The application of adoptable sewers can be a minefield to navigate, says Brett Martin’s Sales Director, Chris Dawson, who tells Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer why the supply chain of manufacturers and merchants is such an important resource to ensure that developers and contractors get the right guidance and technical support for each project.
The launch of Adopta – Brett Martin’s new, complete portfolio of drain and sewer pipes, fittings and non-entry inspection chambers for where the drains/sewers are required to be adopted by the sewerage or water authority – has served as a timely reminder about the importance of a strong supply chain between material supply partners, merchants and developers. And in the case of adoptable sewers, never before has this been so important.
For us as a material supply partner, we are focused on manufacturing fully compliant products that are backed up with a multilevel support system for merchants which includes technical advice, product information and generally sharing knowledge so that they can, in turn, use it to help their developer customers. When a situation arises that involves a level of complexity and the merchant is unsure of the legislation or developers need additional support with take-offs, we are happy to step in to assist. Our involvement can vary from offering support via phone or email to making onsite visits and supplying technical drawings, ensuring that developers receive the answers they require.
In many ways, this support system is a well-oiled machine, and it is pivotal as an added-value service that strengthens the relationships within the supply chain to ensure compliance with the guidance set out by Water UK, Scottish Water and Welsh Water.
The current guidance
As I said, the guidance is a minefield, and whilst the spirit of these codes remains consistent, regional variations make them difficult to navigate, particularly for housebuilders operating on a crossborder basis.
For the sake of clarity, there are three distinct regional guidance documents that govern the application of adoptable sewer projects. They are:
- Design and Construction Guidance (DCG) for England
- Sewers for Adoption 4th Edition (SFS4) for Scotland
- Sewers for Adoption 7th Edition (SFA7) for Wales
In a nutshell, all three provide individual regional frameworks for the design and construction of foul and surface water sewers, setting out requirements for materials, layout, hydraulic design, structural integrity, access and maintenance to ensure long-term performance and resilience.
How does Adopta meet the guidance and what’s in the range?
We have a lot of good people within Brett Martin who know each of the standards front to back and back to front – enabling us to bring Adopta to market as a one-stopshop range for adoptable sewers and sustainable drainage systems.
There are three core products groups in the Adopta range, which comply with the individual guidance documents in England, Scotland and Wales:
- Pipes –
these include structured wall pipes (in 110mm and 160mm diameters, certified to BS EN 13476-2 (and tested to WIS 4-35-01), Kitemarked and available in 3m lengths) and solid wall PVC-U pipes (in 250mm, 315mm and 400mm diameters, certified to BS EN 1401-1). - Fittings –
these include couplers, bends (single socket and double socket), branches (double socket and triple socket), adaptors and plugs manufactured or certified to BS EN 1401-1. All fittings have an integrated lip seal for easy jointing. - Non-entry inspection chambers –
these include a 450mm diameter chamber with 110mm and 160mm inlet/outlet options and a 600mm diameter chamber with 160mm, 250mm, 300mm and 400mm inlet/outlet options.
These chambers are certified to BS EN 13598-2 and Kitemarked, meaning they can be installed up to 3m deep for adoptable installations.
It’s also worth highlighting that Brett Martin can assist with drainage take-offs for developments and with stormwater management on site. The StormCrate55 system allows developers to meet requirements for managing excessive rainwater run-off and meet their sustainable drainage and environmental targets.
StormCrate55 provides several solutions for sustainable stormwater management. For infiltration projects, the lightweight crates are wrapped in a geotextile that allows stored water to slowly seep into the surrounding ground and back into the water table over a longer period of time. Where attenuation is the best option, contractors surround the StormCrate55 system in an impermeable geomembrane to create a sealed underground tank. An outlet can then facilitate a controlled release of the stored water back into the water. table or drainage system when it is able to cope with this.
Engage early
If there’s one thing that we hope developers and contractors take away from this, it’s to engage your supply chain early – especially on those more complex projects. Merchants are always a good first port of call, as the ones we partner with are very knowledgeable and experienced about the application of adoptable sewers. And if they need some extra support, we’ve got their backs.
There’s more information at www.rdr.link/dbg030
