from the roof surface, as the longer the rainwater sits on the roof the greater the risk of water ingress into the building.
A blue roof attenuation system on the other hand is designed to do explicitly the opposite, as the intention, for very valid reasons, is to hold and retain water for specific periods of time to control flooding and to potentially retain water on the roof structure for later reuse.
Virtually all the currently available blue roof systems rely on the roof waterproofing and roof drainage system having dual functionality and start from the premise that you are designing a roofing system, when what you should be designing is an attenuation system that is located on the roof.
If you take the view that you are designing a roofing system then there are a number design issues that need incredibly careful consideration, for example the number, positioning, and sizing of roof outlets, roof fall gradient, type of roof construction, and period that water is retained on the roof. With this approach you are designing two opposing functions for the roof which will require design compromise, noncompliance to known standards and accepted best practice, and will therefore increase overall building design risk.
Given the novelty of ‘blue roof’ systems it should not be a surprise that developers and buildings insurers are uneasy siting such attenuation systems above residential developments or critical infrastructure, but this need not be the case if a more logical design approach is adopted.
Unlike a normal flat roof that is visible and open to the elements a blue roof system is often a covered structure that may have hard or soft landscaping above it making it difficult to see if the system is performing. If the system becomes blocked then water will be retained in a semi-permanent fashion if there is not an early warning system, or a regular maintenance regime in place.
Designing for resilience, not only requires compliance with standards but also demands full consideration for worst case scenarios: What if the system is not maintained and becomes blocked, how do we want the roof drainage system to perform in such an instance? What if climate change is considerably worse than has been predicted such that the system regularly overtops, how do you want the system to perform in this situation? These are foreseeable events that require design solutions.
The ACO Solution
The ACO RoofBloxx patented blue roof attenuation system answers these design challenges and achieves this by ensuring that function and form are not confused by creating a separate open attenuation system that sits and operates independently of the roof waterproofing and drainage system.
By creating a separate system, ACO ensures that the roof can drain slowly during the design rainfall events, and to hold water for reuse, but that in extreme and unforeseen events e.g., the system is blocked, or the design event exceeded during storms, that the roof can drain quickly in compliance with all recognised building standards. Most importantly water is not encouraged to remain in contact with the roof waterproofing any longer that accepted design practise allows.
This gives Peace of Mind to designers, developers, insurers and building owners, as the ACO system increases the resilience of the overall roofing structure and therefore eliminates unnecessary risk. Additionally, by separating design responsibility there is a clear demarcation between engineering and design disciplines.
Resilience, sustainability, and net zero are standard watchwords for a new generation of designers that seek to increase the functionality and design life of buildings. Understanding the function of a system is critically important to designing an appropriate solution. The ACO RoofBloxx system enables building regulations and planning conditions to be met and enables a climate resilient system to be installed that helps alleviate surface water run-off and does not compromise the fabric of the building.
To visit our blue roof page please and watch the animation of our system visit : https://www.aco.co.uk/blue-green-roofs
ACO Completes New £13m Site Expansion
ACO Technologies plc has completed the first phase of the ambitious redevelopment of its UK manufacturing facilities. The £13m site expansion was officially opened by Susan Lousada, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Lord Deben, Chairman of the UK’s Independent Committee on Climate Change, and renowned architect Michael Pawlyn, in a ceremony on 28th September.
The completion of the first phase will see ACO significantly increase the number of products it can hold on-site, allowing it to respond to customer needs more efficiently. This is thanks to a new 141,000 sq ft warehouse and yard. The expansion also means ACO is reducing its need for third-party storage and transportation of its products, helping it to reduce carbon emissions and become more sustainable.
Pivotal to the entire site development was the protection of habitats and enhancement of biodiversity. In addition to caring for the surrounding water by diverting the nearby stream, ACO has transformed the former farmland into an area where biodiversity can flourish. This has been achieved through planting over 10,000 trees and shrubs, which will introduce new wildlife to the area, as well as pollinator-friendly plants. ACO Bat Boxes and Nest Boxes have also been installed throughout the development, providing shelter for bats and small birds, including blue tits.
In addition to Susan Lousada and Lord Deben, renowned architect Michael Pawlyn, who specialises in nature-based solutions and regeneration also supported the launch of the site, where he delivered a keynote address. Michael’s experience aligns with ACO’s commitment to help create a built environment that can harmonise with nature by providing sustainable solutions for effective surface water management.
Mike Simpson Lane, Group Managing Director at ACO Technologies plc, said: “When we started work on our site development, it was important that it wasn’t just a commercial development. Instead, we wanted to ensure it was a habitat sensitive site, which cares for the surrounding environment and water, and meets our Habitat Matters philosophy.
“As a business, we have shown that businesses can expand their facilities and make a positive impact on the surrounding environment, but this is just the beginning. We will be taking the learnings from our own development and use them to help inform developers, architects and planners on how they can achieve similar results for future works.”
A fifth production line to its existing manufacturing facility has also been introduced, which will significantly increase ACO’s capacity to meet rising demand for its leading drainage and water management products. Crucially, the new line will also aid the company’s continued commitment to innovate new products in line with the needs of planning authorities, and allows ACO to respond to the effects of climate change in relation to water management.
Mike Simpson Lane added: “While we’re only three years in, this decade has already shown us that we need to prepare for the unexpected. Supply issues have dominated the construction industry and, as a UK manufacturer, we understand the importance of being ready to deliver for our customers. Not only this, but it is a necessity to continually bring innovative water management solutions to market, especially with the global water scarcity crisis looming pushing everyone to reuse and care for water better.
“Our site development will allow us to respond to the needs of customers, both now and in the future. Not only will it ensure our existing line of products are being manufactured to meet demand, but it will also provide a more advanced platform to ensure we are developing new products that meet future needs. As climate change continues to show its impact, this is integral, and we are now in the perfect position to respond.”
For more information about how we are shaping sustainable manufacturing, please visit www.aco.co.uk/sustainability.
