DRAINING YOUR WORRIES AWAY
06 Feb 2017
In understanding the needs of high trafficked areas, ACO Polycrete have created drainage management systems and products the keep us safe and mobile in ever changing weather conditions.
The team at ACO Polycrete understand that holistic and innovative public space design is crucial to the success of a commercial project. ACO’s external civil construction products are specified in urban infrastructure applications to perform either a drainage or cable management function. Being in constant visual and physical contact with the environment, they are purpose designed to harmonise with a project’s architectural requirements.
To assist urban designers and landscape architects in seamlessly integrating the essential services of water and cable management in an urban environment, ACO products are designed with advanced features to provide cost effectiveness, wheel and heel safety, slip resistance and a choice of aesthetics.
Amidst the changing climate environment, ACO products have been designed to meet the demands of surface water management in high-density urban environments. Now more than ever, designers and project managers need to consider the protection of property and people from the hazards caused by unwanted water.
Proactive and innovative design for adverse weather conditions does not mean that all designers need to head back to the drawing board and redesign areas from scratch for excess storm water runoff. Instead, ACO provides a cost-effective and neater solution. The company’s linear drainage systems only require simple, one-way pavement falls which provides a safer and attractive end result. The resultant pavement is typically finished with a lack of undulations which would otherwise be needed if stormwater pits are used. This also saves time on the reduction of complex pipe work, construction and maintenance.
In keeping surfaces flat, drainage design performance and efficiency remain the focus of each products design and ACO drainage systems lead the way forward to efficient surface water management. ACO’s trench drain systems are available with built-in slopes which support the movement of water once it is captured by flat and level pavements. Each ACO trench drain V-shaped design channel comprises smooth internal surfaces to ensure water is drained quickly.
Another key factor in ACO’s product design is the safety of pedestrians. By understanding the importance of heel safety in public space settings ACO has been able to test and design a range of products that maximise a project's water management capabilities without compromising of slip and heel safety of the area users.
One such area that has benefited from ACO’s seamless drainage systems is the pedestrian forecourt at Milsons Point, Sydney. The area is a huge drawcard for a range of people with a range of mobility needs as it functions as the entrance point for Lunar Park, The North Sydney Swimming Pool and is a key link for multiple harbour-side cycle and pedestrian ways.
The project, as part of The New South Wales Government and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority’s ongoing construction program, saw the area rejuvenated with new paving, new stone stairs, new palm trees for shading purposes and improved drainage.
ACO’s KlassikDrain with stainless steel edge rail and stainless steel Heelsafe® Anti-Slip grates was chosen to meet and withstand the demands of the heavy pedestrian precinct. The designers required a surface drainage system that would allow the pavement to remain flat and cater for the pedestrian traffic.
The result is a safe and seamless water management system that offers a secure level of slip resistance to AS 4586 alleviating the designer’s safety concerns. Whatever your water management needs, ACO will no doubt rise to the challenge to provide your project with safety and climate conscious designs.
