A backing pad suitable for use in an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure, the backing pad comprising: a body comprising attachment elements suitable for attaching the body to the abrading apparatus; a lower surface layer having a lower surface, the lower surface layer being attached to the body, and comprising attachment elements suitable for attaching the lower surface layer to an abrading article; an outer side wall enclosing the body and the lower surface layer; a medial region of the backing pad between a central region of the backing pad and a peripheral region of the backing pad; a plurality of medial conduits located in the medial region such that the medial conduits are arranged along three concentric circles which are concentric with the center of the backing pad with each concentric circle having several medial conduits, the medial conduits being connectable to the suction pressure for conveying air and abrading debris from the lower surface, each medial conduit having an orifice on the lower surface; at least one central conduit located in the central region and extending through the entire thickness of the backing pad; and peripheral conduits suitable for conveying incoming air onto the lower surface, each peripheral conduit passing through the outer side wall, extending from the outer side wall, and being separated from the at least one central conduit and from the medial conduits by an unbroken portion of the backing pad, wherein the unbroken portion refers to a portion of the backing pad which contains no conduit, and therefore resists the flow of air to such a degree that air will flow substantially more freely along a conduit than through the unbroken portion, characterized in that the peripheral conduits are grooves on the lower surface, the groove having an open end at the outer side wall and at least one opposite, closed end, wherein the peripheral conduits are blind so as to force incoming air introduced through the peripheral conduits to pass over the lower surface of the backing pad before reaching a nearest medial conduit in a situation where the nearest medial conduit is connected to the suction pressure. a body comprising attachment elements suitable for attaching the body to the abrading apparatus; a lower surface layer having a lower surface, the lower surface layer being attached to the body, and comprising attachment elements suitable for attaching the lower surface layer to an abrading article; an outer side wall enclosing the body and the lower surface layer; a medial region of the backing pad between a central region of the backing pad and a peripheral region of the backing pad; a plurality of medial conduits located in the medial region such that the medial conduits are arranged along three concentric circles which are concentric with the center of the backing pad with each concentric circle having several medial conduits, the medial conduits being connectable to the suction pressure for conveying air and abrading debris from the lower surface, each medial conduit having an orifice on the lower surface; at least one central conduit located in the central region and extending through the entire thickness of the backing pad; and peripheral conduits suitable for conveying incoming air onto the lower surface, each peripheral conduit passing through the outer side wall, extending from the outer side wall, and being separated from the at least one central conduit and from the medial conduits by an unbroken portion of the backing pad, wherein the unbroken portion refers to a portion of the backing pad which contains no conduit, and therefore resists the flow of air to such a degree that air will flow substantially more freely along a conduit than through the unbroken portion, characterized in that the peripheral conduits are grooves on the lower surface, the groove having an open end at the outer side wall and at least one opposite, closed end, wherein the peripheral conduits are blind so as to force incoming air introduced through the peripheral conduits to pass over the lower surface of the backing pad before reaching a nearest medial conduit in a situation where the nearest medial conduit is connected to the suction pressure.