Lafarge to launch Hydromedia at Ecobuild
Readymix division to introduce new SUDS innovation as part of commitment to sustainable construction
LAFARGE Readymix will reveal their first concrete solution to one of the biggest environmental problems facing the UK today at this year’s Ecobuild exhibition, which takes place at ExCel in London from 1–3 March.
The division, part of Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK, will announce the launch of Hydromedia, a major new innovation in Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) at the three-day exhibition.
The launch is one of a series of product unveilings from Lafarge at Ecobuild, as the company’s three UK businesses, Cement, Plasterboard and Aggregates & Concrete, come together to highlight their commitment to sustainable construction.
Glanville Norman, product development manager for Lafarge Readymix, said: ‘We are delighted to be launching Hydromedia at such a high-profile event as Ecobuild. There has been a huge amount of interest in this product during its development and now we are delighted to be able to put it to the market.’
Hydromedia, a permeable concrete, is Lafarge’s answer to the increasing problem of stormwater flooding. As development in the UK intensifies and extreme weather conditions continue, coping with surface-water drainage is becoming a major concern.
With a drainage capacity of between 150 and 1,000 litres per minute per square metre, Hydromedia offers a pervious surfacing solution to this problem.
‘Hydromedia is an effective, versatile and attractive solution,’ said Mr Norman. ‘Unlike conventional concrete, it has a high void content of 20–35%. This allows surface water to drain through into the sub-strata and dissipate naturally, dramatically reducing the risk of flooding and water pollution.’
As well as its significant drainage capacity, Hydromedia’s advantages include ease of placement and speed of construction. It offers a new alternative to existing permeable surfacing types, the most popular of which is block paving, and can also be pigmented to a wide variety of colours to provide extra aesthetic impact.
