ACI 522 – Pervious Concrete Specification / Certification Program

If you plan on using or specifying pervious concrete on your next project, you should be doing so with ACI 522 at your side. This document is a valuable resource for the design community. There is one critical section of that document that highlights the requirements for contractors performing work on a project that you should know.

It stipulates the following:

Contractor qualification—The Contractor shall employ no less than one National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) certified pervious concrete craftsman who must be on site, overseeing each placement crew during all concrete placement, or the Contractor shall employ no less than three NRMCA certified Pervious Concrete Installers, who shall be on site working as members of each placement crew during all concrete placement, or the Contractor shall employ no less than five NRMCA certified Pervious Concrete Technicians, who shall be on site working as members of each placement crew during all concrete placement unless otherwise specified. Alternative documentation of qualifications shall be permitted when approved by the Architect/Engineer.

Our organization (Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association / Pennsylvania Concrete Promotion Council – PACA/PCPC) is the local sponsoring group for the NRMCA’s Pervious Concrete Certification program in Pennsylvania. To date, more than 185 individuals have certified through the program. A list of those organization members that are certified is listed on our website.

The need for trained individuals continues to grow. PACA/PCPC has initiated a program with our ready mixed concrete producer members that we hope will enhance our ability to train our industry. We will also be announcing regional certification programs that will be scheduled beginning in April 2011. Specific information on our classes will be posted on specifyconcrete.org as it becomes available. Readers are also encouraged to contact staff member Bruce Cody with any questions you have regarding the certification program.

While there can be no question that those involved with the production and placement of pervious concrete should be trained, it is equally important that the design community also have a thorough knowledge of the product and its capabilities. PACA/PCPC has a presentation that provides an overview of the technology, but anticipates offering a more in-depth program to specifiers in 2011. That program is in development.

For more information on certification programs, contact Ken Crank or Bruce Cody. 

Rutter’s Market Chooses Pervious Concrete

Hartman Concrete recently completed a pervious parking area for a Rutter’s Farm Store located in Boiling Springs, Pa.  This project consisted of approximately 7,300 SF of 8” thick pervious concrete pavement. The 180+ yards of pervious concrete was supplied by Pennsy Supply.

Because of the topography of the site, unique methods had to be employed to place and finish the pervious concrete.  In fact, according to Marty Hartman, general superintendent for Hartman Concrete, the largest challenge of this project was the numerous slopes and cross slopes designed into the parking lot and drive areas.

For example, the previous entry drive features as almost 8% slope with a 3% cross slope.  Because of this, much of the sloping areas were placed by hand and compacted with a conventional weighted hand roller.  The larger areas without cross slopes, were placed with formwork and a roller screed.

Prior to construction, the design engineer (LSC Design, Inc.) designed and detailed a thorough maintenance plan for the pervious pavement including vacuum sweeping every six months, prohibiting sand and anti-skid materials from being used and recommending calcium chloride be used for any ice removal.  In addition, pressure washing on the slab was prohibited.

Since this was the first pervious project in the area, the township required several catch basins to be installed as redundant backup for the pavement.  Jeff Goss, Vice President of Hartman Concrete, has been to the site several times during heavy rain storms and reports that the pervious is working as designed and doubts the inside of the basins have ever been wet.

To find out more about other pervious concrete projects, please visit the Project Profiles section of our website, or contact Ken Crank or Bruce Cody. 

Feature CE Course: Tilt-up Concrete Construction

Only 7 months left to fulfill new CE requirements.

Tilt-up concrete construction is a proven method that provides speed, safety and cost-saving benefits.  This one-hour program will cover a general overview of tilt-up construction, as well as additional topics such as: design tips, speed of construction, project scheduling and exterior façade options. Also, several tilt-up projects will be highlighted and discussed.

To learn more or register for the class, contact Ken Crank or Bruce Cody.   

Our instructors bring the presentations right to your door. Select the presentation you would like PACA to provide, complete and send the reservation form to the PACA office and our instructors will contact you to set up a schedule convenient for you and your employees.

Ask the Expert!

Question: Is it necessary to clean pervious concrete regularly?

Answer: In order for pervious concrete to remain permeable it must be cleaned. The frequency of the cleaning is dictated by the environment that the pavement is subjected to. If the area is populated with trees that may drop leaves, etc. on the pavement or if the pavement is located on the low side of a project site and will be subject to materials washing onto it, cleaning may need to be more frequent. If the pavement is not exposed and remains relatively dirt free, it may not need cleaned more than once a year. An easy way to test the pavement is to visually inspect it when it’s raining. If the water is not ponding, that is a good indication that the system is working properly.

For more information, contact Ken Crank or Bruce Cody.