{"id":22986,"date":"2025-05-06T15:05:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T14:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/?p=22986"},"modified":"2025-05-20T11:33:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T10:33:58","slug":"which-block-paving-laying-patterns-should-you-use-for-each-traffic-category","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/blog\/which-block-paving-laying-patterns-should-you-use-for-each-traffic-category\/","title":{"rendered":"Which block paving laying patterns should you use for each traffic category?"},"content":{"rendered":"
There are many block paving laying patterns that can be used to help achieve specific aesthetic project goals. However, the patterns must be suitable to withstand the use and loading associated with each traffic category.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Each traffic category describes the type of traffic which a<\/span> paved<\/span> area<\/span>, whether<\/span> block paving<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span> paving slabs<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>permeable paving<\/span><\/a> are used, will be subjected to. This ranges at one end of the scale to areas that are used only by pedestrians and cyclists (category 1) through to roads that are used by a high number of commercial vehicles (category 9).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Traffic category areas where vehicles of any type could travel across block paving areas will always require some type of interlocking pattern. For example, 45\u00b0 herringbone or 90\u00b0 herringbone. The extra robustness offered by an interlocking block paving pattern helps ensure that the blocks are not moved out of position by the action of vehicles moving, turning, and braking over the area.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another factor to consider when choosing the most suitable block paving laying pattern is whether the paving is bound or unbound. In bound paving, the blocks are held together by mortar to create a rigid construction on the surface. The blocks in unbound paving do not use mortar so they form a more flexible construction, relying on their interlocking installation rather than a binder to hold them together. Consequently, suitable laying patterns for each traffic category must also consider whether the blocks are bound or unbound.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We will cover all these factors in this blog, and we will start by first looking at the definition of each traffic category.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The traffic categories that are used for bound and unbound block paving are covered by the standard BS 7533-101 \u2018Pavements constructed with clay, concrete, or natural stone paving units \u2013 Code of practice for the structural design of pavements using modular paving units\u2019.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The following traffic category table applies to bound block paving:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the traffic categories for bound and unbound block paving?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n