Sustainable Porous Paving Solutions
Saltburn Valley Gardens Case Study
Coastal Erosion Coastal erosion is the wearing away of land by wave action, tidal currents, wave currents, drainage or high winds. Coastal erosion is a major problem in many parts of the UK. The energy contained within seawater - particularly when subjected to intense weather conditions - can have a battering-ram effect on coastlines and cliff faces, causing irreversible changes to coastlines.
KBI has developed the use of its Flexi™-Pave product on steep cliff faces as a means to combat coastal erosion. The unique makeup of the product means that it can be applied sympathetically to the existing surface allowing contours to be preserved. However, the hardness of the finished material combined with its porosity make it a unique material unrivalled in the market. Once applied, the KBI Flexi™-Pave diffuses the energy contained within the onrushing seawater by allowing it to pass directly through the millions of tiny voids within the material. By diffusing the energy within the seawater, the natural surface
is protected from the battering-ram impact of the water, preserving its integrity and slowing down the long-term erosion process.
The image above clearly highlights the effects of coastal erosion. The cliff face has been slowly pushed back by the force of the water, resulting in the collapse of the coastal road.
The above image shows the finished cliff face coated in KBI Flexi™-Pave. Seawater striking the cliff (highlighted by the blue arrows) passes through the millions of tiny voids within the material. This process diffuses the energy within the
water. Once the water has passed through the Flexi™-Pave, it is allowed to run down the cliff face and back in to the sea.
Mixed on site and installed by hand, the cliff face will not be damaged by any form of
machinery during the installation process. When mixed, KBI Flexi™Pave is extremely pliable, allowing it to be formed precisely in sync with the natural contours of the underlying surface.
• Embankment stabilisation. • Diffuses the kinetic energy within the water. • Coastal/Cliff protection. • Erosion management.
KBI UK Ltd Suites F03 & F15 Longfields Court Middlewoods Way Wharncliffe Business Park Barnsley S71 3GN Tel: Email: Twitter:
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Sustainable Porous Paving Solutions www.kbiuk.co.uk