Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Testing | Lab Innovate Engineering
Lab Innovate provides expert lab and on-site testing for SuDS materials and systems, including permeability, infiltration (BRE 365), and water quality analysis to ensure regulatory compliance and performance.
Ensuring Your Water Management Systems Perform for Decades
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are a critical part of modern, resilient infrastructure, designed to manage flood risk, improve water quality, and enhance biodiversity. But how do you prove they will work as designed?
Lab Innovate provides comprehensive testing for SuDS materials, components, and in-situ systems. From lab-based Physical Testing of permeable paving to on-site infiltration testing and Chemical Analysis of water runoff, we provide the certified data you need to ensure your project meets all regulatory, environmental, and engineering requirements.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Testing
What is SuDS Testing?
SuDS Testing is the systematic evaluation of the materials and designs used in sustainable drainage. This process is essential to validate that the system can:
Manage Water Volume
Effectively handle rainfall to prevent flooding.
Improve Water Quality
Filter pollutants, oils, and heavy metals from runoff.
Withstand physical loads, environmental exposure, and clogging.
Ensure Longevity
Testing is crucial for compliance with planning permissions, water authority standards (like CIRIA), and to provide assurance to clients, regulators, and asset owners. Our services support everything from new designs to Failure Analysis of existing systems.
Our SuDS Testing Capabilities
We offer a complete suite of services covering both the lab and the field, managed through our robust Data Management & Reporting system.
Geotextiles & Geomembranes:
Mechanical Testing: Puncture resistance, tensile strength, and tear strength to ensure site survivability.
Water Permeability (Permittivity): Verifying the flow rate through filter fabrics.
Clogging Potential: Assessing long-term performance against fine soils.
Soils, Aggregates & Sub-base:
Particle Size Distribution (Grading): Essential for an effective, non-clogging sub-base.
Laboratory Permeability (Infiltration Rate): Determining the hydraulic conductivity of your specified soils and aggregates.
Chemical Analysis: Testing for potential contaminants in fill materials or topsoils that could leach into groundwater.
Permeable Paving & Surfaces:
Infiltration Rate Testing (EN 12697): Measuring the speed at-which water passes through a paving sample.
Compressive & Flexural Strength: Ensuring paving blocks meet load-bearing requirements.
Abrasion Resistance: Testing for long-term surface durability.
On-Site & System Performance Testing
We provide on-the-ground verification that your installed SuDS meets design specifications.
Infiltration & Soakaway Testing (BRE 365)
The industry-standard test to determine the infiltration rate of soil. This is mandatory for designing soakaways, infiltration trenches, and basins.
Permeable Pavement In-Situ Testing
Using specialised infiltrometers to test the as-built performance of a permeable driveway or car park.
Water Quality Monitoring
Our Chemical Analysis team collects and tests water samples from SuDS inlets and outlets.
We assess the system's effectiveness at removing pollutants like hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and suspended solids.
This provides verifiable data for environmental impact assessments.
Durability & Long-Term Performance
SuDS are long-term assets. We use our Long-Term & Durability Testing expertise to model their lifespan.
Freeze-Thaw Resistance:
Testing paving and concrete components for resistance to winter cracking and spalling.
Accelerated Weathering:
Using UV and environmental chambers to simulate decades of exposure on geotextiles, liners, and plastic components.
Evaluating how systems perform as sediment and debris build up over time.
Clogging & Maintenance Simulation:
Related Services
Chemical Analysis: For detailed water quality and soil contaminant testing.
Physical Testing: Explore our full range of soil, aggregate, and concrete testing.
Failure Analysis: Determine the root cause of a failed or underperforming SuDS system.
Long-Term & Durability Testing: Assess the expected lifespan of your SuDS components.
Consultancy: Get expert advice on material selection and design verification.