System & principle
Store heavy rain where it falls
JUMBO BLOCK creates a walk-in storage space made of precast concrete beneath roads, squares and operational areas. It absorbs rainfall peaks, releases water at a controlled rate, lets it infiltrate or keeps it for later use.
Updated:
The principle
The same street, the same rain
Without storage, the sewer is overloaded within minutes during heavy rain: water backs up on the street and runs into basements and underground car parks. With JUMBO BLOCK, a storage made of precast concrete absorbs the peak. A flow throttle then releases the water slowly – only as much as the sewer can handle. Afterwards it is ready for the next event.
Design
From module to installation
Each module consists of two frames connected by four beams – twelve beams in total with a 0.25 m × 0.25 m cross-section. Inside, a clear width of 2.0 m × 2.0 m remains.
- Layout: modules are lined up side by side in a single layer, each rotated by 90° to its neighbour. This creates a continuous, force-locked load-bearing structure.
- Foundation: floor plates, a cast-in-place slab or – for infiltration – strip foundations.
- Envelope: wall, floor and cover plates close the installation along its outer contour. They are bonded and sealed watertight with SABA EcoSeal.
- Surface: road pavement, paving, soil cover or planting – the area remains fully usable.
System features
What sets the system apart
- 01
High storage density
13.9 m³ per module, around 2.2 m³ per square metre of footprint – a lot of volume with little excavation.
- 02
Heavy-duty
Designed for traffic loads to EN 1991-2 (LM1) and can be built over with roads, car parks and operational areas.
- 03
Walk-in and maintainable
The 2.0 m wide interior can be walked through, inspected and mechanically cleaned.
- 04
Easy to extend
The layout follows the site: modules can be added, relocated and adapted to new requirements.
- 05
Fast installation
Prefabricated modules shorten construction time – an advantage on inner-city and time-critical sites.
- 06
Long service life
Designed for 80–120 years to EN 1990, reducing reinvestment needs for generations.
- 07
Multiple use
Traffic or green space above, water below – plus room for protected utility lines.
- 08
Minimal plastics
Mineral load-bearing body without plastic infill units; plastics only where technically required.
- 09
Digitally verifiable
Optional sensors and dashboard for fill levels, event records and documentation.
From risk to resource
Putting stored water to use
Rainwater that does not have to drain away immediately becomes an asset: for irrigating urban greenery in dry spells, for industrial process cooling or as a fire-fighting and emergency water reserve. The same installation helps against flooding and against water scarcity.
Level sensors send real-time data to the JUMBO BLOCK Dashboard. The installation becomes an early-warning system and gives operators reliable documentation of due diligence – important for liability and insurance questions.
Protected technology
Registered protection rights
Three protection rights are registered with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) – from the origin of the system to the current module and secure sensor data processing. The 2025 right additionally covers the hybrid concrete recipe. German titles as registered; English titles are translations.
- Civil-engineering flood water collection systemDPMA 20 2021 002 498 · origin of the system
- Structural element for load-bearing applicationsDPMA 20 2025 000 597 · current module and hybrid concrete recipe
- NIS-2-compliant IT system for secure sensor data processing and validationDPMA 20 2026 000 087 · basis of the JUMBO BLOCK Dashboard
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does stormwater retention with JUMBO BLOCK work?
During heavy rain, water flows from the sealed surface into the underground storage made of JUMBO BLOCK modules. A flow throttle then releases it only as fast as the sewer or receiving water can take it. Afterwards the storage is ready for the next event.
Can JUMBO BLOCK also infiltrate rainwater?
Yes. If the installation stands on strip foundations instead of floor plates, water can infiltrate into the ground through the open base – provided soil conditions and permits allow it.
How large can a JUMBO BLOCK installation be?
Modules are laid side by side and one behind the other in a single layer. Size is practically limited only by the available area. Each module adds 13.9 m³ of storage volume.
From what size is JUMBO BLOCK worthwhile?
Typically from around four to six modules, i.e. roughly 55 to 85 m³. For smaller volumes, our partner Menk Umwelttechnik offers suitable plastic and concrete solutions.
Read on
Components
Modules, plates and SABA sealing systems at a glance.
Technical data & structure
Key data, structural behaviour and design standards.
True Sponge City 2.0
Store water, buffer heat, use land twice.
Applications
Municipalities, industry, roads, ports and airports.