Local Rainwater Management with Permeable Pavements - Not a New Phenomenon. We've Been at It for Years

The climate is changing, and the intensity of rainfall today is much higher than it was a decade ago. Since many sewer systems were designed for significantly less rainfall, this results in an increasing number of floods.

Sales Manager Kim Falkenberg has been involved right from the start. We need to go back 10 years. At that time, IBF seriously began to explore permeable solutions that were designed to manage water where it falls. Since then, progress has been rapid, and today we have a well-tested system that works.

IBF's solution options could involve enlarging sewer systems or decoupling rainwater management from the sewer system. The latter is possible by using landscape-based rainwater management, also known as LAR (Local Stormwater Management). With IBF Perma-Drain®, we can assist with a LAR solution.

> IBF Perma-Drain® system

The IBF Perma-Drain® pavement is specifically engineered so that rainwater is directed to infiltration areas filled with very coarse jointing material of NCC DrænAf® gravel, thereby draining the water. The leveling layer and base layer are permeable, allowing the water to infiltrate the sub-base. A compacted base layer of NCC DrænStabil® gravel can hold 300 L of water per cubic meter. Depending on the composition of the subsoil, the water is then further directed into the underground and/or into drains.

For the IBF Perma-Drain® system, we have developed several paving series, all of which have about 10% joint area and can be machine-laid. Selected examples include SF®-Permaloc, SF-Rima®, and SF-Økoloc®.

In addition to these, ordinary paving products can also be used as permeable pavements, provided the correct base construction and a joint area of about 10% are used. The use of joint crosses helps in correctly laying the paving products. IBF can also provide more information on this.

The 4 Paving Variants

IBF's permeable pavements consist of 4 paving variants.