topmix

permeable
The ultimate concrete solution for surface
and storm water management

READYMIX concrete

The built environment has grown rapidly over the last 50 years, resulting in large
areas of land being paved over with impermeable materials. Over the same
period of time the number of occasions that the UK experiences three, or more,
consecutive days of heavy rainfall has increased by 50%.
With climate change predicted to lead to increasingly warmer and wetter weather
conditions, rainfall is likely to continue to rise. As a result, many experts believe the
kind of wide-scale flooding seen in 2007 and the winter of 2013/14 will become ever
more frequent, unless dramatic action is taken now.
The impact of urbanisation

Forest rainfall

Residential rainfall

Urban rainfall

In towns and cities where there is a lot of hard landscaping and limited green space, only around a tenth of
rainwater is absorbed into the ground. This is compared with 80-90% in rural areas.

Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac

Technical Overview

Lafarge Tarmacs Topmix Permeable can play a

fundamental role in the majority of Sustainable
Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) designs,
providing a practical, long-term answer to
surface water flooding that can be implemented
quickly and cost effectively.

Drainage capacity:

150 to 1,000 litres per

minute per square metre

Void content:

20-35%.

Typical compressive
strength:

10-20N/mm2

A new, fast draining concrete pavement solution,

it rapidly directs excess water away from streets,
parking surfaces, driveways and walkways.

Flexural strength:

1.5-3N/mm2

6mm mix:

Final aesthetic finish

10mm mix:

Ground stabilisation
underneath blocks

Unlike conventional concrete, it has a high void

content of between 20-35%. This allows surface
water to drain through into the sub-strata and
dissipate naturally, reducing the risk of surface
water flooding and watercourse contamination.

A sealer/hardener may be applied to the surface

for aesthetic purposes and to prevent staining.

Problems with traditional

surface water drainage systems
Surface water flooding
The inability of our existing drainage systems
to cope with changing weather conditions
was brought sharply into focus by the
unprecedented floods experienced across
Great Britain in 2007 and highlighted again,
more recently, by serious flooding in the
winter of 2013/14.
The Environment Agency estimated that
over two thirds of the 57,000 homes affected
by the 2007 floods were not flooded by
swollen rivers, but by water running off paving
or overflowing from the overloaded drainage
systems serving them.
The reason for this is simple. The majority of
our existing drainage systems are designed to
remove rainwater as quickly as possible from
where it falls and direct it into watercourses or
drains. This means in cases of prolonged, heavy
rainfall the public sewer system quickly reaches
its capacity and consequently overflows.

The continued expansion of the urban

environment using impermeable materials,
coupled with a growing trend for homeowners
to replace lawns and gardens with hard
landscaping is placing even more pressure on
our aging sewage systems. The pressing need
to build more homes to meet the demands of
our growing population is only likely to make
things worse.

Reduced groundwater levels

Poor water quality

Increased risk of contamination

Storm water can easily become contaminated

by petrol, diesel, heavy metals, detergents
and other pollutants while running down
roads and pathways, before entering the
drainage system. These are either drained
straight into watercourses or have to be
removed at treatment plants. This problem is
exasperated in areas where combined sewers
are in place, and places a significant burden
on treatment works.

Combined sewers often have overflows, also

called combined sewer outlets, through which
excess water can drain into watercourses in
order to protect properties from flooding.
These can spill sewerage into watercourses and
therefore must be continuously monitored and
licensed by the Environment Agency to ensure
they only operate when the system is receiving
excess rainfall.

High maintenance costs

Traditional drainage systems gather small
objects, sediment and other pollutants.
These are filtered out in gulley pots, which
need to be maintained and regularly emptied.

Directing rainwater directly into watercourses

or drains and sewers, results in natural aquifers
being bypassed, reducing the level of the
water table. This can lead to water shortages
and result in natural streams and ponds drying
up. A lack of groundwater can also affect the
foundations of homes, particularly in areas
with clay soils that shrink when they dry out.

Over two thirds of homes affected

by the 2007 floods were flooded by
water running off paving or overflowing
from overloaded drainage systems.

Legislation and guidance

In recent years a range of legislation and guidelines have been published
to help address the growing problem of surface water flooding through
the implementation of sustainable drainage systems. These include:

The Pitt Review 2008

Following widespread and serious flooding
across many parts of the country in 2007, the
government commissioned an independent
review to be undertaken by Lord Pitt.
As a direct result of this, new guidance was
introduced for the surfacing of front gardens
in October 2008. This had two very
important implications:
Planning permission to pave a new or
existing driveway of any size would not be
required if a permeable (or porous) surface
is used, or if the rainwater is directed to
a lawn or border to drain naturally
Planning permission will be required to
pave an area greater than 5m2 with an
impermeable surface if it does not provide
run-off to a permeable area

Techniques that control pollution close to the source,

such as permeable surfaces or infiltration trenches, can offer a
suitable means of treatment for run-off from low risk areas such
as roofs, car parks and non-operational areas.
The Environment Agencys 2006 Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPG 3)

The Flood and Water Management

Act 2010
The Flood and Water Management Act
addresses a number of key issues to counter
and manage flooding, including four that were
aimed specifically at SuDS:
The requirement for developers to
construct sustainable drainage systems for
new developments and redevelopments
with drainage implications
Any construction work that has
implications for drainage cannot
commence until a SuDS plan has been
approved at unitary, or county level
by a SuDS Approving Body (SAB)
Local authorities will become responsible
for (adopting) the schemes and their
maintenance once completed
The Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible
for publishing National Standards for
sustainable drainage
These points were included in Schedule 3
of the Act, which is currently timetabled to
be implemented alongside the introduction
of new National Standards by December
2014. The new standards will cover the
design, planning approval, construction and
maintenance of SuDS, including affordability
and exemptions.

Scottish legislation
Legislation in Scotland is more established
than for England and Wales. The Water
Environment and Water Services (WEWS)
(Scotland) Act made Scottish Water
responsible for SuDS and their specifications
in 2003.
This was followed by the Flood Risk
Management Act 2009 and the Controlled
Activities Regulations (CAR) 2011, which made
the use of SuDS mandatory for surface water
run-off in all new developments (excluding
single dwellings).
There are also two sets of guidelines covering
the implementation of SuDS. The first,
Sewers for Scotland Second Edition, provides
guidance on the design and construction
of basins and ponds. The second, SuDS
for Roads, provides guidance on the types
and applicability of SuDS for roads at pretreatment, source control and site control.
Scottish Water is responsible for the future
maintenance and capital replacement of
shared public SuDS systems. The Roads
Authority and Scottish Water share
responsibility for the future maintenance
of SuDS incorporated into new
road construction.

Permeable pavements are more

effective at removing a wider range of
pollutants from run-off than oil separators.
CIRIA, 2004

Benefits of Sustainable Urban

Drainage Systems (SuDS)
SuDS have a number of very important advantages over traditional
surface water systems:
Effective management of water drainage
Being able to control and actively manage the
drainage of rainwater from the developed
landscape significantly reduces the risk of
surface water flooding, protecting both the
natural and built environment.

Reduced pressure on existing systems

New systems can be incorporated into the
redevelopment of the existing infrastructure,
as well as installed in new housing and
commercial and industrial developments,
easing the pressure on overstretched drainage
systems, sewers and water treatment plants.

Improved water quality

SuDS filter surface water as it is drained,
improving water quality and reducing the cost
of water treatment. Permeable pavements
are particularly effective in this area with

pollutants that infiltrate the surface being

flushed into the underlying pavement layers
where they are filtered and trapped or
degrade over time.

Reduced risk of water shortages

Directing rainwater into natural aquifers keeps
them recharged, reducing the risk of water
shortages during periods of low rainfall.

Better for people and the environment

SuDS can be used to provide a constant supply
of fresh water for lakes and pools and to
create new water-based amenities, benefiting
both local communities and wildlife.

Increased property values

Residential developments that incorporate a
SuDS can attract higher values, particularly in
areas where there is a high risk of flooding.

Topmix Permeable From Lafarge Tarmac

design options
There are three typical best practice applications that can be employed in the
construction of a pervious paving solution using Lafarge Tarmacs Topmix Permeable.
System A Full infiltration

System B Partial infiltration

Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac

Pervious
aggregate
sub-base

System C Full attenuation

Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac

Pervious
aggregate
sub-base

Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac

Pervious
aggregate
sub-base

Undisturbed
permeable soil

Undisturbed
permeable soil

This system allows all water falling onto the

pavement to permeate through the Topmix
Permeable surface layer, pass through the
lower pavement courses and into the subgrade. Some water may be retained within
the pavement reservoir before permeating
into the sub-grade. Full infiltration systems
do not discharge any additional water into
traditional drainage systems. Geotextiles may
be incorporated into the system depending
on the nature of the sub-grade.

This system is viable for locations where

the underlying ground offers some level of
permeability and infiltration is acceptable.
Within the sub-base layer outlet pipes are
installed that allow any excess water that
cannot penetrate into the existing ground to
be drained into other drainage devices such
as watercourses, swales or sewers. This system
is typically used where the sub-grade is not
capable of draining all of the water as a means
of reducing the volume of run-off from the
site. Geotextiles may be incorporated into the
system depending on the nature of
the project.

Drainage system

Undisturbed
permeable soil

Drainage system

Impermeable
membrane

Use of this system is typically adopted where

water recycling is desired, in areas where water
may be contaminated, or where the sub-grade
is impermeable or becomes weak when
saturated. The system includes the installation
of an impermeable membrane above the
sub-grade and the provision of outlet pipes
within the sub-base layer. Full attenuation
allows water to be captured and harvested
for re-use in non-potable applications such as
irrigation or flushing toilets. Geotextiles may
be incorporated into the system depending
on the nature of the project.

Full attenuation allows water to be

captured and harvested for use in
non-potable applications such as
irrigation or flushing toilets.

Typical applications
These three designs can be used for a wide
range of practical applications, including:

Low volume residential roads and parking lots

Pavements, bike and pedestrian pathways
Patios
Tennis courts
Road shoulders
Swimming pool decks
Alleyways
Driveways
Greenhouse floors
Pavement edge drains and gutters
Hardstanding for sports facilities
Underneath permeable blocks for
ground stabilisation

Factors to consider when using

permeable pavements:
Do not use permeable pavements where
there will be very heavy silt loads from the
proposed use (e.g. stockpiling sawdust or
large recycling centres subject to heavy
silt loads)
It is possible to construct part of an area
in impermeable materials that drain onto
a permeable pavement. For example, car
parking bays are often constructed using
permeable paving and the access ways are
impermeable construction
Open graded permeable sub-base below
the permeable pavement should not be
used by construction traffic, as this will
increase the likelihood of clogging
The design of permeable pavements must
take into account the overland flow routes
of water when the design capacity is
exceeded. Although exceedance will result
in flooding of some areas of a site, the
flows should be routed to prevent flooding
of buildings for events that are well in
exceedance of the capacity of the system.
Further guidance is provided in CIRIA
Report C 635 (CIRIA, 2006)

SURFACE DURABILITY
Freeze-thaw resistance

Heavily trafficked areas

An effective permeable pavement system will

be designed so that the underlying attenuation
layer will store the water that passes through
it. Because of this, no water should be left
sitting within the surface structure. However, if
water was ever left to settle within the system
(due to changes in future climate etc.), Lafarge
Tarmacs Topmix Permeable offers excellent
freeze-thaw resistance due to the ability
for freezing water to expand in the voids. In
addition, Lafarge Tarmacs Topmix Permeable
does not contain steel reinforcement so it is
not prone to water or chloride attack.

Even though Lafarge Tarmacs Topmix

Permeable does not soften in hot weather
and is resistant to scuffing when tested in
accordance with TRL Report 176 Appendix
G, we would still recommend that an
impermeable surface is used in areas exposed
to frequent tight turning circles and sections
carrying very heavy traffic. Designs for these
areas would typically incorporate a full SuDS
foundation with an impermeable surfacing
such as a traditional asphalt or concrete on
the top. Run-off may be into the adjoining
fully pervious pavement or another drainage
channel depending on the site. The pervious
foundation across the site acts as a reservoir
and water can be dealt with in the same way as
a fully pervious pavement.

Surface skid resistance

Lafarge Tarmacs Topmix Permeable has
comparable skid resistance to low texture
asphalt and concrete typically used in the
construction of UK footpaths
and car parks when tested in wet conditions
in compliance with ENG1-961 and HD26/011.
It is therefore recommended for low speed
applications, typically less than 30 miles per
hour. Additional care and consideration should
be given for surface material selection in areas
of higher slip risk, such as slopes or where
heavy breaking may occur.

Examples of applications where this

may be appropriate include:
HGV delivery routes for supermarkets
and shops
Access to car park ticket barriers
Tight turning areas in industrial yards
Bus routes

Using Lafarge Tarmacs

Topmix Permeable with
permeable block paving
In block paving applications where the underlying soil is poor or the final
solution will be subject to heavy loads, remediation works are sometimes
required to improve the structural performance of the area. Hydraulically
bound course graded aggregate and cement stabilised course graded
aggregate are common specifications for this type of application.
The minimum permeability rates required for each of these applications
can be easily achieved, and exceeded, through the use of Lafarge Tarmacs
Topmix Permeable.

Permeable
block paving

Undisturbed
permeable soil

Bedding sand
Topmix Permeable
from Lafarge Tarmac

Geo-textile
membrane

Previous aggregate
sub-base

Design and consideration

Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac is a concrete solution that offers improved
permeability properties over traditional and historical Topmix Permeables.
Combining both the trafficking surface and the drainage solution, simplifies the
construction process and reduces both construction and environmental costs.
Performance characteristics

Sub-grade permeability

Traffic loading

Void content up to 35%

The underlying permeability of the existing

sub-grade plays an important role in dictating
the viability of a pervious solution, the level
of infiltration that can be achieved directly
relates to the system that can be employed.
Permeability testing should be carried out
on-site at paving formation levels in order to
enable accurate designs to be created.

In order for an accurate and cost-effective

design to be created it is necessary to
determine the general loadings that the
pavement will be subjected to. Incorrect
specification of loading can result in premature
system failure or poor system performance.

Flow rate: Up to 1,000l/m2/min

Compressive strength: 10-20N/mm2
Flexural strength: 1.5-3N/mm2

Summary of the system

A typical system consists of a layer of Topmix
Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac installed on
top of an aggregate sub-base, which is in turn
laid onto undisturbed soil or a capping layer.
The structure and dimensions of each layer
will depend on the application and the design
of the system.
Lafarge Tarmacs Topmix Permeable allows
rainwater to drain through the wearing
surface. During periods of high rainfall the
system performs as a reservoir, delaying the
discharge of storm water into watercourses
or drainage systems. Its ability to store water
also acts as a cooling system during periods
of rising temperatures when stored water
evaporates creating a surface cooling cycle.

Design considerations
The design and implementation of pervious
paving solutions are dictated by a number
of key characteristics relating to the existing
site conditions and post construction
performance. A pervious paving solution
is required to be tailored to each individual
application based on the following
design criteria.

Water table level

For an attenuation layer to be incorporated
into a pervious paving solution it is imperative
that the existing water table is established.
A high underlying water table level can have
detrimental effects on the available storage
within an attenuation layer, as a small rise in
table level will reduce the available storage.
Increases in the water table level can also
negate the pollutant filtering effect of the
pavement as the distance to the watercourse
is reduced.

Discharge consents
Where new or renovated paving systems are
being installed it is necessary to determine
if a discharge consent is required, this is
dependent on the pavement usage and the
likelihood of contaminants being present in
the water to be discharged.

Water storage capacity

The capacity of the drainage system needs
to be designed in tangent with the structural
requirements of the paving solution, with care
taken that the greatest substructure design is
used to ensure water storage capacity and
also structural performance. Storage capacity
is required to be designed in line with rainfall
return periods the period of time where
the depth of rainfall is only equalled or
exceeded once.

Minimize site disturbance

By integrating paving and drainage, less
site area is needed to manage storm water,
allowing a more compact site development
footprint.

Maintaining
optimum
performance
Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac is designed to remove a high percentage
of Total Suspended Solids (TSS). To ensure the system continues functioning to its
optimum efficiency a cleaning schedule should be put in place so that the voids in
the concrete do not become blocked.
Maintenance should be undertaken through hydro-pressure with suction cleaning.
The surface can be swept with a road sweeper, however, sweeping should be kept to
a minimum and not replace routine hydro cleaning as it can encourage fine particles
into the surface.
The frequency of maintenance will depend on the level of contamination and
environmental factors such as proximity to trees, run-off from road works, building
sites and dirt from car tyres. In general, annual maintenance is advised to maintain
optimal permeability.

SUSTAINABILITY

The important role that SuDS have to

play in improving the sustainability of the
built environment is now recognised by
levels of government, throughout the UK
and across Europe.
To comply with the European Water
Framework directive, and gain certification
from respected bodies such as LEED and
BREEAM, new developments must have
acceptable SuDS in place before planning
permission is given.
SuDS can take many forms, from
soakaways, swales, retention basins and
infiltration galleries used in conjunction
with newer permeable pavement solutions
such as Lafarge Tarmacs Topmix Permeable.

Advantages of porous pavements over

other SuDS
Porous or permeable pavements have many
benefits over other systems when it comes
to building in an urban environment:
Provides a direct replacement
for more traditional pavements
Evacuate water faster than
conventional drainage
Provide a smooth, even surface for car
parks, driveways and sporting areas
Can remove pollutants from surface water
before it is released into the watercourse
or sewage system without the need for
additional installations (depending on
your application)

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect

Improved water quality

Reuse of construction materials

Materials like asphalt and traditional concrete

contribute to the UHI effect where urban
areas are significantly warmer than
surrounding rural areas. Due to voids within
its structure, Topmix Permeable is less dense
than conventional concrete and therefore has
a reduced heat storage capacity. Additionally
the voids allow stored water to evaporate in
warmer weather creating a cooling effect.

Permeable pavements are more effective in

removing pollution from rainwater run-off
than attenuation tanks and can remove a
wider range of pollutants than oil
separators (CIRIA 2004). Initial larger
particles are stopped at the surface
reducing penetration to underlying
sub-grades. Finer materials, hydrocarbons
and heavy metals, whilst able to penetrate
the top surface are trapped as they
penetrate into the supporting layers.
Organic materials, once trapped,
breakdown over time reducing the
amount and volume of contaminates that
reach discharge watercourses. This makes
permeable pavements ideal for areas
where vehicles are stored or maintained.

Concrete readily utilises recycled and

secondary materials as constituents through
the use of waste materials in the
manufacturing of constituent and
as replacements in concrete, this makes the
concrete industry a net user of waste utilising
47 times more waste than it generates.
Concrete is also 100% recyclable.

The UHI effect is a factor of solar reflectance

or albedo, and is the percentage of solar
energy reflected by a surface. Typically, this is
between 35% and 40% for concrete, which
is greater than dark asphalt (between 5%
and 10%). The greater the reflectance the
less energy absorbed and the smaller
the contribution to the UHI effect.

Research shows that permeable pavements

can remove a high percentage of
Total Suspended Solids (such as silt)
and hydrocarbons.
When subjected to low level oil drips, such
as in car parks, permeable pavements can
continue to biodegrade the hydrocarbons
indefinitely.
If additional treatment is needed for higher
risk areas the use of natural SuDS, such as
swales or wetlands, is recommended.

A product of over 100 years experience

Lafarge Tarmac has a long and proven history
of producing innovative, sustainable products
and solutions that deliver consistent and
outstanding performance.
As a company we are committed to
becoming our customers preferred choice
for sustainable construction solutions, by
continuously improving social, economic
and environmental standards, and offering
quality products and services that contribute
positively to the sustainability of the
built environment.

Responsible sourcing
All of our production sites and products
have been accredited to BES 6001*, the
independent third party accreditation scheme
that assesses responsible sourcing policies
and practices across the supply chain. We
have achieved a Very Good rating which
demonstrates our proactive responsible
management of the environmental, social and
economic impacts of our business throughout
our supply chain; including the materials we
buy, our operations, the way we produce
materials and how we transport them to our
customers. We also have 5* accreditation in
the Achilles BuildingConfidence scheme.

Lafarge Tarmac 2020

Sustainability Strategy

Sustainability benefits of Topmix

Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac

We are making real carbon reductions and are

committed to doing so on an ongoing basis.
This is reinforced by our 2020 commitments
to accelerate the move to a sustainable, low
carbon economy. For more information visit
www.lafargetarmac.com/sustainability

Locally sourced product (average delivery

from plant to site 10km)

Environmental and quality

management systems
We use management systems certified to ISO
9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 across our
operations to continuously improve social,
economic and environmental performance.
References to BREEAM have been made
in line with the 2011 New Construction
Technical Guide.
*Our BES 6001 certificate number is
BES 559207.

Responsibly sourced in line with BES 6001*

Conforms to BREEAM and LEED standards
Supports water capture systems for grey
water recycling
Filtration reduces water pollution and
reduces the cost of treatment
Contributes to the natural recharge
of groundwater
Reduces heat build-up and retention,
reducing the UHI effect
Works harder for longer, due to its inherent
durability and strength

Summary of features and benefits

Reduced costs

Advantages for using in car parks

Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac offers a

practical, cost-effective, long-lasting, sustainable
drainage solution that minimises the risk of
surface water flooding and improves water
quality. Benefits include:

Reduced storm water management costs

The benefits of installing Topmix Permeable

from Lafarge Tarmac in car parks are the same as
those for domestic applications, with the added
advantages of:

Storm water management

Rapid water removal ensures
water-free surfaces
Safer roads and parking areas
No standing water
Reduced risk of flash flooding
High permeability and drainage capacity

Environmental management
Minimises urban impact on natural
water cycle
Filters petroleum hydrocarbons from dirty
road water
Provides natural groundwater recharge
in urban environments
Reduced pollution in storm water
More efficient use of land
(reduced footprint)
Reduced heat build-up and retention
lowers UHI effect

Reduced or zero requirement for piping,

catchment basins and infiltration galleries
Low maintenance surface
Can form part of a wider cost-effective
Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDS)

Reduced investment in labour, construction

and maintenance of detention ponds,
skimmers, pumps and drainage pipes

Minimises the need for run-off retainers,

reducing property costs

Larger areas to be developed at a lower cost

Full service offering

Lafarge Tarmac are also able to provide
a full design, installation and aftercare service
if required through our Lafarge Tarmac
Construction Solutions business.
This would include the sub-base products
to complement Topmix Permeable from
Lafarge Tarmac.

Advantages for using in domestic

situations
There are a number of advantages of using
Topmix Permeable from Lafarge Tarmac
in domestic situations such as
on driveways:
No standing water lessens the risk
of hydroplaning
Voids speed up snow and ice thawing
No planning permission required
Reduced storm water impact fees

3265/0114

Portland House, Bickenhill Lane,

Solihull, Birmingham B37 7BQ
T +44 (0)800 1 218 218

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The names Lafarge Tarmac, the LT logo, Tarmac and Lafarge are all registered trademarks. 2014 Lafarge Tarmac Trading Limited.

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