Porous tarmac system: TarmacDry benefits

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What are the benefits of using TarmacDry porous asphalt system?

Reduced risk of flooding

TarmacDry porous asphalt system allows you to harvest rainwater for re-use.

On installation, the system will provide an average hydraulic conductivity at the surface of no less than 5000mm per hour.  This compares favourably when looking at surface flooding in rainfall events of 1 in 100 year rain storms – this is equivalent to 150mm rainfall per hour.

TarmacDry's sub-base can accommodate water more than 30% of its own volume.

See TarmacDry's hydraulic test video.

 

Fast installation over large areas

It is estimated to be a third faster to lay and install the TarmacDry porous asphalt system when compared to equivalent block paving systems.  Construction time is site-dependent.

Lower cost due to less muck-away and you don’t have to dig as deep

TarmacDry has a reduced thickness in construction depths. Permeable asphalt is typically up to 30% thinner than block paving designs. This accounts for a faster build time as you don't need to dig as deep.

With TarmacDry, you are not taking away as much waste from the ground which means less disposal costs.

No need for additional drainage systems

TarmacDry porous asphalt is an innovative system designed to deal with the drainage of surface water and therefore, there is no need for expensive ironwork or drainage systems.

Environmentally-friendly to the water cycle

TarmacDry gives you the option of storing or releasing rainwater into the sub-grade.  Water can be controlled and slowly released into the existing drainage systems.  The TarmacDry specification can be designed to restrict high rainwater discharge volumes and help to prevent surface flooding.  TarmacDry works with nature as the aggregates used in the TarmacDry system are 99% recyclable.

Cope with heavy rainfall

TarmacDry, even when 95% clogged over time with wear and tear, will cope with a 1 in 100 year rain storm event. This means at 95% clogged TarmacDry porous asphalt system will still let through 150mm of rainwater per hour.

Smooth surface and skid resistance

TarmacDry gives your car park a smooth surface finish meaning there are less trip hazards when compared to paving blocks that come loose from time to time.  This is a health and safety benefit for customers.  Smooth asphalt also means the surface is weed-free and doesn’t fade over time.  There is also less chance of black ice in wintry conditions due to no surface water.  See more in TarmacDry applications.

Available in a range of colours

If it’s colour you want to add, we have a range of asphalt colours that can be specified for TarmacDry.  See TarmacDry in a range of colours with Mastertint.

Patented and BBA-approved

TarmacDry is a patent-protected porous asphalt system.  It also has approval from the British Board of Agrément (BBA) which in unique to Tarmac.

TarmacDry cleans water which runs through it

Independent research has been carried out by Coventry University which shows that the TarmacDry system is able to treat and reduce surface water contaminants like sand, silt, organics, and heavy metals.  Rainwater is therefore cleaner when it goes back into the environment than when it first enters the TarmacDry porous asphalt system.

TarmacDry porous asphalt system is continually being tested.  See the latest research findings: Coventry University test results - September 2010 (pdf, 98kb)

 

Overall lifetime cost savings

TarmacDry can be maintained for the duration of its structural life without the need for extensive reconstruction.  TarmacDry is cheaper over its lifetime than block-paving as you don’t need to:

• Replace blocks due to damage
• Take blocks out for cleaning and re-lay them saving project cost and labour time.

TarmacDry is easier to clean than traditional block-paving systems. Less time cleaning will mean less disruption to car parks.  Work can also be carried out at night reducing any other likely disruption.

BREEAM and CEEQUAL ratings

The use of TarmacDry as a porous asphalt solution can help contribute to scoring under BREEAM and CEEQUAL schemes.
See more in TarmacDry, CEEQUAL, BREEAM and sustainability.

Extensive research

TarmacDry has been extensively tested in-situ by the UK's Transport Research Laboratory by evaluating sites that are more than 5 years old. The permeable asphalt tarmac specification complies with PPG25 and Part H of the Building Regulations, so can form part of a range of applications such as car parks, playgrounds, sports surfaces, hard standings and pathways, or on any lightly trafficked area. See more in TarmacDry applications.

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