Specialist construction product manufacturer and market leader Ronacrete has showcased its sustainable, permeable paving system, RonaDeck Resin Bound Surfacing and an alternative base from the EcoBound range at the BRE Innovation Park in Watford.

The BRE Innovation Park promotes a sustainable and low carbon built environment by housing some of the world’s most sustainable buildings and providing a testing ground for new products and construction systems.

“Ronacrete has a long standing relationship with the BRE. Many tests on our materials from our Screeds, Concrete Repair and Waterproofing ranges have been conducted over the years at their premises in Watford. It made complete sense to take the opportunity to showcase RonaDeck Resin Bound Surfacing, a product which Ronacrete prides for its sustainable features as well as its quality in terms of strength and appearance.”

Daniel Osen, Managing Director, Ronacrete

After a meeting with Nick Smith, Global Development Director for BRE, it was agreed to replace the existing path (a basic mix of type one and sand) with a visually striking resin bound pathway using a selection of aggregate blends from the range - Autumn Harvest, Lunar, Terracotta Snow, Maple Harvest and Quartz Parallel.

The resin bound surfacing was seen as innovative and environmentally friendly due to the following features:
• Unique resin with 38% formulated from botanic sources
• Can be installed on to alternative bases such as EcoGrid which is made from 100% recycled plastic – part of the EcoBound range
• High quality UV stable formula which ensures long product life cycle
• Highly permeable – up to 850 litres / m² / minute
• Recycled aggregates can be used
• Low VOC cleaners for aftercare
• Slip resistant in wet and dry
• Highly decorative natural aggregate appearance
• Guaranteed up to 15 years

The installation at the BRE was consisted of 20mm RonaDeck Resin Bound Surfacing on to EcoGrid (ground stabalisation system made from 100% recycled plastic) which was then filled with recycled aggregates. This provided a fully permeable SuDS compliant surfacing system.

One of Ronacrete’s Approved Contractor PJJ Contractors removed the original pathway to a 60mm depth and sand from the original path was used to level the surface. A geotextile membrane was then rolled out to prevent weed growth. The 40mm EcoGrid was laid on top of the membrane and fitted together using its patented interlocking design and filled with 6mm limestone aggregate and then compacted using a wacker plate.

Next, an eight section design was marked out and each section was separated with a 20mm flexible steel trim which was fixed to the recycled plastic EcoGrid (some aggregate shades were used twice).