Winter 2014Sharing knowledge, building best practice

Evolution is printed with vegetable inks on paper comprising 75 per cent post-consumer waste and 25 per cent ECF recycled paper.

CIRIA foCus on BIodIveRsIty

Adoption of Wsud principles in Birmingham

BIG Challenge Awards 2014

Managing surface water with geocellular storage tanks

Tony Juniper, leading British campaigner and environmentalist explains the importance of biodiversity

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Collaborative working is recognised and advocated as being a key to achieving the improvements in performance targeted in the HM Government Industry Strategy Construction 2025. Since its formation in 1960, bringing together different disciplines and stakeholders to work collaboratively has been at the heart of CIRIA’s activities and this theme runs through this edition of Evolution.

In our interview with Tony Juniper, leading British campaigner and environmentalist (pages 2-3) he outlines the importance of good working relationship between relevant stakeholders such as planners, engineers and ecologists to help conserve nature and create a better living environment. An example of such cross-sector working is CIRIA’s Biodiversity Interest Group (BIG), which was founded in 2012 with the aim of sharing knowledge and raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity in construction (pages 4-5). The Group launched its BIG Challenge in 2013 followed, this year, by its inaugural Big Challenge Awards. This attracted remarkable interest from the industry, which recognised and celebrated its contributions to biodiversity (pages 6-7).

Multi-agency collaboration is also evident on pages 16-19 where Alison Gidlow and Mark Chandler from the Environment Agency outline a suite of UK Environment Agency pollution prevention projects. The benefits include greater mutual understanding of the challenges and possible solutions, sharing resources – whether people, equipment, data or costs – and developing evidence to support decision making.

On pages 24-27 we explore the growing challenge of sustainable water management in UK cities. John Brewington from Severn Trent Water discusses how collaboration between Severn Trent Water, Birmingham City Council and the Environment Agency has led to two ambitious projects being undertaken to bring Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles to life in Birmingham.

Finally, CIRIA reached its own collaborative milestone this year with the completion of our 1000th collaboratively-funded project, Application of Eurocode 7 to the design of flood embankments (C749), which provides national guidance for practitioners in the UK and Ireland on the design of flood embankments to EN 1997 Eurocode 7 Geotechnical design. CIRIA projects are truly team efforts with our appointed research contractors, project steering groups and wider consultees working together to address industry challenges.

We would like to thank readers who have contributed to our projects over the year and hope you will encourage others to look for opportunities to get involved. Feedback from a selection of participants is included in our article on pages 10-11 and details of projects seeking industry engagement can be found throughout this issue of Evolution or by visiting www.ciria.org

Finally, on behalf of all at CIRIA I offer our best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Bill Healy Chief Executive

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Contents

2

7

4Sustainability Biodiversity and the BIG Challenge – One Year On

Share knowledge improve performance

20Infrastructure

Use of geocellular storage tanks to

manage surface water

16Water

Incident reduction – a project approach

Interview with Tony Juniper Leading campaigner and environmentalist shares views on why biodiversity is important

WaterResponding to lessons learned from flooding

14The CIRIA Network

12Publications

28CIRIA TrainingDevelop your skills with CIRIA training

24WaterWater Sensitive Urban Design in Birmingham

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InteRvIeW WIth Tony Juniper

Q On a global scale what is the importance of biodiversity?

Looking at the main environmental challenges and trends in play at the moment such as climate change, chemical pollution and the overuse of fertilisers the most serious issue facing us, more than any, is the rapid decline of biodiversity, and unlike some of the aforementioned trends it is irreversible.

Once something has become extinct it’s gone. With the mass extinction of animals and plants, which is gathering pace at the moment, we are closing down our options for the future. Biodiversity is the fundamental resource for the entire planetary system and by continuing as we have been, we are running some very serious environmental risks.

At the moment, biodiversity is not very visible on the political agenda that is dominated by climate change (which some people believe is the main environmental challenge at hand). Biodiversity is hugely important, however, and is a hugely neglected area while also now more urgent than ever.

Michael Small, CIRIA Project Manager interviews Tony Juniper, leading British campaigner and environmentalist on the importance of biodiversity

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Q Looking ahead, what do you see as the key challenges relating to biodiversity in 2015?

With 2015 being a general election year in the UK there will be some key issues around the profile of nature and environmental questions, particularly in light of the political manifestos to be published. At present, there will be very little relating to biodiversity, which is very disappointing considering how much we are still in decline in the UK.

The State of Nature report published in 2013 highlights that 60 per cent of the species that we have data for are in decline, some of them very seriously with 10 per cent being in danger of total extinction. We need that information to engage with the political process – the upcoming election is the time when it should happen to ensure it is a key topic for 2015.

At a European level there is every reason to believe that we will see a back-track, with quite blatant intent to downgrade the power of EU laws, such as the Birds and Habitats Directives.

The evident lack of engagement on the political side (apart from emphasising that more should be done) has raised the profile of the private sector and this is from where we are going to see more demand for leadership in the future. It is very encouraging to see how much of the private sector, and not just the construction industry but also retail, food, energy and water companies, are beginning to realise that the business case for biodiversity is very powerful.

Q What are your thoughts on creating a better working relationship between relevant stakeholders such as planners, engineers and ecologists?

This is largely about a shift in mind- set. Take the history of conservation and the way we have approached these issues in the past. The world has been designed by engineers, and the ecologists have had the job of trying to minimise their [negative] impact on the environment.

If we are to create a high quality of living for people in the future we have to conserve nature and allow it to do all the great things it does for us. The only way we are going to do that is if we design our cities, infrastructure and the way we live through an integrated approach with planners, engineers and ecologists around the table together.

The need to recognise that nature has to be protected and, if possible, enhanced during the development of buildings and related infrastructure is key. There are huge opportunities to increase levels of green infrastructure, which is already being recognised in some flood risk reduction strategies and the need to improve water quality.

The fragmentation that currently exists in companies from the top down needs to be addressed and more joined-up thinking at the start of projects needs to be encouraged.

Q To summarise, what is the key message from your speech tonight at the BIG Challenge Awards?

We used to think nature was ‘a nice to have’ but we are now realising that it is essential and needs to be built into everything that we do. The BIG Challenge Awards show how it is entirely possible to do this and how the main things we are lacking are awareness, understanding and imagination.

Q How does biodiversity relate to the built environment and development?

There is an increasing realisation that biodiversity has to be conserved in the built environment as it is predicted more of us will be living in an urban setting in the future. Many of the benefits associated with biodiversity come from it being close to people, adding to our quality of life. That interaction with nature is only going to be possible to maintain if we conserve and increase biodiversity in our towns and cities.

In some parts of the world cities are better for biodiversity than the neighbouring intensively managed agricultural landscapes. It is clear from a number of converging reasons why we are going to have to do better in built environments.

There are many co-benefits of biodiversity that come beyond quality of life, for example resilience to climate change extremes and the ability to control certain kinds of pollution. These are all reasons why we need to do better; some of it global and some of it is local and very practical.

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ReferencesSTATE OF NATURE REPORT, 2013 published by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Visit www.rspb.org.uk

SuSTainabiliTy

Overview CIRIA sees biodiversity as a key issue that needs a clearer understanding within the construction and development industry otherwise it will always be treated as an afterthought rather than an integrated part of a construction project.

At present unless a species or habitat is protected, biodiversity enhancements are voluntary and are often seen as an ‘add on’. CIRIA would like biodiversity to become a more integrated part of projects and business plans, which will then enable the built environment to become more resilient to climate change.

To raise awareness of biodiversity CIRIA formed the Biodiversity Interest Group (BIG) in 2012 with the aim of sharing knowledge on biodiversity from various sectors within the construction industry. Members of the Group include a wide range of industry experts such as clients, consultants, contractors and ecologists.

Meeting three to four times a year the BIG provides the opportunity for members to understand different viewpoints, learn from each other and develop some tangible outputs such as good practice guidance, training and capacity building for the whole industry.

Biodiversity Interest Group 2014 Throughout 2014 the BIG held a number of events to raise awareness and help drive improvements. The first workshop event in March 2014 examined biodiversity offsetting and explored the context of biodiversity offsetting and the many viewpoints and dimensions that exist regarding its application in construction.

The workshop highlighted a number of key issues including the need for biodiversity offsets to be included in local authority master plans along with the limitations surrounding the use of a metric based assessment that require a specialist trained assessor.

On 11 September 2014, members of the BIG attended a site tour of the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park in Stratford. Introductory presentations gave an overview of the planning, design and maintenance of both built and ecological features in the park, setting the scene for the tour. The walk through tour of the park allowed for an informal Q&A session with speakers explaining the design features and maintenance regimes in detail.

Biodiversity and the biG Challenge Michael Small, CIRIA Project Manager, explains the importance of biodiversity and opportunities available for implementing enhancements in the construction industry

The BIG Challenge Launched in October 2013, the BIG Challenge ‘do one thing’ invites organisations to add one new biodiversity enhancement to their construction site, development or existing building.

With over 50 organisations already signed up, the first year of the BIG Challenge gathered great momentum within the construction industry, demonstrating a growing engagement and understanding of biodiversity. This was further showcased with Marks & Spencer and Murphy becoming new partners, helping to fund the campaign while showing their commitment as champions of biodiversity in the built environment.

Why is biodiversity important to Murphy? “As companies continue to extend their commitment to sustainability, appreciation has increased of the economic, social and environmental consequences resulting from loss of biodiversity. With recent reports highlighting how much biodiversity has declined over the past few decades, we believe that efforts to sustain our natural ecosystems need to gain in priority.

In-line with our vision to create a sustainable future by breathing life into infrastructure, and our value of never harming, we at Murphy are committed to undertaking biodiversity enhancement on our projects in order to ensure our legacy enriches both the built and natural environment. We are proud to partner with CIRIA’s BIG Challenge to promote biodiversity, raise industry awareness and exchange best practice on sustaining our natural ecosystems.”Stephen Marr, Group Environmental Manager

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Get involved in CIRIA projects and proposals

Minimising risk through responsible sourcing (P2954) CIRIA together with its partners is working to develop practical guidance to assist procurement of key materials for construction projects.

Green Infrastructure for the Built Environment (GI4BE) (P2925) GI4BE brings together a strong vision, a collective voice, a compelling web platform and associated networking events to improve the way the GI community interacts and collaborates.

Business improvement through Ecology (BITE) (P2865) CIRIA will develop a website-based toolkit of practical resources for the enhancement of ecology using a range of business improvement techniques.

Large landscape trees - a communication strategy (P2896) CIRIA is keen to encourage communication with various stakeholders to explore ways to reverse the decline in large species trees in the urban environment.

Fit out environmental good practice guide (RP1011) This project will develop a good practice guide focused on the interiors sector reflecting current best practice and legislation to ensure effective design intent and delivery of good practice on site.

To find out more and to get involved contact CIRIA on tel: +44 (0) 20 7549 3300 or email: enquiries@ciria.org

Following submission of 119 case studies the judging process took place on 3 October 2014 at CIRIA’s offices. Members of the BIG formed judging panels and had the difficult task of choosing the winner from across each of the seven award categories. Each of the submissions was considered thoroughly and individually, and following much debate the category winners were selected.

The inaugural BIG Challenge Awards ceremony took place at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew on 14 October 2014 celebrating the year long campaign. Leading British campaigner and environmentalist Tony Juniper gave a keynote address, which was followed by the Awards presentation and reception.

The overall winner for the BIG Challenge Awards 2014 was The Pirbright Institute for their project Populating and pollinating Pirbright’s pastures. See pages 6-7 for details of all our Awards winners or visit www.bigchallenge.info

Why is biodiversity important to Marks & Spencer?

“At M&S, we see biodiversity as essential to maintaining our quality of life and a healthy environment. The continuous decline of biodiversity has serious consequences and its protection and enhancement is a key focus within our Plan A strategy.

We recognise that how we design, procure and build our stores can have an impact on our fragile ecosystems. However, we see this as an opportunity, and believe our buildings can have a positive impact on biodiversity by acting as important hosts for flora and fauna.

Further to this, we feel that the construction industry as a whole is in a unique position to actually make a real difference, by ensuring external greening and biodiversity initiatives are at the top of their agenda on building projects.

M&S chose to support CIRIA’s BIG Challenge as we feel it’s a great vehicle to help share best practice in the industry and encourage collective action in order for us to achieve a sustainable future.”Roseline Holt, Property Plan A Project Manager, Property & Store Development, Marks & Spencer

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How to get involved If you and/or your organisation want to show your commitment to championing biodiversity in the construction industry sign up to the BIG Challenge. The Challenge will give you the opportunity to become industry leaders in biodiversity enhancements.

Sign upFor further details and to sign up visit www.bigchallenge.info or email: michael.small@ciria.org or ruth.hynes@ciria.org

Large Scale Temporary WinnerProject name: Olympia community kitchen garden

Location: Olympia Station, London

Company: Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Award sponsor: Keepmoat

Olympia community kitchen garden located at Olympia Station is an example of a successful working partnership between the landowner, Network Rail, and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. By incorporating movable raised planter beds in case Network Rail need to use/access the platform the scheme considered how it can have a lasting effect through its flexibility.

Small Scale Permanent WinnerProject name: Respite Unit

Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire

Company: Morgan Sindall

The Respite Unit in Basingstoke provided Morgan Sindall with the opportunity to conserve, and enhance levels of biodiversity on site. Following consultation with Hampshire County Council between 20 and 30 trees were fenced off within a tree protection zone. Further enhancements were demonstrated through the reuse of materials, water efficiency and public education.

The inaugural BIG Challenge Awards took place on 14 October 2014 at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Once again we offer our congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to Willmott Dixon and Kier for supporting the Awards this year.

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Overall Winner/Large Scale Permanent WinnerProject name: Populating and pollinating Pirbright’s pastures

Location: Pirbright, SurreyCompany: The Pirbright InstituteLarge Scale permanent Award sponsor: Murphy Overall Award winner sponsor: Wildflower Turf Ltd

Populating and pollinating Pirbirght’s pastures is a project that has shown extensive consideration beyond normal business practice through a variety of features. This includes designated areas for wildlife, biodiversity enhancement and encouragement along with several mini biodiversity projects.

biG Challenge awards Category winners 2014

Small Scale Temporary WinnerProject name: Brentford Lock buffer strip

Location: Brentford, London

Company: Willmott Dixon

Brentford Lock buffer strip is simple yet effective and highlights how an instant and short-term enhancement can engage the local community. The creation of the buffer strip was in response to the site team’s initiative to create a positive site set-up that would offer ecological value to pollinators and positive impression for construction trades and project visitors alike.

Pollinator Winner

Project name: FSN397 Welsh Government Contract

Location: Llandudno Junction & Aberystwyth, Wales

Company: Vinci Facilities

The FSN397 Welsh Government contract at Llandudno Junction & Aberystwyth is carried out with the aim of increasing the insect pollinating population and improving biodiversity. The project provided beekeeping courses for staff members and demonstrated a variety of enhancements highlighting the opportunities of providing food for pollinators along with wintering and nesting habitats.

Most Innovative WinnerProject name: Artificial Rockpools

Location: Tywyn, Gwynedd, Wales

Company: Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Gwynedd County Council, Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS), Marine Ecological Solutions Ltd., SMS Wales.

Award sponsor: Morgan Sindall

The Artificial rockpools at Tywyn, Gwynedd are a simple and unique method of enhancing coastal biodiversity while creating infrastructure resilience in a cost-effective manner. The project team and collaborators commissioned SMS Wales to drill-core 40 holes (artificial rockpools) of 15 cm diameter into the granite breakwater units at Tywyn, Gwynedd. Results have shown that the artificial rockpools support a greater diversity of marine life than the plain rock surfaces of the breakwater, and that they are just as diverse as natural rockpools.

Community Engagement WinnerProject name: Port Talbot Parkway Railway Station

Location: Port Talbot, Wales

Company: Kier

Award sponsor: Skanska

As part of the £11m regeneration project at Port Talbot Parkway Railway Station, Kier ran several workshops over three days on ‘wildlife and the environment’ at Central Junior School to 226 children. The aim of workshops was to inspire and demonstrate the importance of looking after and understanding the local wildlife and environment as well as introducing hands on activities including making bird feeders and dissecting owl pellets. The project is an example of delivering community engagement that provides education to schoolchildren in a cost-effective manner.

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It is over seven years since the catastrophic flooding events of summer 2007, and six since the independent Pitt Review was published (Pitt, 2008). Since then, and following Sir Michael Pitt’s report, we have seen government responses, changes in legislation, slow progress towards SuDS, ministerial command papers (HM Government, 2011 and RAENG, 2011), as well as reviews and reports into winter weather (DfT, 2010), transport (DfT, 2014), and flood resilience (CIRIA C688, McBain et al, 2008). Many of the recommendations and thinking outlined here have been considered in national initiatives – indeed some world leading UK research is being undertaken looking at new business models, economics, future proofing infrastructure, railway resilience to climate change and more. There are practical steps to adapt to climate change, and the formation of networks such as CIRIA’s National Infrastructure Client Leadership Group and the Environment Agency’s Climate Ready Infrastructure Operators Adaptation Forum are helping to ensure these are adopted.

What still needs to be done?UK government departments and the UK’s infrastructure owners and operators question what ‘lessons were learnt’ – how many of the lessons learnt in the most recent resilience reviews were noted in the Pitt Review or beyond? How many can recall the 1998 Easter floods that were reported in the Bye report (Bye, 1998)? Are organisations actually embedding these lessons in how they manage assets, in their governance processes, in their standards and specifications? For those organisations trying to implement lessons learnt, are they struggling to justify the business cases for increased operational expenditure and/or investment? How can good practice and useful research become embedded in the corporate psyche? How can ‘systems

thinking’ help to categorise and prioritise effort especially at corporate level?

An ICE report published in 2010 emphasised that resilience was a key concern to the UK’s economic performance, particularly following the flooding and extreme weather events between 2007 and 2010. However, in 2014 a new ICE report discusses how lessons still need to be learnt and embedded into organisation’s corporate memory: “while there has been a welcome political emphasis on infrastructure’s contribution and transformative powers since 2010, not enough has been done to address the important issue of resilience or the constraints on the provision and maintenance of the UK’s infrastructure networks”. Before the 2010 report was published, CIRIA C688 had already stated how “flood resilience measures should be implemented as an integral part of an organisation’s business continuity management processes, whole life asset management plans and climate change adaptation strategies.”

Some of the recommendations from the many reports outlined in this article have been followed and subsequently embedded into organisation’s business processes, forward strategies and operational plans. However, it is evident through the continual challenges and revision of the same lessons from successive flood events that overall they have not been comprehensively implemented by the UK’s infrastructure owners and operators. It can often be the case that an organisation’s expertise will rest with individuals with experience of previous events and the information and procedural approach is not captured.

What can CIRIA do to help?Looking beyond the recommendations contained in reports and guidance documents, CIRIA want to consider how organisations have put these into action, or the challenges for making this happen. Many organisations will have undertaken internal reviews of infrastructure resilience following the floods early this year. Some will have formal or consultant-led reports; others will have internal documents or informal presentations that are as yet unpublished. Gathering together the lessons from these into a useful format and to disseminate

Take acTion on lessons learnt from flood events

Lee Kelly, CIRIA Assistant Project Manager, and John Dora, John Dora Consulting, discuss how the lessons learnt from past flood events should be shared across sectors

them to the wider world could be a significant output from such activity.

As noted in the DfT (2014) report “there is much scope to learn from the experience of others and share best practice both with other operators and with other modes of transport”. CIRIA has considerable expertise in supporting shared learning and development of good practice between different sectors and is keen to apply this to the challenges of improving flood resilience and learning from experiences, in a similar vein to that achieved in CIRIA C688 where there was beneficial learning between sectors.

CIRIA’s new proposal ‘Responding to lessons learned from flooding’ proposes to support UK government departments and infrastructure owners and operators in assessing, sharing and better understanding how lessons learnt from flooding (and other environmental risks) can be embedded within organisations and how these can become part of their routine thinking.

The overall aim of the project is to provide guidance on how to implement the recommendations contained in the reports discussed earlier, and from other lessons learnt. With sufficient support from across sectors the project could be delivered in two (possibly three) stages:

Stage 1: focus on how organisations have captured learning from previous incidents. It will also consider the factors that enable or constrain such lessons from being implemented.

Stage 2: updating CIRIA C688.

While Stages 1 and 2 would focus on flooding, building and updating pre-existing guidance, some of the learning from Stage 1 could be drawn from other incidents (eg extreme temperatures, wind and/or combinations).

Following completion of Stage 2, a potential third stage is envisaged that could provide companion guides to C688, which would cover other environmental/climate change issues and combinations thereof.

Where there is a need for collaboration on an issue of shared interest, CIRIA acts as the honest broker to help organisations come together, reach consensus and agree good practice. CIRIA is an industry leader in providing research management and producing good practice industry guidance. Organisations would greatly benefit in the collaborative work that would be produced.

For full details about CIRIA Proposal Responding to lessons learned from flooding (P2972) go to: www.ciria.org/p2972

WaTer

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ReferencesBYE, P and HORNER, M (1998) Easter 1998 floods, volume 1. Report by the independent review team to the Board of the Environment Agency, UK. Go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/292915/geho0807bnay-e-e.pdf

DfT (2010) The resilience of England’s transport systems in winter - an independent review: final report, Department for Transport, London (ISBN: 978-1-84864-111-2). Go to: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20111014014059/http:/transportwinterresilience.independent.gov.uk/docs/final-report/wrr-final-report-2010-10-22.PDF

DfT (2014) Transport resilience review. A review of the resilience of the transport network to extreme weather events, Cm 8874, HMSO, London (ISBN: 978-1-47410-661-0)

HM GOVERNMENT (2011) Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Preparing for a Changing Climate, Cm 8065, HMSO, London (ISBN: 978-0-10180-652-7). Go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69269/climate-resilient-infrastructure-full.pdf

ICE (2010) State of the Nation Infrastructure 2010, Institution of Civil Engineers, London. Go to: https://www.ice.org.uk/getattachment/c198a95f-69bd-4c46-8110-51b057ec20f1/State-of-the-Nation--Infrastructure-2010.aspx

ICE (2014) State of the Nation Infrastructure 2014, Institution of Civil Engineers, London. Go to: http://www.ice.org.uk/getattachment/8185ef54-ca0d-457d-8a1f-d0e2212e1fb3/State-of-the-Nation--Infrastructure-2014.aspx

MCBAIN, W, WILKES, D and RETTER, M (2010) Flood resilience and resistance of critical infrastructure, C688, CIRIA, London (ISBN: 978-0-86017-688-6). Go to: www.ciria.org

PITT, M (2008) The Pitt Review – learning lessons from the 2007 floods, Cabinet Office, London. Go to: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100807034701/http:/archive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/pittreview/_/media/assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/flooding_review/pitt_review_full%20pdf.pdf

RAENG (2011) Infrastructure, engineering and climate change adaptation, The Royal Academy of Engineering on behalkf of Engineering the Future, London (ISBN: 1-90349-661-6). Go to: http://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/reports/engineering-the-future

Get involved in CIRIA projects and proposals

Update of SuDS construction guidance (P2674) Updated guidance on SuDS construction will ensure SuDS are built as designed and provide the functionality and performance required.

Scoping the accreditation and/or assessment of SuDS schemes (P2802) This project will explore the opportunity and methodology for an accreditation scheme to assess schemes or practitioners to achieve excellence in SuDS delivery.

Responding to lessons learned from flooding (P2972) CIRIA propose to develop new good practice technical guidance on the recovery of critical infrastructure following major flood events.

Seaside piers - inspection and rehabilitation (P2942) This project will provide guidance for individuals and teams to understand enough about the potential structural problems and their solutions to appoint appropriate inspection and repair specialists

Dam and Reservoir conduits (tunnels, culverts and pipes) (RP982) The project will produce a succinct consolidated guidance report on the inspection, monitoring, investigation, maintenance and repair of conduits at reservoirs.

Design, modification and removal of river weirs (RP1009) This project will review and update the current Environment Agency guide on River Weirs, originally published in 2003.

Management and rehabilitation of old waterfront walls (RP997) This updated manual will build on and supersede the 1992 CIRIA guide.

Update of the SuDS manual (RP992)The aim of this project is to update CIRIA's SuDS Manual (C697) to reflect changes in good practice and regulations.

Demonstrating the benefits of SuDS – developing a business case (RP993) This project will support and evaluate potential methodologies for assessing the costs and benefits of retrofitting SuDS.

Coastal and marine environmental site and working on site update (RP1002) The project team are seeking case studies to inform the new guide.

To find out more and to get involved contact CIRIA on tel: +44 (0) 20 7549 3300 or email: enquiries@ciria.org

Walham switching station, Gloucester July 2007.

Image supplied by Geodesign Barriers Ltd

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Sharing knowledge IMpRovInG peRfoRMAnCeCollaborative working, bringing together different disciplines and stakeholders, is widely recognised and advocated as being a key to achieving the improvements in performance targeted in the HM Government Industry Strategy Construction 2025.

From its inception in 1960, CIRIA has recognised and put these principles into practice and the output from our 1,000th collaboratively developed project has recently been published.

RP1000: Application of Eurocode 7 to the design of flood embankments provides national guidance for practitioners in the UK and Ireland on the design of flood embankments to EN 1997 Eurocode 7 Geotechnical design. The aim is to improve clarity on key issues relating to the design of flood embankments that are not addressed in detail by the current EN 1997.

CIRIA’s collaborative and peer-review process has been used to produce independent and authoritative guidance across a range of topics and in a variety of media, usually tackling topics at interfaces between disciplines, regulators, operators and other stakeholders.

Dr Mervyn Bramley, Engineer and Environmentalist,

PSG chair RP1000 “As chair of the UK/Ireland PSG for RP927 The

International Levee Handbook (ILH) and RP1000 Application of Eurocode 7 to the design of flood embankments, it has been a privilege to assist the successful delivery of these challenging projects. The CIRIA approach – with an experienced research contractor team, good CIRIA project management, knowledgeable PSG, and collaborative funding – was able to provide well-balanced and practical guidance via a thorough peer review. This is an essential part of providing reliable products for practitioners.

CIRIA’s capability to develop an effective overall team to deliver the ILH project was the envy

of our other national partners.”

Andy Moores, Programme Manager, Evidence Directorate,

Environment Agency, project funder “The Joint Defra/EA Flood and Coastal Engineering

Research Management programme has used CIRIA’s expertise over the years within a number of projects

focused principally on the asset management research theme. Involvement in CIRIA partnerships allows us to collaborate with other key industry partners, resulting in leverage on our funding but also, more importantly, the sharing of sectorial expertise and the development of a consensus viewpoint on how real world challenges should be addressed. A major benefit for us in working with CIRIA is a direct and credible route to

end users through already established networks and industry guidance, which aids the dissemination

and uptake of our research and ensures it is put to practical use.”

The success of CIRIA projects relies on its appointed authors, project steering group (PSG) and chairmen, project funders and the many other stakeholders who contribute to CIRIA guides. The following quotes are from a small selection of those who have participated in RP1000 and/or other projects over the years.

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Steve Hold, Associate, ARUP, PSG member

“I have used CIRIA publications as a benchmark of quality engineering reference on a variety

of subjects over many years. Now, as a practicing consulting engineer on the PSG for the Old waterfront walls project, it was enlightening to be able to see how the cumulative experience of the different members was a fundamental part of the process. The different contributions from client bodies, academics, contractors and consultant engineers elicited by CIRIA’s processes were used to guide the authors to produce a meaningful work that

covers the commonly faced – and some of the less commonly faced – issues that modern day

owners of these structures face.”

Brian C Smith, Drainage Strategy Manager, Yorkshire Water

Services, project funder “Yorkshire Water has been a funder, and a PSG member,

on many collaborative projects. My experience of working with CIRIA has been positive, and at times refreshing. As an

organisation they have demonstrated an ability to bring together different organisations and disciplines to facilitate and co-ordinate value for money, cross-sector collaborative research encompassing academia and industry practitioners. CIRIA’s approach is consistent, focused and well structured. Having the ability to identify future thinking research requirements to meet client and UK industry needs, they are also cognisant of client needs and have the capacity to adapt – as seen in the production of the WSUD good ideas booklet (C723), which

was engaging and a significant departure from their normal documents. Much of their work has resulted in a number

of best practice guidance publications, now seen as industry standards.”

Claire Dickinson, Regional Director, AECOM, PSG chair

“It has been a pleasure over the last 12 years to have worked so closely with the CIRIA team and

all the interested parties who have contributed to the five PSGs I have chaired. It has been exciting, challenging and rewarding to chair PSGs that have produced some of the landmark CIRIA contaminated land guidance, such as the first UK UXO guide for the construction industry and the first in-depth UK guidance document since 1990 on understanding and managing risks from asbestos in soils. Reaching your 1000th project shows how

much CIRIA’s work with industry through PSGs is valued.”

Ian Walton, Technical Director, SLR Consulting, lead

author CON195 “Providing guidance in an area that requires a balance

of environmental protection, regulatory, practicality and cost effectiveness is always challenging, and this proved to be

the case with CIRIA’s guide on secondary containment systems (C736). However, CIRIA’s approach to drawing out concerns from the PSG, facilitating in seeking common ground, and advising on ways of presenting the guidance helped to keep things moving forward. The willingness of the PSG to contribute their expertise was invaluable. The additional insight gained in putting the guide together has resulted in a deeper understanding

of the subject and enabled SLR to gain a number of additional commissions in this area.”

Richard Thomas, Independent Consultant,

PSG chair “I worked with CIRIA initially as a research contractor/

author and latterly, over 14 years, as PSG chair. CIRIA’s approach to producing guides, where they provide the project management and production, an expert research contractor drafts the guide, and a PSG, chosen to represent the full range of experience in the relevant topic area, is active in developing the structure and content of the guide, culminates in guides that are up-to-date, complete, practical, readable, and therefore useful. This

collaborative approach sets them apart from many others and ensures that their reports,

more often than not, become industry standards.”

Rachel Sandham, Associate Director, ARUP, co-

author RP1000 “CIRIA’s 1,000th project arose from a gap in

knowledge identified when writing the International Levee Handbook (ILH) – namely the application of Eurocodes to the design of flood embankments. As designers, and as part of the National Backing Group for the ILH, we were keen to address this gap. The willingness of flood risk asset owners to

come together with specialists across a number of consultancies was a critical factor in

resolving this as was CIRIA’s role in brokering and facilitating

this discussion.”

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Web guidesContainment systems for the prevention of pollution (C736D)ISBN: 978-0-86017-740-1

Free to download from: www.ciria.org/c736

Engaging with risk (C747D)ISBN: 978-0-86017-752-4

Free to download from: www.ciria.org/risk

Coming soonGroundwater control: design and practice (C750)This publication provides guidance on pumping methods used to control groundwater as part of the temporary works for construction projects

Price: £TBCISBN: 978-0-86017-755-5

Published 2014Design for movement in buildings (C734)CIRIA technical note TN107 was published in 1981, and since then there have been many changes in the industry. This publication aims to provide guidance for the concept, explaining the importance of considering movement early on in the design process.

Price: £50 (£25)ISBN: 978-0-86017-738-8

Lessons from incidents at dams and reservoirs – an engineering guide (SP167)The history of dams and their misfortunes is essential reading for those responsible for the safety of reservoirs. The focus of the guide is on failures and incidents at dams in Britain that have occurred between 1800 and 2012.

Price: £120 (£60)ISBN: 978-0-86017-735-7

Ciria publications

With over 600 titles on offer, CIRIA has been and continues to be at the forefront of good practice guidance in the construction industry. Our publications are widely regarded as the most authoritative guidance available and many are adopted as the standard for excellence in their respective areas.

Good practice on verification of protection and testing of barriers for hazardous ground gases (C735)This publication provides good practice guidance for the designer, installer, verifier and regulator on the verification and integrity testing of gas protection systems.

Price: £120 (£60)ISBN: 978-0-86017-739-5

Guidance on the use of plastic membranes as VOC vapour barriers (C748)This publication provides guidance on the use of plastic membranes to reduce vapour migration into buildings, and allows readers to make a robust evaluation of the contribution of membranes to reducing indoor inhalation risk from VOCs in the ground.

Price: £40 (£20)ISBN: 978-0-86017-753-1

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Application of Eurocode 7 to the design of flood embankments (C749)This guide provides national guidance for practitioners in the UK and Ireland on the design of flood embankments to EN 1997. The aim is to improve clarity on key issues relating to the design of flood embankments, which are not addressed in detail by the current EN 1997.

Price: £25 (£15)ISBN: 978-0-86017-754-5

Manual on scour at bridges and other hydraulic structures (C742)Structures built in or near rivers and other channels can be vulnerable to scour around their foundations. This updated guide to the original manual (C551) is for engineers and asset managers engaged in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of structures in the water environment that may be subject to scour of erodible beds or banks. It is relevant to scour problems in the UK and worldwide, affecting both new and existing structures.

Price: £TBCISBN: 978-0-86017-747-0

How to orderVisit: www.ciria.orgTel: +44 (0) 20 7549 3300Email: enquiries@ciria.org

Forthcoming titles for 2014–2015 Structural and geotechnical design

of modular geocellular drainage systems (C737)

Environmental good practice on site, fourth edition (C741)

Dams and reservoir conduits (tunnels, culverts and pipes) – inspection, monitoring, investigation, maintenance and repair (C743)

Coastal and marine environmental site guide, second edition (C744)

Coastal and marine environmental pock book, second edition (C745)

Old waterfront walls (C746) Communicating local flood risk

management (RP975) Abandoned mine workings

manual (RP940)

the fourth edition of Ciria’s popular environmental good practice on site guide (C741) continues to provide industry practitioners guidance on identifying potential impacts and positively managing their effect.

The new site guide reflects changes in legislation, developments in practice and emergence of new issues/challenges that the industry needs to take account of. these include building information modelling (BIM), sustainable procurement, Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR), water footprinting and the circular economy all of which will influence site practice in the short, medium and long-term.

good environmental practice starts with planning for good site management.

how to order:web: www.ciria.org/C741 Tel: 020 7549 3300

email: enquiries@ciria.org

improving construction sites through environmental good practice

Pre-release offerMembers: £25non members: £50offer ends 22 december 2014

usual price: £35/£70Discounts available on bulk orders

1414COMMUNITY • SHARING • LEARNING • CONNECTING

Ruth Hynes, CIRIA Network Manager discusses highlights from 2014 and the exciting work for the year ahead

Over the last 12 months, the CIRIA network has brought together more than 2000 delegates and 100 industry leading speakers from across construction. A wide range of topics have been explored including sustainability, civil infrastructure, productivity, water and construction technology. The Network has continued to promote innovative practice and a collaborative, cross-sector and cross-disciplinary approach to knowledge sharing. Joining CIRIA in early 2014, I was quickly

drawn in to the hustle and bustle of activity as the Network planned 25 events for the second half of 2014. The highlights of my first months as CIRIA Network Manager included diverse events such as Risk & Resilience of Infrastructure to Natural Hazards; the BIG Challenge; and Achieving community acceptance on infrastructure projects, which reflects the wide range of construction and built environment topics covered.

The seminars Risk assessment and management of asbestos in soil, held in both Edinburgh and London and following the March launch of Asbestos in soil and made ground (CIRIA C735), kicked off the Autumn programme with over 120 delegates attending. The issues raised at these events on this important topic will be used to inform the forthcoming seminar in Manchester on 28 January 2015, and a series of further in-depth seminars to be announced in 2015.

The late summer months proved just as busy as I travelled to Edinburgh in August to discuss Trees in urban environments following the success of the London event of the same name in July. In September we were delighted to have Dr Ashok Chapagain from the Water Footprint Network join a round table discussion Water footprint

CIRIA Network Bringing industry leaders and experts together, the CIRIA network offers an engaging platform for cross-sector collaboration and discussion, and aims to strengthen links between research, innovation and practice.

Working collaboratively with key organisations and individuals representing clients, operators, regulators, academic institutions and other stakeholders across the construction supply chain, CIRIA holds a unique position as a hub for thought leadership.

Responding to changing industry needs the CIRIA network provides an engaging platform for sharing knowledge and experience, networking, and addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the construction industry including:

1 Community building – promoting the common interests and values of members.

2 Communicating – enabling cross-sector discussion and knowledge sharing.

3 Learning and facilitating – industry led learning and professional development opportunities.

4 Making connections – bringing together industry professionals from different disciplines and strengthening links between sectors.

the Ciria networK

Ruth Hynes, CIRIA Network Manager

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assessments in construction to discuss current understanding and knowledge gaps across the industry. In September we also launched Engaging with risk in construction at a joint event with the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Getting out and about this year the Network held site visits to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park in September to discuss the implementation of their biodiversity action plan (see pages 4–7), and also the Farringdon Crossrail Station site with the BAM Ferrovial Kier (BFK) team in August. This visit show cased some of the measures incorporated to meet the high environmental standards that Crossrail have committed to.

Highlighting the growing importance of ecosystems and biodiversity in the built environment, one of this year’s main events was the inaugural BIG Challenge Awards, held in October with a keynote address from Tony Juniper. It was held at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in October with overwhelming success. The BIG Challenge has gained enormous industry support in its first year and you can read more about Tony’s initiative and the Awards ceremony on pages 4–7.

Building on this success, the coming year will see CIRIA Network examining the multiple benefits of biodiversity, Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and other green infrastructure strands in both new developments and also in retrofitting existing construction. In addition, greening grey infrastructure and discussions around the possibilities of using large scale projects to benefit the environment and create connections will be a focus.

In 2015 the CIRIA network is planning another busy and broad ranging annual calendar of topical events as well as dissemination of CIRIA publications, best practice and other relevant industry information.

Members are invited to engage with CIRIA in taking the innovation and best practice agenda forward and to provide feedback on suggested topics for CIRIA network events in 2015. For further details visit www.ciria.org/events or keep updated with the latest activities on the CIRIA blog www.ciria.org/blog.

In 2014 CIRIA marked the first year of its National Infrastructure Client Leadership Group and the continued development of activities in its civil infrastructure work stream. Growing demands on urban areas and connecting infrastructure, coupled with recent extreme weather events, have pushed infrastructure resilience into the spotlight as the engineering and construction sector considers its next move. Examining some of these topics, the Network, with the National Infrastructure Client Leadership Group, brought together researchers, government and infrastructure operators to discuss the current work in the area, future research and impacts on actual projects.

A series of four headline events held this year in CIRIA’s civil infrastructure series, including Infrastructure risk and resilience to natural hazards hosted by Arup in London and Untangling the infrastructure web, hosted by CH2M Hill in November attracted over 300 senior delegates.

New research consortia such as the Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (ITRC), International Centre for Infrastructure Futures (ICIF) and Tomorrow’s Railway and Climate Change Adaptation (TraCCA), as well as other innovation platforms have emerged to fast track the

development and deployment of new technologies, heralding a new dawn in construction, delivery and management of infrastructure. Reflecting this emerging research landscape, CIRIA’s civil infrastructure work stream has developed events, industry signposts and blog updates (www.ciria.org/blog) to help navigate the breadth of information.

Future events in CIRIA’s civil infrastructure work stream 2015 will continue to explore topics such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, future proofing infrastructure, retrofitting and adapting existing assets, and managing the complex interdependencies of infrastructure systems.

Find out more at www.civilinfrastructure.org

Save these dates: Data driven decision making for infrastructure assets 12 February 2015, London

Disruptive technologies innovation in infrastructure 14 May 2015, London

Planning for resilience: future proofing our infrastructure assets 24 September 2015, London

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IntroductionOne of the main outcomes the Environment Agency is planning to deliver as part of its corporate plan is the reduction of serious and significant pollution incidents. The Environment Agency takes these targets very seriously and is dedicated to working with industry and businesses, to reduce the environmental and financial impacts of incidents. This article outlines a number of projects developed in partnership to deliver this aim.

In 2012 and 2013, through partnership working the UK Environment Agency started eight pollution prevention projects. All have the same goal – to reduce the number and impact of significant pollution incidents.

inciDenT reDucTion a projeCt approaCh

The projects will achieve this aim by providing products and information to industry, regulatory officers and partners. Some of the projects have aspects that are ongoing, the projects are:1 Reducing pollution risks from

slurry stores.2 Identifying and prioritising

highways outfalls.3 Spill prevention surveys of target sectors.4 Providing Environmental Protection

Units to the Fire & Rescue Service (FRS).5 Enhancing the FRS operational guidance.6 Environmental impact of de-icing agents.7 Calculating the true cost of incidents.8 Analysing the cause of fires at

waste sites.

Reducing pollution risks from slurry storesBetween 2001 and 2012, the Environment Agency received 2585 slurry store related incident reports. Working with CIRIA and other partners the Environment Agency has looked at the performance of slurry stores across the country, in particular those approaching the end of their design life. Through physical surveys by Environment Agency, CIRIA and ADAS staff, a telephone survey and an analysis of its incident recording database records, the Environment Agency has produced a situation report of the current state of slurry stores.

This work has been fed into a review and revised draft of CIRIA R126 (1992) The construction guidelines for farm waste storage; and in addition, along with complementary research undertaken by Defra, prompted Government to announce a review of the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry, and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (England) Regulations 2010, as amended 2013 (SSAFO Regulations), and any changes will be reflected in the updated CIRIA guidance. However, this review has stalled and in the interest of helping to achieve a downward trend in slurry incidents the revision to CIRIA R126 will be published ahead of any new regulation in spring 2015, based on best intelligence.

We’re developing a communications plan to provide simple messages and actions for farmers, using the information gathered to bring about a cultural change in slurry infrastructure management.

The plan will include: Achieving a common understanding

with partners of pollution risk as highlighted in the Situation Report and their significance

Environment Agency outputs clearly branded with and allied to its ‘Key actions for farmers’ approach and agricultural sector plan

Giving farmers the knowledge they need to carry out the right checks and actions on their slurry store(s), (eg ‘self MOT’ their slurry store) to prevent pollution

Alison Gidlow and Mark Chandler from the Environment Agency discuss a project based approach to reducing the number and impact of major pollution incidents

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Collapsed channel wall of a weeping wall store

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Highlighting farm business and environmental benefits of having sufficient storage capacity and a regular, thorough, checks and maintenance programme. Working with industry partners, consultants, engineers etc to consider the feasibility of a FACTS-style register of approved slurry store build and maintenance contractors

Supporting Environment Agency staff in providing advice and guidance to farmers.

Identifying and prioritising highways outfallsThe Environment Agency has been working with the Highways Agency to identify priority highways outfalls that coincide with failing water bodies, according to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This information will help to identify the reasons for that failure and aid remediation. The project will create a toolkit to allow all urban local authorities to identify their priority outfalls. The project will quantify the problem of highways outfalls in England and provide an outline cost of installing treatment devices at the identified priority outfalls.

The Highways Agency has worked out which of their outfalls are posing a risk of pollution and discharge into failing water bodies. The Environment Agency has maps of the priority highways outfalls on the strategic road network and their relationship to WFD water bodies. For most of those outfalls, the Environment Agency can calculate a figure for the cost of remediation so that it can be fed back into its ongoing WFD cost-benefit work.

Spill prevention surveys of target sectors The Environment Agency has worked in partnership with the British Safety Industry Federation (BSiF) to learn about the industry’s understanding of spill prevention and management. Having surveyed the transport, waste and construction sectors, the Environment Agency is looking at how it can share this information to prevent incidents occurring.

Involving leading players from each of the sectors, the surveys discussed the challenges faced in preventing spills, shared experiences, identified best practices and brainstormed ideas for improving environmental standards and reducing the frequency and impact of spills.

The results of the surveys have been captured in the following three reports: 1 Construction spill prevention matters.2 Best practice in spill prevention in the

waste management industry.3 Spill prevention for the transport,

logistics and distribution industries.

Copies of the three reports can be downloaded from the BSIF website at www.bsif.co.uk

A typical highways outfall after a rainfall event Hydrodynamic vortex separator

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Enhancing the FRS operational guidanceThe Fire & Rescue Service are often the first responders to environmental pollution incidents. Figures from the Environment Agency incident database show partnership working prevents many serious pollution incidents each year and saving substantial costs. The Environment Agency has worked with the Chief Fire Officers Association to update their Operational guidance on environmental protection. This guidance reflects the latest best practice, legislation and ideas such as how the Environment Agency can better work together to prevent or mitigate the impact of waste fires. In addition the new FRS Environmental Protection Handbook has just been published and can be found at www.ukfrs.com/pages/research.aspx.

Environmental impact of de-icing agents The Environment Agency has worked with the National Winter Service Research Group and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), to look into the environmental impact of de-icers. It has also produced a risk assessment methodology. TRL have looked into previous studies and compared de-icer use against Environment Agency monitoring data. This has not shown a correlation, but this is thought to be due to the ‘first flush’ nature of any contamination. This year the Environment Agency will be carrying out specific monitoring during cold weather events to: measure the contribution de-icers make

to diffuse pollution develop an impact assessment

methodology implement a sampling programme to

support the methodology.

At the end of the project the Environment Agency will have an operational tool enabling field staff to assess the impact of de-icers at sensitive sites. This will inform discussions with the road operators and identify possible mitigation.

Calculating the true cost of pollution incidents The Environment Agency has developed a methodology to allow it to calculate the real cost of pollution incidents. Historically it has understood the costs associated with its recharge and any enforcement fines. But this did not include other costs such as loss of amenity, damage to reputation or loss of product, which may be far greater. By understanding the full cost it will help

Providing Environmental Protection Units to the Fire & Rescue ServiceFurthering the Environment Agency’s established partnership with the Fire & Rescue Services (FRS) around the country it has provided 16 new Environmental Protection Units (EPUs) to 13 FRS across England and Wales. The Environment Agency has part funded this equipment with the FRS to improve their capability to respond to major pollution incidents and prevent or mitigate their impact. Once delivered, the EPUs will enhance the existing strategic coverage across the country.

Environment Protection Unit break down - Oxfordshire EPU showing the equipment it carries

Locations of Environmental Protection Units provided by the FRS in partnership with the Environment Agency

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better inform industry to invest in site infrastructure, have appropriate plans in place and work with the Environment Agency to avoid accidents. This will hopefully lead to better performing and more resilient businesses, able to support economic growth. The report includes case studies to demonstrate the methodology.

Analysing the cause of fires at waste sitesThe Environment Agency has carried out a review of the root causes of fires at waste sites. Waste sites have inherent high fire risk, which is why site operators must have plans and procedures in place to minimise fire risk. For the thousands of waste sites which the Environment Agency regulate, we set out permit conditions to ensure that sites take the appropriate steps to run the site safely. Waste fires present a significant risk, to not only the environment, but also the local communities where they operate. Our principal business objective is to reduce the risk to local communities from sites of current interest and demonstrate that we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of these sites on people and the environment.

Each local area team are aware of their high risks sites and has plans in place to manage the sites. We are working very closely with government, other agencies and the industry to develop further ways of reducing the risk and the resultant impact on people and the environment.

ConclusionAddressing environmental issues is increasingly a matter of regulators, utilities, emergency services industry and the public working together. The benefits range from greater mutual understanding of the challenges and possible solutions, sharing resources – whether people, equipment, data or costs – and developing the evidence base to support decision making.

The examples have illustrated how these approaches are being used successfully by the Environment Agency.

Containment systems for the prevention of pollution (C736)

This CIRIA guidance has been developed to assist owners and operators of industrial and commercial facilities storing substances (inventories) that may be hazardous to the environment. It was developed using CIRIA’s usual collaborative approach with active involvement from the Environment Agency and SEPA, industry representative bodies and others.

The original CIRIA R164 Design of containment systems for the prevention of water pollution from industrial incidents (1997) was written primarily for new construction. However, many of the principles have been applied to good effect on existing sites.

The guide has been revised and updated to reflect changes in legislation, construction design and practice and lessons learned from recent incidents (particularly Buncefield), near misses and inspections. Analysis of this and other incidents identifies several causes, future occurrences of which can be avoided by following the guidance in this document.

In updating the guide, it became clear that the inspection, maintenance, repair, extension or upgrading of containment systems (particularly in cases of change of use) represents a large proportion of the work currently being undertaken. The revision therefore includes a new section covering these issues, such as actions to take on existing facilities, to ensure they continue to perform satisfactorily.

The revised guide also differs from the original by excluding the model design calculations and placing greater emphasis on the need for structures to be professionally designed and constructed.

To download a free copy of C736 visit www.ciria.org/c736

Locations of Environmental Protection Units provided by the FRS in partnership with the Environment Agency

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WaTerinfraSTrucTure

Geocellular storage tanks are a useful method of managing surface water at locations where space may be at a premium, or where there is a need to provide multifunctional space, like car parking or roads. They can be particularly useful in retrofit situations, where drains and sewers may be reaching, at or beyond capacity.

Where are they used? Geocellular tanks have many uses in the management of surface water and can be installed in many locations. They can be used both below areas of hard standing (such as roads, highways, car parks) and in areas of landscaping or vegetation (such as fields, public green spaces).

New CIRIA guidance CIRIA originally developed guidance on the structural design of these systems in 2008 (CIRIA C680). The guide has helped engineers, designers, contractors and other industry stakeholders address some of the many challenges around surface water management. With recent product developments and increased experience of application, there is now the need for updated guidance, and CIRIA has responded to this with a forthcoming publication Structural design of modular geocellular tanks (C737).

How are geocellular tanks used? Modular geocellular tanks are used in water management systems to provide attenuation or infiltration of surface water runoff, often as part of a sustainable drainage system (SuDS).

Geocellular tanks can provide attenuation (temporary storage capability) to prevent unmanaged or excessive water discharges. The stored water can then be discharged into sewers or watebodies at an acceptable rate or used to provide a source of harvested rainwater for non-potable water use, like irrigation or toilet flushing.

As well as a method of attenuation, geocellular tanks can also be used as infiltration systems (soakaways). In these cases geocellular tanks can be used in conjunction with pervious surfacing or with surface water being directly channelled into them. This can be a useful tool where surface water runoff is directed from impermeable surfaces or hardstanding for car parks or roads that would not let the runoff infiltrate into the ground more naturally.

Another application of tank systems is in situations where the underlying ground may have a limited ability to absorb surface water (for example in clay situations) and geocellular tanks can be used to provide attenuation to buffer the discharge and improve on the grounds natural capability to absorb water.

ManaGinG Surface WaTer MOdULAR GEOCELLULAR stoRAGe tAnks

Victor Zasadkzi, CIRIA Project Manager, gives an overview of structural modular geocellular storage tanks, how they are used and introduces CIRIA’s forthcoming guidance

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Photos on this page are provided by Polypipe

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How will the new guide help? The guide provides an impartial reference document for the selection, design and installation of modular geocellular tank systems. It has been written through a process of collaboration and consensus between leading suppliers, engineers, clients, contractors and academics, who have come together to set out guidelines drawn from experience. The guidance is written with an independent and objective view to allow the reader to make informed decisions, based on their own needs.

How does the new guide differ from the old one? The new guide is a substantial revision. In addition to updated guidance, it offers a number of case studies as well as proforma documents/checklists for use in the design of geocellular tanks. The guide will also help clients understand the questions that they should be asking to ensure they have a solution that is robust and appropriate for its application.

The guide brings together the experience and lessons learned since the previous version was published and examines where failures have occurred so that future users can avoid common mistakes and ensure success in their schemes.

What else does the new guide offer? The new guide provides an overview of the technical challenges, with guidance on how they can be successfully overcome to allow for well-informed structural design, including construction details and testing procedures. It also addresses how geocellular tanks can and should be maintained, and managed to ensure reliable and robust performance. Finally the guide covers how loads next to and on top of tanks can be applied to avoid damage to tanks both during construction and during the life of the tank.

When will the guide be available? CIRIA’s Structural design of modular geocellular tanks (C737) guide is due for release in spring 2015.

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Get involved in CIRIA projects and proposals

Risk assessment for contaminated land – 2014 update (P2963) This project will bring together current understanding and experience in assessing risk in contaminated sites.

Infrastructure data – signposting of good practice in capture, management and analysis (P2952) This new initiative will signpost emerging good practice in the capture, management and analysis of construction and other related data.

Checking and approving advanced numerical modelling (P2895) CIRIA is planning to develop guidelines in numerical modelling in geotechnical engineering to help alleviate some of the issues.

Risk assessment for contamination in controlled water (P2930) This project will provide practical guidance on risk assessment and management contaminated controlled water.

Rock slope netting design, installation and maintenance (P2938) This guide will provide best practice to ensure the consistency of the installation and maintenance of rock slope netting.

Starting on site (P2662) This project will produce a guide covering all the key stages in the planning and set-up of a construction site.

Deterioration and degradation modelling of infrastructure assets (P2730) CIRIA is undertaking scoping of a proposed project on deterioration and degradation modelling of infrastructure assets.

Defects in hidden bridge components (P2905) This guide will provide best practise guidance on the inspection and maintenance of the hidden components.

Tower crane stability – update (RP999) The update of the 2006 Tower Crane Stability guide (C654) will demonstrate the safe design of tower cranes in response to changes since 2006.

To find out more and to get involved contact CIRIA on tel: +44 (0) 20 7549 3300 or email: enquiries@ciria.org

1. Modular sub-base replacement tank below a car park

2. Damage to unit dropped on a concrete surface

3. Example of the consequence of failure of a modular geocellular tank after three years

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eMBRACInG WAteR sensItIve uRBAn desIGn In birMinGhaMJohn Brewington, Severn Trent Water, discusses Water Sensitive Urban Design and how its principles are being adopted in Birmingham

for the next 20 years of growth and development. Growth in the Southern Gateway will be achieved through the creation of a series of linked destinations providing focal points for leisure, entertainment, retail, commercial and residential land uses.

At 82 ha, the Southern Gateway occupies the area south from the Bullring and significantly includes the River Rea corridor. Flowing in a north easterly direction through the City, the River Rea is an important part of Birmingham’s historic legacy. However, today the river is heavily modified and largely hidden from view after works in the late 19th century straightened and deepened the channel and culverted many stretches.

As part of the regeneration of the Southern Gateway, the partners are taking a strategic approach that places the management and use of water at its heart. The vision for the area is to create a vibrant, liveable and well-connected part of the City Centre, with the integration of water sensitive solutions to deliver a resilient and successfully regenerated area. Importantly the plan will include the transformation of the River Rea in order to realise its potential as a key feature for the City.

The preparation of a water resilient master plan for the area is now underway and will address the following issues:

The UK faces a number of major challenges in relation to the management of water in its cities. Water shortages, flooding and polluted watercourses are all signs of stress where urbanised areas have a troubled interaction with the natural water cycle and where water has become a risk or nuisance rather than an asset or an opportunity. The challenge of sustainable water management is set to become more significant with: population growth and greater

urbanisation increased frequency of weather

extremes – with increasing risk of flooding and drought

the need to reduce the UK’s impact on the natural environment and improve the quality of rivers.

It is undeniable that the relationship between water and urban areas needs to be given a higher priority to provide integrated solutions to flood risk management, sustainable water use and

supply, and the improvement of water quality in UK watercourses. This priority needs to be applied in an integrated way by the various disciplines involved in the design of the built environment. By bringing together the skills and creativity of practitioners, places that deliver much wider and more sustainable benefits to communities can be created.

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is an approach that delivers greater harmony between water, the environment and communities. This is achieved by integrating water cycle management (surface water, wastewater and water supply) with the built environment through planning and urban design. The approach allows creation of attractive, successful and resilient places.

WSUD in Birmingham To help address the challenges to water management outlined above, Severn Trent Water, Birmingham City Council and the Environment Agency are working together on two ambitious projects that will bring the WSUD principles to life in Birmingham.

Southern Gateway water resilient master plan – rediscovering the River Rea The Southern Gateway is the largest of five ‘areas of transformation’ identified in Birmingham’s Big City Plan – a blueprint

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Sustainable development

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

Flood risk: flood risk from the River Rea presents a significant challenge for redevelopment in the Southern Gateway, with parts of the area falling within Flood Zones 2 and 3. It is hoped that the regeneration can deliver improved conveyance capacity within the river channel.

Surface water flooding: some areas of the Southern Gateway are susceptible to surface water flooding due to local topography, the presence of groundwater, and the prevalence of impermeable surfaces. Effective surface water management will be of particular importance to the new developments.

Water efficient developments: the master plan will set out the use of innovative sustainable drainage system (SuDS) components, bioretention areas, rainwater harvesting, sewer separation and water reuse.

Access: access along the River Rea for recreation and maintenance is currently very limited. For the majority of the river’s journey through the Southern Gateway, buildings have been constructed right up to the riverbank making the river invisible and inaccessible.

Biodiversity: the amenity value of the river corridor is very poor and due to its heavily modified character, the ecological quality of the water course is low. Unsurprisingly this section of the river has been classified as being of ‘bad ecological potential’ under Directive 2000/60/EC (the Water Framework Directive).

The partners are pleased to be working with Arup, Glen Howells Architects and Jones Lang LaSalle property consultants to develop the master plan. Arup, who together with Aecom developed CIRIA’s Creating water sensitive places – scoping study (C724), bring significant global experience of designing with water.

River Rea, Birmingham

New riverside public space

Riverside walks

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Retrofit programmeIt is considered crucial that full-scale trials on real properties, with real families living in them are carried out in order to evaluate the cost effectiveness of different interventions, to overcome entrenched social attitudes and to effect sustained behaviour change.

The programme will work with the residents of around 100 homes as well as schools and businesses to retrofit water efficiency and reuse equipment such as greywater and rainwater harvesting technology.

Independent test facilityIn a 2014 report the UK Water Research and Innovation Partnership recognised the significant potential for the UK to increase its global market share in water technology innovation while supporting UK business and jobs (UKWRIP, 2014). To promote this growth, the report identifies the need for the “establishment of a not-for-profit test bed for innovation, including for wastewater treatment and underground assets.”

The Urban Demonstrator project proposes to meet this need through the establishment of a purpose built, nationally recognised test bed for innovation in the fields of water efficiency and wastewater management. This facility will be integrated with a visitor facility to enable trade delegation visits. Its proximity to homes and other businesses will facilitate the ongoing development and trials of future innovations.

Birmingham Urban Demonstrator – WSUD as the catalyst for urban regeneration and growth In addition to the use of WSUD principles to inform the longer term regeneration of Birmingham, the partners are also keen to encourage more immediate WSUD implementation alongside innovation in sustainable water management. The proposed ‘Urban Demonstrator’ is an ambitious project focused on helping an existing community of homes and businesses become more sustainable and more resilient to climate extremes.

The Urban Demonstrator will uniquely combine three elements: 1 Retrofit of the existing urban landscape

and associated infrastructure.2 Community behavioural change

programme.3 Independent WSUD testing facilities/

delegation centre.

While the key focus of the proposed demonstrator is water – both reuse and sustainable drainage – the project appeals to a wide range of stakeholders because of the many other social, environmental and financial benefits that will arise. Sustainable water management will be the catalyst to economic growth alongside social and environmental improvements.

The Urban Demonstrator has the following goals, which are to:1 Provide a community scale living

laboratory that will demonstrate the practicality and benefits of combined water reuse and sustainable drainage.

2 Stimulate innovation and commercialisation of UK water technology.

3 Raise public awareness and support for sustainable living improvements.

4 Provide enhancements to existing green infrastructure and tangible improvements to a river corridor.

5 Monitor, measure and evaluate the costs and benefits (physical, financial, environmental, health and well-being) over a five year period.

Resident engagement programmeThe partners will start a sustained engagement programme with the residential and business community. It is hoped that through the programme, residents can become more aware of the challenges society and city planners face and will do more to embrace and adopt sustainable water efficient measures.

Tyseley Environmental Enterprise District – the proposed home for the Urban DemonstratorBirmingham City Council is promoting the Tyseley Environmental Enterprise District as the principal location in the City for the low carbon and low waste economy by encouraging resource recovery, industrial symbiosis and energy-from-waste. The Urban Demonstrator proposals would extend this approach by promoting innovation in water efficiency, water reuse and sustainable surface water management.

ReferencesABBOTT, J, DAVIES, P, SIMKINS, P, MORGAN, C, LEVIN, D and ROBINSON, P (2013) Creating water sensitive places – scoping the potential for Water Sensitive Urban Design in the UK, C724, CIRIA, London (ISBN: 978-0-86017-733-3). Go to: www.ciria.org

UKWIP (2014) HTECHO Tapping the potential: a fresh vision for UK water technology, report, UK Water Research and Innovation Partnership, UK. Go to: www.ukwrip.org/publications/htecho-tapping-potential-fresh-vision-uk-water-technology

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (the Water Framework Directive)

WaTer

Table 1: Potential retrofit activity

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green roofs rainwater harvesting greywater reuse water efficiency

devices energy efficiency

devices smart meters – for

evaluation not billing downpipe

disconnection flood resilient

housing.

rain gardens water butts/tanks water efficient planting porous paving driveway de-paving.

misconnection audits. tree planters and rain

gardens swales, ponds and

wetlands porous paving surface water

separation and reuse improved river

corridor recreation and green

spaces cycle and fitness

routes.

Domestic/residential properties

Gardens Streets and shared space

The existing vision for Tyseley includes enhancement of the Grand Union Canal and the River Cole corridor. Through the Urban Demonstrator, the plans to enhance the ‘blue corridors’ will also accommodate measures to reduce flood risk to nearby commercial and residential properties. In addition, it is hoped to link these corridors with local residential areas in order to promote more sustainable and more active transport.

Within and adjoining to the Enterprise District are a significant number of homes. The residential areas offer the opportunity to work with home owners and residents as part of the Urban Demonstrator approach.

A partnership approachDelivery of the Urban Demonstrator will involve collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders participating in the design, funding, implementation, operation and ongoing evaluation of the measures employed. The core partners are already working with a number of universities, environmental organisations and government bodies. The following opportunities exist for other interested organisations: corporate sponsorship representation on project work streams supply of retrofit water and energy efficiency measures and technologies

research and ongoing evaluation of the project benefits

future customers of the independent test facility.

ConclusionThrough these two WSUD projects, the partners hope to deliver significant benefits to City residents and business tenants.

Severn Trent Water aims to secure reduced per capita water consumption and more efficient networks that will lead to reduced bills and improved performance for customers.

For Birmingham City Council the approach presents an opportunity to bring water to the centre of designing attractive and healthier urban environments for all residents. The demonstrator will also

contribute to Birmingham’s stated ambition to become a global sustainable city while encouraging real economic growth.

Finally, the Environment Agency hopes to secure improvements to flood risk and progress towards compliance with the Water Framework Directive through integrated catchment management.

For further details or to get involved, please email: john.brewington@ severntrent.co.uk

CIRIA guidanceIn 2013 CIRIA, together with its funders and partners, developed a suite of successful WSUD outputs that can be found at www.wsud.co.uk. This includes an ideas booklet, scoping study and animation to give an overview of the drivers for WSUD, benefits, and potential approaches for it to be progressed in the UK. It highlighted that WSUD is much more than just sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

New research proposalTo further build upon the outputs of 2013 and reinforce the principles of WSUD there is the recognition that a more integrated approach is required among key stakeholders to deliver sustainable water management within developments. This has led to the development of CIRIA’s latest research proposal Supporting the delivery of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) – enabling high quality development (CIRIA P2957), which will further support the management of the water cycle and use of WSUD.

The proposal builds on previous activities, reinforcing the WSUD philosophy and showcasing what can be achieved in existing and future developments. Interactive and engaging master planning workshops will demonstrate how WSUD can be applied to real life projects and inspire change. The outputs will support spatial planners and water managers in improving water management, delivering great places to enable development and economic growth.

For details and to support this project email: michael.small@ciria.org or paul.shaffer@ciria.org

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and CIRIA

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Stills from the WSUD animation

Watch the animation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfOqMj-hXVc&feature=youtu.be

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develop your sKills WiTh ciria TraininGCIRIA delivers a range of informative and engaging training courses, covering topics such as sustainable drainage, environmental good practice on site, culvert design and operation, control of water pollution from construction sites and much more.

Training is delivered by industry experts either as open courses or in-house, where courses can be customised to suit specific needs. Course content includes up-to-date experience with practical examples and group work to deliver first class learning outcomes.

Benefits of training with CIRIA CIRIA is a not-for-profit, independent

and authoritative organisation. True to our mission, CIRIA training aims

to help improve performance in the modern built environment.

Course content is developed from CIRIA’s good practice guidance and reviewed and updated regularly.

Training is delivered by industry experts.

Courses available Environmental good practice on site –

IEMA approved SuDS foundation Designing SuDS SABs facilitation workshop for local

authorities Culvert design and operation Control of water pollution from

construction sites Working with wildlife BIM strategy for clients and consultants Lean in construction Sustainable procurement for construction

In-house trainingAll our training courses can be delivered in-house at your offices. Courses are based on tried and tested approaches or can be adapted to suit your training needs. Training courses are engaging, interactive, combining up-to-date experience with practical examples to create the ideal learning environment.

Online trainingCIRIA developed the first authoritative online course in contaminated land in 2010. The course was updated recently and now fully reflects changes in technology and policy reiterating why contaminated land is still important and relevant. Delegates will gain a foundation level understanding of brownfield and contaminated land legislation, liabilities and technical details. The online format provides a flexible approach to learning, allowing you to learn at your own pace and at a time that suits you. In addition, the course allows for 35 hours of CPD.

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Environmental good practice on site 23 January, London10 March, Manchester

SuDS Foundation12 February, Manchester22 April, London

Designing SuDS 20-21 January, London3-4 March, Manchester

Culvert design and operation17-18 February, London

Forthcoming courses in 2015

ciria TraininG Calendar

How to book:

Visit: www.ciria.orgTel: +44 (0) 20 7549 3300Email: enquiries@ciria.org

What delegates say about CIRIA training

SuDS training“Extremely useful and inspiring training. Steve imparted first-class knowledge and kept us engaged. Thanks!” Sustrans

“Both trainers were very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, whilst still remaining realistic about the challenges.” London Borough of Redbridge

“Excellent course which provoked a lot of thought that could be taken back into the work place.” South Tyneside Council

“Good overview on design process/philosophy, good feedback/experience from previous projects discussed during the two days.” Arup

SuDS and SABS facilitation“Both trainers gave a good presentation and answered questions demonstrating technical knowledge and experience of the subject” London Borough of Redbridge

Environmental good practice on site“A very good and well-presented course. Well received and beneficial to my day to day work.” Brookfield Multiplex

“I found the workshop very interesting and it highlighted the need to be on the ball for all aspects in relation to the environment and ecology.” Kier Homes

“Excellent, informative and covers a wide range of topics without being too detailed.” AMCO

Culvert design and operation“Good intense course with competent trainers well versed in their subjects.” SAC Consulting

“Very useful course for authorities taking on new responsibilities under the FWMA.” Surrey County Council

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