After a long wait, the British Standards Institute has for the first time included domestic pavements, such as driveways, pathways and patios, making the BS7533:102 document ground-breaking for landscapers by cutting out many grey areas in the industry. Having the privilege of being on the BS7533:102 committee myself, I can tell you there is a heck of a lot of work gone into writing the document and getting it ready for spring 2023.
Before we actually get going, it is important to point out the BS7532:101 document is design based, whereas BS7533:102 is construction based and aimed at the ordinary landscapers to civil road builders, so they may refer to the document should they need reference or guidance. At this stage it is worth noting that the British Standard is not the law. However, if you are following the British Standard to the letter then you are massively helping your case litigation.
Traffic categories are numbered 1-9, with traffic categories 1-3 covering domestic pavements such traffic category 1 that receives no traffic other than foot traffic, and traffic category 3 would be a driveway or access route that doesn’t receive light commercial vehicles. Traffic category 9, for example, would be adopted highways and industrial developments. The traffic categories are relevant to ‘million standard axles’ (MSA) per year and the fatigue that would be had on the pavement.
102 will provide references and guidance’s for bases and sub-bases, be they bound (concrete slabs or mortar bed over MOT) or unbound (no mortar used) or flexible in old money, but will also refer back to 101 as regards design. The 102 document will also guide on determining the sub-strate structure and sub-base construction with some simplified methods of testing the ground, along with the tried and trusted California Bearing Ratio Test most commonly used on heavily trafficked pavements.
Although everyone’s favourite subject ‘porcelain’ was not featured in 101, there will be coverage in 102, referencing bonding mortars (slurry primer), thickness to apply bonding mortar, coverage, and even your own recipe to mix your own bonding mortar, subbases and grouts. Some of the SBR brigade may decide to change their ways after reading the document.
The ever-increasing use of BS7533, approved proprietary bedding mortars feature in the document often, mainly in pedestrian areas and lighter trafficked areas. As a landscaper, if you haven’t already become familiar with the proprietary bedding mortars and their benefits, then I would advise that you do so. Proprietary bedding mortars by far exceed sharp sand and cement on every level and there are permeable bedding mortars too. These not only allow water to pass through them easily if you use permeable pointing/grout, but also to prevent water wicking back up via capillary action, remembering water ingress can make a pavement deteriorate very quickly. Also, there will be a BS7533:103 document that covers permeable surfaces soon too.
If you’re not used to reading these types of documents, I would recommend you take notes as you read and take out as much relevant information that applies to you. Purchasing the BS7533:102 document will be an investment for your company, similar to buying a new drill or hand grinder.
Gareth Wilson MCIHort FPGCA