Porous surfacing options
![Open-textured soil or granular material Open-textured soil or granular material](/images/d.3.1.1_-_open_textured_soil_or_granular_material.jpg)
Open-textured soil or granular material
Gravel or similar surface on a sub-base. Typically used in locations where very low volumes of light weight traffic, such as cars, will be present and a low cost solution is required. There is little design and the use is restricted to locations such as pedestrian areas, driveways on private property and temporary car parks.
![Geosynthetic gravel/grass protection systems Geosynthetic gravel/grass protection systems](/images/d.3.1.2_-_geosynthetic_gravel_or_grass_protection.jpg)
Geosynthetic gravel/grass protection systems
Modular interlocking plastic paving systems infilled with gravel/grass/aggregate and bedded on a free-draining structural sub-base layer. Typically used for light/medium loadings such as car parks or locations where occasional heavy vehicular loadings occur (for example, due to refuse collection vehicles, removal lorries or fire appliances).
![Small porous elemental surfacing blocks Small porous elemental surfacing blocks](/images/d.3.1.3_-_small_porous_elemental_blocks.jpg)
Small porous elemental surfacing blocks
Precast blocks formed of low-fines concrete or other material, which results in the blocks having many small, interlinked internal voids throughout their section. These are laid on a recommended sub-base, which has in the past varied from Type 1 sub-base (which is actually relatively impermeable) to clean gravel and crushed rock, or other open-textured support. Typical uses are for public, engineered surfaces carrying light loading but of high frequency such as shopping centre car parks.
![Continuous-laid porous material Continuous-laid porous material](/images/d.3.1.4_-_continuous-laid_porous_material.jpg)
Continuous-laid porous material
Porous asphalt, porous concrete or resin bound aggregate, laid on a recommended sub-base of free-draining granular material. Remains free-draining provided regular surface maintenance limits the deposit of debris in the surface void spaces. Typical uses are for public, engineered surfaces carrying high volumes of heavy and/or light loading, such as shopping centre car parks and service roads.
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