The Ensign cast iron drainage system from Saint-Gobain Pipelines provides the perfect solution for both above and below-ground drainage applications.

Its combined strength, longevity and durability make it the ideal choice for any venue.

Lightweight, simple to install and easy to use, the Ensign system - with improved fire-retardant properties and continued resistance to chemicals - is by far the safest option available. Its endurance and robustness means that it has the ability to resist impact damage, ground disturbance, accidental damage and acts of vandalism.

In designing and renovating any type of building, architects need to consider not only the environmental impact their building will have on the surrounding landscape but also, and more fundamentally, the actual materials used in the construction process - the consequences their manufacture and use can have on the environment.

These environmental considerations played a significant role in the choice of cast iron drainage systems for a large number of high-profile venues associated with last year's Olympic Games in Australia.

Cast iron systems were specified and fitted at many of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Stadia including Stadium Australia, the Super Dome at Homebush Bay, the Shooting Gallery at Cecil Park, the Exhibition Centre and Conference Centre at Darling Harbour.

Environmental campaigning organisation Greenpeace has long been urging builders and specifiers to look at reducing the amount of PVC and other plastics used in construction. Greenpeace claims that the production, use and disposal of PVC results in the creation and release of large amounts of toxic chemicals which contribute towards the levels of persistent toxic chemicals which are building up in the air, soil and water, in the food chain and in our bodies.

The redevelopment of the West Bay in Doha, Qatar, included the installation of the Ensign system at the Doha Hotel Intercontinental, a five-star $80 million beachfront located property. The hotel comprises 244 double rooms, 22 deluxe and business suites, a presidential and royal suite. It has a range of restaurants, formal and informal dining venues, three bars, a banqueting hall, a business centre, various meeting rooms, a health club, lounge, bar and shopping arcade. It has recently hosted the Islamic Heads of State Summit.

Energy-sustainable projects - that is, those in which the impact on the environment is a prime consideration - could also see a bright future in the 21st Century. Cast iron is the preferred drainage material due to its inherent sound-deadening properties. Ideally suited to such a hotel, it can also be used in offices, airports, hospitals and shopping centres.

Used in soil drainage and rainwater systems, cast iron has significant advantages over PVC, not only in terms of environmental considerations but also performance, where there is a greater possibility of system failure with PVC systems. Cast iron outlives both the buildings it is installed in and competitive materials such as clay and plastic.

Environmentally, cast iron has the credentials to be less damaging than PVC. It is a renewable, natural resource that creates an extremely durable product which is infinitely recyclable. Modern cast iron drainage is made almost totally from 100 per cent recycled cast iron, a factor that has become increasingly important as the construction industry looks towards environmentally responsible building materials.

Saint-Gobain Pipelines' manufacturing sites conform to highly stringent emissions legislation. Recent assessments have shown that the total amount of energy used in the production of modern cast iron compares favourably with that of other commonly used drainage materials.

In terms of performance, cast iron's strength and durability, noise insulation and fire-resistance properties make it a cost-effective alternative to plastic materials. Today's manufacturing methods have produced slim, epoxy-coated profiles and thinner, lighter sections that not only save on material costs, but also make installation quick and easy.

Total installed cost of cast iron is much lower than originally perceived while it overcomes problems associated with other materials such as the requirement of expansion joints, fire collars and noise insulation.

To help specifiers select viable alternative materials, Greenpeace is creating an international guide that will appear on its website. In the meantime, Greenpeace UK has already designed and produced a guide that provides specifiers with details of manufacturers and suppliers of alternative products throughout UK.

Water and wastewater projects continue to attract international attention in the Middle East. In Lebanon, the Ensign system from Saint-Gobain has been chosen for the above and below ground drainage at Olympic stadia Tripoli Stadium and Saida Stadium, each of which has a capacity for 20,000 spectators.

The Ensign cast iron drainage system is available from a wide and extensive distribution network in areas such as Lebanon, Bahrain, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Ensign's achievements can be seen through its success of global acknowledgment. Ensign has been tested and approved by the British Board of Agrement (Certificate number 95/3125), is manufactured under EN ISO 9002, a registered scheme of quality assurance and is designed in accordance with European Standard EN877.

The highly acclaimed cast iron drainage is popular all across the world. Some of the major projects that Ensign has been chosen include: