USPs
- Dissipates wave energy and low reflection minimises impact to beach life;
- Faster to install;
- Sustainable solution with lower carbon footprint than alternatives;
- Up to 50% cost savings are achievable over alternative solutions such as rock armour;
- Interlocking system => less maintenance;
- Longer life (estimated to last 200 years+) – low maintenance;
- Safer for beach visitors, in particular children.
ECAB
ECAB stands for Erosion Control Armoured Block. It is a specially designed concrete block that interlocks with its neighbouring blocks to form extremely strong, effective protection against coastal erosion. (First used in Belmullet, Co Mayo in 1996.) In use since the 1990s, new research has allowed us to perfect (optimise) the design and installation. For example, Projects in counties Cork and Wexford in 2017 have successfully defended the coastline from the fiercest of Atlantic storms such as Ophelia and Eowyn.
Research & development
Recent research at the Marine and Renewable Energy Institute (MaREI) in University College Cork have led to increased knowledge in the design, construction and installation of revetments for coastal protection. This research was carried out under the supervision of renowned climate specialist Dr Jimmy Murphy, Professor of Offshore Renewable Energy.
Projects
There are ECAB Revetments installed across throughout Ireland. These revetments have stood the test of numerous storms that have attacked our coastlines since the 1990s. Older revetments have blended into the environment, where the stones have aged and Marram grass has grown through. This is important in visually sensitive areas.
Testimonial from Cork County Council
“The quality of the product was evident from the model testing work carried out in UCC MaREI (Marine Institute). The development/validation of a new concrete armour unit requires examining the influence that a number of different factors have on the performance of the structure. The model tests sought to examine the effects of stability, unit size, slope, run up, overtopping and reflection on the revetment when subjected to differing wave sizes and wave periods, at 1/30th scale.
“The testing by UCC MaREI has shown that the ECAB revetment with a properly designed filter layer on an appropriate slope is an extremely robust armouring system for revetments and breakwaters.
“Construction on site had to be programmed to coincide with low tides, which resulted in a programme of four weeks on site.
“The contract for the ECAB revetment works was within budget and within programme. The attention to detail by all the project team to the construction quality of the revetment, notable in such elements as precast concrete and in-situ concrete has produced a product of an extremely high standard.”
