Case Study
Building Drainage
Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School ACO go top of the class
'Photograph Copyright Girts Gailans
Case Study Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School
ACO Stainless Steel Gully
ACO has provided a series of functional and subtle
which the Drainage channel needed to fit had already
drainage solutions for the £20m state-of-the-art
been cast. Tim Growdon, ACO Building Drainage’s
Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School in
Regional Specification Manager, visited the school
Bridgend, Wales. The three-storey site includes a
and the Modular 125 Channel system was specified,
community leisure block incorporating both a sports
providing an easy, functional solution to the problem.
and a dance hall, and outdoor playing pitches that will be open for use by the wider community. Among
For the exterior of the building, ACO provided a
the solutions provided by ACO were shower channels,
discreet series of “hidden” drainage channels for the
Key features: Hygienic design including large radii formed contours, deep-drawn components and minimal welds to minimise crevices and bacteria traps according to BS EN 1672 and BS EN ISO 14159. Stainless steel gully fully compliant to BS EN 1253.
floor gullies for the toilets and drainage channels for
external paving, supporting the need to maintain
Available in 304 or 316 grades of stainless steel.
external paving.
clean, functional design throughout the building.
Dry sump design ensures no standing waste
These products were specified from ACO Water The secondary school, which has 750 students aged
Management MultiDrain MD polymer concrete
11-18, was originally located in Tondu to the north of
channel system.
Bridgend. However, that building could no longer
water in gully base. Fully removable and easily cleaned stainless steel foul air trap (FAT). Removable hygienic and corrosion resistant
meet the needs of a pupil population that had
Alex Smith, Project Manager for Cuddy, praised ACO’s
doubled in the past 20 years, and therefore, the
involvement in the Archbishop McGrath Catholic High
decision was taken to relocate to a more accessible
School project: “ACO supported the project all the
area of Brackla, near the centre of the town. Working
way down the line, offering full project design
Nitrile FAT support. Wide range of gratings to Load Class L15 – M125 (BS EN 1253) or C250 (BS EN 124).
with architects HLM, Leadbitter fulfilled the
services, on site measurements, and help specifying
challenging design, constructing a state-of-the-art,
products to make sure that every component was
21st century learning centre on behalf of the
suitable for the task. They were closely involved in
Kitchens.
Archdiocese of Cardiff, the Welsh Government and
the planning of all the crucial stages, such as the
Food processing factories.
Bridgend County Borough Council. Civil engineering
casting of the concrete levels to allow for drainage,
Brewing, bottling and canning plants.
services were undertaken by Cuddy Group, who
and their consistent support, advice, and attention to
prepared the site priorto Leadbitter Construction
detail were of great benefit to the project as a whole.”
commencing the building work. The new Archbishop McGrath Catholic High School Seven changing areas were required for the leisure
was officially opened on Friday, 2nd December 2011,
and sports facilities and here ACO shower gullies
by the Right Honourable Carwyn Jones, AM, First
proved to be an ideal solution, providing compact and
Minister and the Most Reverend Archbishop George
attractive capacity drainage in corrosion-resistant
Stack. The school has proved to be a triumph of
stainless steel.
intelligent design, having been awarded both a
When it came to the toilets, ACO were called in to
Police and a BREEAM (BRE Environmental
Applications
Chilled warehouses. Schools and colleges. Chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Leisure industries. Human and animal healthcare.
Secured by Design accreditation by South Wales
solve a specific problem and were again able to
Assessment Method) Excellent rating, recognising
provide a solution that balanced cosmetic appearance
state-of-the-art, energy-saving and low carbon
with the right drainage capacity. The open plan
technologies throughout, including natural ventilation,
design of the toilets required a channel in between
passive temperature control and the use of
the boys’ and girls’ units but the concrete slab into
sustainable sourced materials.
Building Drainage
ACO Building Drainage ACO Business Centre Caxton Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK41 OLF United Kingdom
For more information on our bespoke and design services, contact ACO Building Drainage on 01462 816666 or email abdinfo@aco.co.uk. A full overview of ACO Building Drainage products and resources is available at www.acobd.co.uk