{"id":26032,"date":"2026-06-03T09:53:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T08:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/?p=26032"},"modified":"2026-06-05T12:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T11:02:01","slug":"what-are-the-standard-details-for-emergency-vehicle-access-design-with-permeable-paving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/blog\/what-are-the-standard-details-for-emergency-vehicle-access-design-with-permeable-paving\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the standard details for emergency vehicle access design with permeable paving?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When designing access routes for emergency vehicles with permeable paving, the final surface must be able to support the expected loads imposed by emergency vehicles. The access road should also be of sufficient width and have a turning circle large enough to accommodate the emergency vehicles.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Approved Document B (Fire Safety) \u2018Volume 1: Dwellings\u00b9<\/span>\u2019 of the building regulations covers the provision and design of access routes for\u00a0hardstandings. It\u00a0states\u00a0that they should\u00a0comply with\u00a0the guidance in\u00a0<\/span>\u200b<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/span>Table 13.1.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"access<\/p>\n

The notes\u00a0indicate\u00a0that the\u00a0roadbase\u00a0can be designed to a 12.5 tonne capacity. This can be used to ensure that the\u00a0<\/span>permeable paving<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is designed to meet the correct traffic category.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The traffic categories for permeable paving are covered by British Standard: BS 7533-13 \u2018Pavements constructed with clay, natural\u00a0stone\u00a0or concrete pavers \u2013 Guide for the design of permeable pavements constructed with concrete paving blocks and flags, natural stone slabs and setts and clay pavers\u2019<\/span>\u00b2<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Category\/Application <\/th>No. of standard axles <\/th>Traffic Guide <\/th>Application <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
A\/domestic <\/td>0 <\/td>No large HGV <\/td>\u2022 Patios
\n\u2022 Private drives
\n\u2022 Decorative features
\n\u2022 Enclosed playgrounds
\n\u2022 Footways with zero overrun <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
B\/car parking <\/td>100<\/td>Emergency vehicles only <\/td>\u2022 Car parking bays and aisles
\n\u2022 Railway station platforms
\n\u2022 External car showrooms
\n\u2022 Sports stadium pedestrian routes
\n\u2022 Footways with occasional overrun
\n\u2022 Private drives
\n\u2022 Footway crossover <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
C\/pedestrian <\/td>0.015 msa <\/td>1 large HGV\/week <\/td>\u2022 Town\/city pedestrian street
\n\u2022 Nursery access
\n\u2022 Parking areas to residential development
\n\u2022 Hotel parking
\n\u2022 Garden centre external displays
\n\u2022 Cemetery
\n\u2022 Airport car park (no bus pick-up)
\n\u2022 Sports centre <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
D\/shopping<\/td>0.15 msa <\/td>10 large HGV\/week <\/td>\u2022 Retail development delivery access route
\n\u2022 School\/college access route
\n\u2022 Office block delivery route
\n\u2022 Garden centre delivery route
\n\u2022 Deliveries to small residential development
\n\u2022 Fire station yard
\n\u2022 Airport car park with bus to terminal
\n\u2022 Sports stadium access route\/forecourt <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
E\/commercial <\/td>1.5 msa <\/td>100 large HGV\/week <\/td>\u2022 Industrial premises
\n\u2022 Lightly trafficked public roads
\n\u2022 Light industrial development
\n\u2022 Mixed retail\/industrial development
\n\u2022 Town square
\n\u2022 Footway with regular overrun
\n\u2022 Airport landside <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
F\/heavy traffic <\/td>15 msa <\/td>1000 large HGV\/week <\/td>\u2022 Main road
\n\u2022 Distribution centre
\n\u2022 Bus station (bus every 5 minutes)
\n\u2022 Roundabout
\n\u2022 Bus lane <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

What types of permeable paving are suitable for emergency vehicle access routes?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The\u00a0different types\u00a0of permeable paving used in emergency vehicle access include plastic grids filled with gravel or turf, grass pavers, porous asphalt and\u00a0<\/span>permeable block paving<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Permeable paving solutions are usually deployed on sites with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) as they mimic natural drainage patterns. The rainwater is managed where it falls on a permeable surface rather than being directed off an impermeable surface in gulleys and drains.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As well as providing sustainable drainage, permeable paving solutions can create attractive and usable spaces. Permeable block paving provides developers with the\u00a0option\u00a0of using the same robust, hard-wearing solution for emergency vehicle access as is used on the rest of the site. This ensures design continuity as, unlike other options such as porous asphalt, permeable block paving is available in a range of colours and finishes to complement the overall site aesthetic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"grey<\/p>\n

How does permeable block paving compare with porous asphalt for emergency vehicle access design?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Where projects require permeable surfaces as part of their SuDS strategy, two solutions\u00a0frequently\u00a0considered in the permeable paving design are permeable block paving or a porous asphalt surface. Both surfaces will work, however, as the comparison table below illustrates, permeable block paving offers a harder wearing, longer lasting and lower maintenance\u00a0option\u00a0to specifiers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t
Type of Permeable solution <\/th>Pros<\/th>Cons<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Porous asphalt <\/td>\u2022 Quick to install
\n\u2022 Lifetime of up to 20-years if correctly maintained <\/td>		\u2022 Limited aesthetic benefit
\n\u2022 Not as hard wearing as standard asphalt.
\nMore prone to clogging if not properly maintained <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Permeable block paving <\/td>\u2022 Wide range of colours to complement project aesthetics
\n\u2022 Hard wearing
\n\u2022 Longer life span of up to 35-years lowers overall lifetime cost
\n\u2022 Less prone to clogging will continue to function more effectively than porous asphalt if not properly maintained. <\/td>		\u2022 Longer installation time
\n\u2022 Higher initial cost <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

How easy is it to\u00a0maintain\u00a0a permeable paving system?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

A key advantage of permeable paving over traditional drainage systems is that its performance can be easily checked. Simply\u00a0observing\u00a0the surface during or after heavy rainfall to see if any areas of ponding have occurred can confirm whether\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0functioning properly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintenance\u00a0comprises\u00a0of a bi-annual or post severely heavy rainfall visual inspection and a brushing or vacuuming of the joints<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0replacing any lost jointing material.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a summary of the maintenance requirements of permeable block paving:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Routine visual inspection<\/span><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 bi-annual and visually inspect after heavy rainfall<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • Remedial maintenance for ponding<\/span><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 As\u00a0required\u00a0\u2013 Brush\/vacuum joints and replace material<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n
      • Structural maintenance<\/span><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 As\u00a0required\u00a0\u2013 Replace damaged blocks, repair rutting<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
        • Aesthetics of blocks<\/span><\/b>\u00a0– As\u00a0required\u00a0\u2013 Light pressure wash<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \n
          • Aesthetics of joints<\/span><\/b>\u00a0– Once a year \u2013 Brush\/vacuum joints and replace lost jointing material<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
              \n
            • Weed control<\/span><\/b>\u00a0– As\u00a0required\u00a0\u2013 Treat with weedkiller<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                \n
              • Winter maintenance<\/span><\/b>\u00a0– As\u00a0required\u00a0\u2013 De-icing salts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                For extra reassurance about the long-term robustness of the drainage ability of permeable block paving, Research<\/span>\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span>Dr<\/span>\u00a0S\u00f6nke Borgwardt shows that even after 15 years without maintenance, permeable paving can still drain about 400 mm of water per hour \u2014 far exceeding the 100 mm per hour expected in extreme UK storms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                Our video case study revisits Rainey Endowed School, where Tobermore\u00a0Hydropave\u00a0permeable paving<\/a> was installed in 2008\u20132009, to assess how the system has performed after more than a decade of daily use and minimal maintenance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n