Part of the ROCKWOOL Group

Creating urban rain resilience

Rockflow

An innovative watermanagement system

Rockflow

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Humans are resilient. Throughout our history we’ve shown the ability to overcome challenges.

And as our climate changes, we face our toughest challenge yet. To the way we live and where we live. In our cities, floodings from more frequent extreme rain events is one of the biggest threats, disrupting lives and damaging infrastructures.

As a result, cities are rethinking how they make use of their spaces. Public squares, playgrounds, parks and other areas where people gather can be designed or renovated not only to be attractive, but to help prevent heavy rainfall from overwhelming the sewer system.

Urban flooding is a serious problem that needs solutions – but also an opportunity to make life in the city even better.

Cities are the foundation of modern society. We go to cities seeking opportunity, excitement and the possibility of a better life. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to keep it that way.

We can help.

Rockflow. Creating urban rain resilience.

What do we stand for?

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All over the world, brief but extreme rain events are becoming more frequent.* For urban areas with growing populations and economic importance, the flooding that results from these rains can be devastating.

In a typical cityscape, rain water has few places to go. Unbuilt areas that might absorb it are limited, so roads and other hard surfaces carry it to sewer systems that weren’t designed to handle the sudden volume.

The result is what cities like Lagos, Madrid, Copenhagen, Mumbai and New York have experienced in recent years: homes, roads and other vital infrastructure are overrun by flooding.

The risks of doing nothing are clear and many cities are investing in a variety of solutions that will help them be prepared for the next time.

What is your city doing to create urban rain resilience?

* Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018WR024067

Is your city resilient?

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50,000 hectares of new paved areas built in Europe every year

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For cities exploring how to prepare for more frequent extreme rains, Copenhagen could serve as a model. It has had several such events in recent years. The worst occurred on July 2, 2011 when 100 mm of rain fell in two hours, causing EUR 1 billion in damages.*

Instead of treating it as a problem, the city’s approach has been to treat it as an opportunity to improve its long-term value and attractiveness as a place to live, work and play.

The city’s “Master plan for cloudburst management” aims to keep as much water out of the sewers as possible. So, in addition to some necessary sewer expansions, the focus is on creating 300 “dual use” spaces (15 per year) such as squares and parks for recreation that combine temporary water storage or detention capabilities in the design.

The city estimates that in the course of 100 years this approach will create a socio-economic surplus of roughly EUR 700 million, from reduced damages to the city, the creation of thousands of jobs (construction), higher property values and tax revenues among other things.**

* The storm that hit Copenhagen on July 2, 2011 dumped 100 mm of rain in just over three hours causing an estimated EUR 1 billion in damages. https://stateofgreen.com/en/partners/kruger/solutions/flood-warning-in-the-area-of-copenhagen-denmark/

** The economics of managing heavy rains and stormwater in Copenagen – the Cloudburt Management Plan (2016) https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/ the-economics-of-managing-heavy-rains-and-stormwater-in-copenhagen-2013-the-cloudburst-management-plan/#cost_benefit_anchor

An opportunity for cities to invest in sustainable urban development

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Bring the power of stone into your city

The unique structure of stone wool fibres provides exceptional dimensional stability. This means it retains its properties and load-bearing capacity regardless of changes in temperature and water content.

A growing urban landscape and population increases the need for flood defenses. Stone wool can be engineered to absorb or repel water as needed helping us solve a range of water management problems.

While rock is one of the most abundant raw materials on the planet, our production process allows us to use waste from other industries as alternative raw material.

Making cities resilient doesn’t mean they should be unattractive. With Rockflow you can design surroundings that inspire without compromise.

Stone and civilisation were made for each other. Lapinus makes the most of this relationship to improve our health, well-being and comfort. Stone wool is a versatile material with unique properties naturally built-in:

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Rockflow is an ideal way for urban areas to protect residents and infrastructure from flooding due to heavy rain fall. Made from stone, it is natural, strong, flexible and fully recyclable.

Installed under any surface, it is designed to quickly absorb and store large quantities of water before discharging it either into the surrounding soil or sewer system.

Because it is as strong as rock, even when full of water, Rockflow can be installed in urban areas, underneath roads, parking lots, playgrounds or any other area without losing the intended functionality of the space. Its flexibility means it can be easily cut-to-fit, making it ideal for city renovations that must consider existing underground pipes and cables.

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Introduction to Rockflow

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Modular Rockflow stone wool elements are installed below ground level.

A piping system swiftly channels water into the Rockflow package.

When it rains, water flows via the street gullies to the lowest section of the stone wool package.

The hollow spaces between the stone fibres are then completely filled with water. The Rockflow elements can absorb 95% of their volume in water.

Whilst the Rockflow elements are filled from below with water, air is displaced at the top via the air vent. This means the buffer is always able to fill up quickly.

The system can be configured in such a way that the volume is fully available again within 24 hours. This is possible via infiltration, free outflow or a combination of both.

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This is how Rockflow works

In urban areas with insufficient buffering and infiltration capacity, Rockflow ensures regulated water collection and disposal. The system is installed completely underground, leaving above ground functionality intact.

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Designed to help urban areas keep extreme rain events from turning into floods, Rockflow can be installed under roads, playgrounds, squares or any hard surface to take pressure off sewer systems.

It consists of a specially engineered stone wool buffer with connections to a system of pipes, drains and gullies. As the rain falls, the water is led through the stone wool buffer which absorbs it like a sponge before slowly discharging it over the next 24 hours into the surrounding soil or sewer system.

Rockflow is as strong as stone even when full of water and can be easily cut to fit any need, making it ideal for city renovation projects where underground cables and piping must be worked around.

Rockflow: Let it rain, get on with living

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The benefits of Rockflow

High drainage and buffer capacityRockflow can absorb up to 95% of its volume in water - 950 litres per m3 - before releasing it gradually to the surrounding soil over 24 hours.

No loss of urban spaceBecause it is as strong as rock, even when full of water, Rockflow allows urban areas to install it underneath roads, parking lots, playgrounds or any other area without losing the intended functionality of the space.

Flexible and easy to installRockflow can easily be cut in all three dimensions without changing its properties, making it ideal for city renovation projects that must consider existing underground pipes and cables.

Maintenance-freeThe fibre structure of stone wool filters out contamination from the incoming water, meaning the system never becomes clogged.

SustainableStone wool is made from natural volcanic stone, and is fully recyclable.

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Case study – Maasbracht

www.rockwoolgroup.com/why-stone-wool/case-studies/maasbracht-reconstruction/ SCAN ME

In Maasbracht village, an outdated 60-year old sewer system required modernising to protect the neighbourhood against flooding, during heavy rainfall, and give greater infrastructure capacity. The project involved updating sewers in six residential streets, including their parking and green spaces.

The Rockflow water management system was laid beneath the village’s streets, resulting in no loss of urban space. Since Rockflow is made of

stone it also has a high load-bearing capability, and will easily support the weight of vehicles above ground.

The Rockflow solution now buffers large volumes of rainwater quickly and effectively in Maasbracht. The robustness and natural longevity of this sustainable system will ensure that residents can enjoy village life without concerns over flooding in the future. And for the municipality, the decision to use such an innovative water management solution has been a story of success.

Where function meets sustainability

Rockflow

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We are confident that our products are some of the most powerful solutions to many of society’s greatest challenges, especially climate change.

But we want our solutions to also leave the smallest negative footprint possible. The crustal rocks we use to make our stone wool such as basalt, diabas and gabbro are sustainable raw materials that are almost inexhaustible: for example, every year Earth produces 38,000 times more basalt than is used in the production of stone wool.

Stone wool is fully recyclable and the production process ensures that the stone wool products are made in a way that minimizes the negative impact on the environment.

Stone wool elements for water management systems are also partly made from recycled stone wool. Where possible, residual materials from other industries are also used in the production process as well.

Sustainability and recyclability

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© ROCKWOOL B.V. 2019. All rights reserved. - Version: 1.0/07/10/19ROCKWOOL, Lapinus, Rockdelta and Noistop are registered trademarks of ROCKWOOL International A/S. The information contained herein is based upon data considered to be accurate. However, no warranty is expressed or implied regarding the accuracy of this data or the results that will be obtained from the use thereof, or that any such use will not infringe on any patent. This information is furnished as a guide only and on condition that those receiving it shall carry out appropriate tests to determine the accuracy and suitability for the intended purpose.

Lapinus is part of the ROCKWOOL Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of engineered stone wool products. For more than 80 years, the ROCKWOOL Group has been providing safe, sustainable products that help people thrive.

Our expertise is perfectly suited to tackle many of today’s biggest sustainability and development challenges, from energy efficiency and noise pollution to fire resilience, water scarcity and urban flooding.

Our stone wool can be engineered for many different purposes and functions from soft insulation to control your home climate to robust slabs that can be used under railway tracks to prevent vibration from damaging bridges or track-bound buildings.