With the implementation of Schedule 3 from the Flood and Water Management Act anticipated this year, roofing contractors will increasingly be required to install sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Here, Kevin Bohea, Managing Director at ACO Building Drainage, discusses the new rules and what roofing professionals need to know.
An ACO Green Roof in Dublin. Image Credit: ACO Technologies
Many parts of the construction sector are likely to be significantly impacted by the implementation of Schedule 3, so it is vital that professionals involved in property development understand how their day-to-day work is likely to change. Schedule 3 itself is a set of requirements concerning sustainable drainage from the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. It will make it mandatory to incorporate SuDS into new construction projects and is expected to impact both new developments and renovation work on multiple dwelling units or properties over 100 square meters. It is worth noting that this incoming change is only applicable to England, as Schedule 3 is already live in Wales.
As a result of Schedule 3, there will no longer be an automatic right to connect to public sewers. Before permission is granted, appropriate sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) must be put in place and signed off by the SuDS Approval Body (SAB). This body ensures that a drainage proposal meets the standards created by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
How This Affects Roofing Contractors
With Schedule 3 so near, it is expected that there will be a greater call for blue and green roofs. They provide attenuation and help slow the flow of rainwater for many dense urban drainage projects so many roofing contractors may well be familiar with them already.
For roofers working in urban areas, the impact of Schedule 3 is already clear. We know that in any redevelopment in highly urbanised areas, the developer will be asked to show how the scheme will be implementing SuDS. One of the major challenges for contractors will be projects where there isn’t room for a surface-level or underground SuDS solution. This is likely where blue and green roofs will be most in demand.
Familiarity with how blue roofs can be applied to urban environments will help roofing professionals incorporate these solutions into their own offerings.
An Example of Application: The First Blue Green Roof in Dublin
As part of a redevelopment project in Dublin, a property was to have a blue green roof installed to comply with local planning policies. The contractors on the project consulted with ACO and we were able to provide hydraulic calculations and design a bespoke solution for the project, ensuring compliance with regulations.
The design considered the potential for extreme weather events and used ACO RoofBloxx to provide a storage capacity for 3.77m3 of stormwater while allowing for the safe and controlled discharge of water to the perimeter of the building.
By installing a blue green roof, the contractors provided not only a sustainable drainage solution, but also enhanced the building’s cooling capability and contributed to biodiversity and a reduction in CO2.
As SuDS solutions like blue and blue green roofs increase in demand, contractors who are well-versed in their applications will be well-placed to capitalise on the business and environmental opportunity they represent.
Next Steps
It can be daunting when regulations change, though it doesn’t have to be. Contractors can take steps now to prepare for Schedule 3. As the new requirements will have a significant impact on many roofers’ day-to-day activities, it’s important they get ready now, so the changes don’t disrupt their ability to provide high quality work that meets all relevant building regulations.
Ensuring familiarity with blue and green roof solutions, such as those offered by ACO, will also stand contractors in good stead. It will allow them to take advantage of the growing number of blue and green roof projects that will be available once Schedule 3 becomes a higher priority for many developments and renovations.