How many soakaway crates do I need?
Posted on 23 February, 2023
Soakaway crates are an important part of domestic and commercial projects involving surface water. They can assist with controlling the level of surface water.
Soakaway crates are crucial for projects which are in areas which are more likely to have floods or heavy rain.
However, it can be difficult to know how many you’ll need. We at BC Profiles are here to help you understand how many soakaway crates you’ll need for your project. Whether you’re a hobbyist DIYer or work in a trade, it’s still important to know how many crates you’ll need.
Before you know how many crates you’ll need, it’s important to first understand what one is and how they work.
What is a soakaway crate?
Soakaway crates are underground structures designed to store and filter rainwater. They are made of plastic and come in various sizes and shapes.
Crates are installed beneath the ground surface to collect water from driveways, patios, roofs, and other impermeable surfaces.
The crates have a unique design that allows water to seep through the gaps between them into the soil beneath.
How do soakaway crates work?
Soakaway crates work on the principle of infiltration. When it rains, it goes on impermeable surfaces and is directed towards the soakaway crate through a drainage system.
Once the water enters the crate, it is stored and gradually released into the surrounding soil. The gaps between the crate walls allow water to seep out into the soil, where it is naturally filtered and cleansed.
The soil acts as a natural filter, removing pollutants and contaminants from the water before it reaches groundwater or surface water systems.
This makes soakaway crates an environmentally friendly solution to surface water drainage, reducing the risk of flooding and soil erosion.
How many soakaway crates do I need?
The amount you need varies, and there are considerations you’ll need to make such as:
- The amount of space available
- The soil type
- The incoming/outward flow rate of water.
A professional groundworker or installer can perform something called a percolation test on your soil to assess the ground conditions.
For instance, clay-based soil is heavy and can cause water to filter out slowly, rather than draining freely. Percolation tests will give the area in square metres required.
One benefit of using soakaway crates is that they’re modular, which means they can be stacked either next to each other or on top of each other. Each soakaway crate is a different size, therefore the brand you choose can determine how many crates you will require.
BC Profiles sell Polystorm Soakaway Crates, which are 5 crates per m3. Our full range of Polystorm soakaway crates can be viewed here.
If you have any questions regarding our soakaway crate range, then please do not hesitate to contact the BC Profiles customer support team, where we will be happy to assist with any questions you may have.