Permavoid System
Permavoid is a shallow geocellular water conservation system aimed at managing surface water at source, as close to where it falls as possible.
Next-Gen Drainage: How Permavoid is Changing The Game for GCC Sports Pitches
Thursday 22nd May 2025
Permavoid is redefining sports pitch performance in the GCC, combining smart drainage, passive irrigation and cooling to support natural turf with less water, even in extreme heat.
Building resilience beneath the surface of the region’s sporting boom.
Across the GCC, sport is rapidly evolving from a pastime into a pillar of national pride, fostering community engagement and economic growth. From hosting the FIFA World Cup to high-profile venues across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the region’s sports infrastructure is expanding rapidly.
As sports facilities expand to meet growing demand, so too does the need for intelligent, future-ready infrastructure—especially when it comes to managing one of the region’s most unpredictable challenges: water. This is particularly critical for maintaining natural turf in a harsh climate.
When the Pitch Becomes the Problem: Water Drainage Challenges in the GCC
The GCC’s arid climate and rapid urbanization lead to a paradoxical problem for pitch management. On one hand, the harsh sun, dust and high temperatures make sustaining natural turf a challenge. On the other hand, occasional intense rainstorms can overwhelm conventional drainage systems, flooding pitches, damaging surfaces, and putting player safety at risk. Poor drainage can disrupt events, degrade surfaces, and increase maintenance costs.
In this climate, drainage systems need to do more than remove water—they must manage it intelligently, sustainably, and in harmony with the environment.
Enter Permavoid: A Smarter Water Management System
Polypipe’s Permavoid capillary sustainable drainage system for sports pitches is a geocellular water management system designed to address the challenges that stadiums and sports pitches in the GCC face. The system forms a stable sub-base that allows water to drain freely from the surface.
One of the key advantages of using Permavoid in sports pitch construction is its exceptional versatility, as a variety of sports surfaces can be implemented using the Permavoid sub-base, including healthy, natural turf. When designing a sports facility, it’s essential to consider the unique performance requirements of each sport—such as slip resistance, rebound characteristics, shock absorption, and optimal moisture levels; this is where Permavoid’s versatility is a real benefit as both artificial and natural turf systems can be integrated into the system, with a clear performance advantage for natural turf in arid environments.
With a 96% void ratio, Permavoid units can store between 600,000 and 1,120,000 liters of stormwater under a standard 8,000m² pitch. That water doesn’t just disappear—it becomes a resource. For enhanced performance, Permafoam—a complementary open-cell foam layer—can be incorporated into the system to optimize capillary uptake and moisture balance in the root zone.
Permavoid and Natural Grass Pitches: Performance Meets Sustainability
What makes Permavoid a true game-changer is its capillary action-based passive irrigation —a vital innovation for maintaining natural turf in the GCC without over-reliance on traditional sprinkler systems. Using a network of Permatex Capillary Geotextile, capillary cones, and other engineered components layered above the Permavoid reservoir, the system delivers water directly to the root zone—ensuring consistent hydration without over-saturation.
This multi-layered design mimics natural hydrology and allows for better control of water storage, distribution, and evapotranspiration—ideal for maintaining healthy natural turf in extreme heat.
It also supports vacuum ventilation, passing air to the root zone and maintaining natural grass health even in the most demanding climates. By creating a breathable, moisture-stable foundation, Permavoid supports stronger turf, improved playability, and better resilience year-round.
The air gap beneath the pitch can also be used as a cooling system. By pumping cool air through this void space, pitch operators can help regulate surface temperatures, providing additional protection for the turf and enhancing playing conditions.
Compared to traditional pop-up sprinkler systems, the system has been shown—through testing by STRI in the UK, Australia, and the GCC—to reduce water consumption by up to 60%. It’s not just a better draining system—it’s a better water management system.
In addition to natural grass pitches, geocellular systems like Permavoid can also be used for:
Resin Bound Gravel (RBG)
RBG offers a durable and robust alternative to traditional macadam surfaces, delivering similar hardness while remaining quick and easy to install. Its excellent rebound properties make it a preferred choice for Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs), especially for sports like tennis and basketball. RBG has been independently tested to meet Sport England guidelines for both slip resistance and permeability.
Polymeric Surface
Endorsed by Sport England and compliant with IAAF standards, polymeric surfacing is widely recognized as the ideal choice for running tracks. Typically installed over the Permavoid sub-base, this system incorporates a wet-poured ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) layer—known as synthetic rubber.
Synthetic Turf
Synthetic turf is one of the most widely used surfaces in modern sports infrastructure. A shockpad is usually laid directly over the Permavoid system, followed by the synthetic turf. This surface is suitable for sports including football, rugby, hockey, and tennis.
Natural Grass
Natural grass installed directly onto Permavoid with a dedicated root zone layer creates a well-drained, resilient grass pitch. The system’s passive irrigation and ventilation technologies are especially suited to preserving natural turf in hot, dry regions—helping facilities avoid the high costs and inefficiencies of surface irrigation.
Equestrian Sand Surface
In equestrian sports, maintaining precise moisture levels in the sand-fiber mix is essential. Installing this surface directly onto Permavoid enables consistent sub-surface irrigation, helping to maintain optimal moisture content while preventing flooding.
Built for the GCC
With soaring heat, occasional flash floods, and growing environmental pressures, the GCC region demands innovative solutions when it comes to water resource management.
Permavoid’s minimal excavation requirements and ability to function over poor ground conditions—including peat, high groundwater tables, and even contaminated sites—make it ideal for the region’s diverse construction environments. In reclaimed or urbanized areas the system’s modular design offers unmatched flexibility for sports developments both large and small.
In particular, its ability to support vibrant, healthy natural turf—while significantly reducing water consumption—makes it uniquely suited to the GCC’s sustainability mandates.
Supporting Urban Cooling and Water Resilience
Modern sports facilities can play a critical role in supporting climate resilience—particularly in dense, fast-growing cities. Permavoid protects pitches and contributes to wider stormwater management. By reducing runoff and conserving groundwater reserves, they ease pressure on drainage systems and help mitigate urban heat.
Permavoid doesn’t just enhance the pitch. It enhances the entire city ecosystem.
Leading the Way in Smart Water Management for Sport
Polypipe is proud to be at the forefront of specifications for pitch design across the region. Our Permavoid trials and full-scale implementations have demonstrated that a natural turf pitch can be self-irrigated, vacuum ventilated, and structurally resilient—all while delivering long-term water savings and environmental benefits.
As the GCC continues to invest in stadiums, sport infrastructure and grassroots sports, water distribution and building drainage systems will play a defining role in ensuring these spaces are sustainable, cost-efficient, and high-performing.
Now’s the Time to Think Smarter About Drainage
For developers, consultants, and urban planners looking to future-proof their projects, Permavoid systems offer a compelling combination of technical innovation and ecological responsibility.
In a region where water is both precious and unpredictable, the ability to transform stormwater into an asset—and not a liability—marks the difference between a short-term solution and a lasting legacy.
Ready to transform your pitch performance? Get in touch with us to learn how Permavoid can work for you.
Tel: +971 (0) 4 518 3000
Email: middleeast@polypipe.com