What roofers need to know about the new SuDS regulations

With the introduction of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act expected later this year, roofing contractors will increasingly be required to install Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). Kevin Bohea, Managing Director at ACO Building Drainage, discusses the new regulations and what roofing professionals need to know.

Many parts of the construction sector are likely to be significantly affected by the implementation of Schedule 3, so it is vital that property development professionals understand how their day-to-day work is likely to change. Schedule 3 itself is a set of requirements for sustainable drainage from the Floods and Water Management Act 2010. It will make the inclusion of SuDS mandatory for new build projects and is expected to impact both new developments and refurbishment works for many dwellings or properties over 100 square metres. It is worth noting that this upcoming change is specific 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 can be granted, appropriate Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) must be in place and approved by a SuDS Approval Body (SAB). This body ensures that the drainage proposal meets standards set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

How This Affects Roofing Contractors

With Schedule 3 so close, demand for blue and green roofs is expected to increase. They provide attenuation and help slow the flow of stormwater on many dense urban drainage projects, so many roofing contractors may already be familiar with them.

For roofers working in urban areas, the impact of Schedule 3 is already clear. We know that for any redevelopment in a highly urbanised area, the developer will be asked to demonstrate how the scheme will implement SuDS. One of the main challenges for contractors will be on projects where there is no space for SuDS at surface or underground level. This is likely to be where blue and green roofs will be most in demand.

Understanding the potential of blue roofs in urban environments will help roofing professionals incorporate these solutions into their offerings.

Application example: Dublin’s first blue-green roof

As part of a redevelopment project in Dublin, the property was required to have a blue/green roof installed to meet local planning regulations. The contractors consulted with the ACO and we were able to provide hydraulic calculations and design a bespoke solution for the project, ensuring compliance with regulations.

The design took into account the possibility of extreme weather events and used the ACO RoofBloxx system, which allowed for providing a storage capacity of 3.77 m3.³ rainwater, while allowing safe and controlled drainage around the building.

By installing a blue-green roof, contractors not only provided a sustainable drainage solution, but also increased the building’s cooling capacity, as well as contributing to biodiversity and reducing CO₂.

As demand for SuDS solutions such as blue and blue-green roofs increases, contractors with a strong understanding of their applications will be able to fully exploit the business and environmental opportunities they represent.

Next steps

It can be overwhelming when the regulations change, but 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 the day-to-day operations of many roofers, it is important that they prepare now to ensure the changes do not disrupt their ability to deliver high-quality work that complies with all relevant building regulations.

Ensuring that contractors are familiar with blue and green roof solutions, such as those offered by ACO, will also serve contractors well. This will allow them to take advantage of the increasing number of blue and green roof designs that will become available as Schedule 3 becomes a higher priority for many development and refurbishment projects.