We utilize sound engineering technologies, effective planning & information systems and exceptional safety practices to satisfy clients in the execution of all our projects.
Storm Block Systems
The Stormbloc System is a resilient, lightweight, modular geocellular storage system that provides underground stormwater storage, attenuation and infiltration, even in high-traffic urban environments, such as beneath roads and carparks. In this case study, we will highlight how our expert design-build team employed the use of the Stormbloc system in a new residential development.
Our Client, Trinidad and Tobago Housing Development Corporation (HDC), faced a challenge during the construction of Victoria Keyes Development – Diego Martin, Trinidad; a new residential building complex comprising 288 apartments in 3 No. buildings - Nine (9) storeys each, along with associated site infrastructure, roads, carparks and other amenities. The drainage from the new development/site was constrained by a corrugated steel culvert under the Diego Martin Highway, into which it drained, resulting in occasional flooding of the area. The percentage of impervious surfaces for this development/site layout further increased the need for additional storage for runoff control.
A stormwater management concept design was prepared, finalized and adopted into the site infrastructure, in order to reduce peak flows from the development to capacity of the culvert under the Diego Martin Highway. An integral part of this design was the use of the Stormbloc system for provision of underground storage in the car parks.
The objective of these underground storage facilities would be to provide storage and “overcontrol” of storm water for the more frequent storm events (e.g., 2 to 5-year design events) and as much storage as practical for the larger design events (e.g., 100 year). The underground storage facilities would primarily receive roof water from the adjacent buildings and runoff from the car parks.
The drainage system for the project site was designed using the minor and major system drainage concept; the minor system being the network of ditches/swales, box drains, slipper drains, and storm sewers that convey storm water from the more frequent events, and the major drainage system being the drainage network to convey water under extreme events when capacity of the minor system is exceeded. This was predominately an overland flow system which uses the road network to convey flow.
In addition to the above, a piped storm sewer system, incorporating the Stormbloc system, was designed and integrated into the overall site drainage system. Firstly, the areas under the main on-grade carparks were excavated. Then,
The Post-Development condition with stormwater management facilities, including the Stormbloc underground storage, significantly reduced the Peak Flows well below the pre-development conditions, resulting in allowable discharge capacities into the Diego Martin Highway drainage infrastructure.
The Stormbloc system proved to be an effective solution for underground stormwater storage & attenuation. Our team's successful implementation of the Stormbloc system effectively enhanced the development’s stormwater management system and mitigated the potential of flooding.
Related Projects