The £48 million Penarth Learning Community, designed by HLM Architects has been built on the
site of the St Cyres Secondary School. Pupils from St Cyres, Erw'r Delyn, Ashgrove and Ysgol
Maes Dyfan special schools come together at this complex; claimed to be the largest learning
facility of its type in Wales.
Penarth Learning Community School, Cardiff, South Wales, comprises a mainstream
comprehensive school with 1280 places, together with a special educational needs (SEN)
school, catering for 205 pupils with a wide spectrum of learning needs including those with
learning and physical difficulties and those on the autism spectrum. Together with a learning
facility, there is also a 1500 m² residential home, allowing 19 pupils to stay over at any one time
to provide respite to their families.
The new complex has gained a BREEAM sustainability rating of Excellent and an Energy
Performance Certificate “A” rating, so it is hoped the buildings will contribute to reducing energy
use and long term costs to the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
With the site being quite flat and the new buildings’ surrounded by blocked and asphalted
surfaces, it was essential rainwater is drained effectively. Two Hauraton systems were chosen to
drain surface water: RECYFIX® PRO and RECYFIX® SLOTTED channels.
The Hauraton RECYFIX® PRO 100 channel system, fitted with FIBRETEC® C250, HEELSAFE
9mm slot gratings, was used to drain the asphalted yards and car park. Made from PA-GF, the
FIBRETEC® C250 HEELSAFE grating was specifically designed by Hauraton R & D engineers
to enhance the flow of water into the channel. The slots are super smooth, elliptical openings
with the moulded bars having slightly raised triangular bosses along their outside edges. As well
as providing an elegant appearance, the feature ensures surface water is directed into the slots.
This configuration also helps eliminate any cross-flow over the grating.
Aesthetic demands meant the surface water drainage for the blocked walkways had to be as
unobtrusive as possible yet fully meet the drainage requirement; this was achieved by installing
Hauraton RECYFIX® STANDARD SLOTTED CHANNELS fitted with symmetrical galvanised
steel covers. Once installed this system provides an unobtrusive, narrow line of slots in the
paved surfaces.
The RECYFIX® channel component is made from 100% recycled PE-PP. The six sizes offered
are 160mm wide and range in height from 75mm to 201mm. The FIBRETEC® grating are factory
fitted on all PRO units whilst the slotted components are fitted to the channels on site.
Steve Wiseman, Hauraton‘s Project Engineer comments; “By using two types of channel the
overall appearance of the blocked and asphalted areas was enhanced with the drainage
requirement fully met”.
