Here, Ulma Architectural Solutions explains the two key factors to consider when choosing drainage systems for commercial car parks.

The main function of drainage systems is to remove rainwater, an agreeable point. However, other needs must be taken into account, depending on where they are installed i.e.. motorway services, airports, or shopping centres.

One of the features of larger car parks is that their drainage systems can cope with constant traffic whether it’s cars driving or people walking over the channels.

Imagine arriving at a shopping centre, you open the car door and immediately step into a large puddle. Not the best start to the day!

Undeterred, you continue with your shopping trip, returning to the car hours later weighed down with all those wonderful purchases. Then you feel the jolt and stop in your tracks, your heel is now stuck in the grating – feeling flustered and wanting to get home your memory of the trip is tainted, not the experience neither you nor the shopping centre wanted.

Shopping centres sell products, but they also sell experiences and create memories, which is why the user experience is becoming increasingly important in these large spaces.

For this drainage project, two key factors will determine the success – the efficiency in preventing waterlogging and the safety of its users.

Silverburn Shopping Centre acknowledged both these factors, which is why 1100 linear metres of Ulma’s Kompaqdrain City drainage channels were installed in its car park.

Located in Glasgow, this shopping centre is one of the largest in the UK, with over 100 stores and a 100,000m2 car park. With more than 2000 parking spaces spread over many levels, can you imagine how many people pass through every day?

Effective drainage

The previously installed drainage system had begun to fail, causing the car park to flood in some areas. The old system needed replacing with something innovative and new Kompaqdrain City

With the Kompaqdrain city channels, you the client are assured of hydraulic efficiency (thanks to the integrated Max-Flow® system) and user safety with the smaller collection holes.

The Max-Flow® effect of Ulma’s Kompaqdrain channel ensured effective drainage. Comprising an original design with curved grating inlets and an anti-slip and water-directing surface, optimising water collection and utilising the water's energy to increase speed and drainage capacity.

Furthermore, the gradually widening holes prevent accumulated debris. Thus, Kompaqdrain channels can drain the same volume of water with a smaller channel.

User safety

The channel and grating of the Kompaqdrain City model forms a single monolithic system ensuring strength throughout the whole channel. As the grating forms part of this system and is not separate there are no risks of lifting or shifting coupled with smaller collection holes thus preventing trips and falls!

By narrowing the size of the collection holes (with openings ranging from 8mm to 16mm), Ulma can help improve accessibility and mobility, which is so important in busy spaces like the Silverburn Shopping Centre car park.

In short, with the Kompaqdrain city channels, you the client are assured of hydraulic efficiency (thanks to the integrated Max-Flow® system) and user safety with the smaller collection holes. The perfect duo for the Silverburn Shopping Centre car park, which, incidentally, was named “the UK’s best shopping centre” in 2019.

There must be a reason, right?

For further information about this or any of their drainage solutions, please contact Ulma Architectural Solutions.