Permeable pavers expand

This article takes a look at a few different projects that used permeable pavers as an ecofriendly solution. The first was at an assembly plant in Louisville, Kentucky whose pavement had deteriorated due to lack of storm structures. The parking lots needed to be rebuilt, and the decision was made to use pervious pavement to infiltrate the water (up to a 1 inch rainfall) and store it. The pavers were chosen after a cost analysis, due to their bulk and the speed of construction. They placed a layer of No. 57 stone on top, with only the need for a vibratory walk-behind compactor to run across it, in order to set it in place. It has held up for two years with no rutting or sagging, through all kinds of weather. The second project was the construction of a new facility at the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Added stormwater runoff and water quality issues were created with the addition of more impervious surfaces, so a detention pond system was chosen. Grasscrete, consisting of cast-in-place concrete that contains a grid-like system of voids that allow the system to be pervious, were used in at the base of each pond. The voids were filled with grasses and can also be mixed with soil. The project helps control erosion by reducing the runoff rate of a storm event, as well as detaining and infiltrating water, thus aiding with flood control. An added bonus is that the use of this system qualifies for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification credits. Finally, a mixed-use project in Murfreesboro Tennessee in the shape of a planned urban development, which was LEED-certified, had to attain specific environmental objectives in order to meet the local municipality's stormwater requirements for water quality, streambank protection and flood management. This was the first project to incorporate permeable pavers as a post-construction best management practice (BMP). They were cost-efficient and passed the hydrologic analysis by addressing the requirements for water rate and flow. They also maintain a constant ground temperature, thus avoiding issues with freeze-thaw cycles, making winter maintenance easier.

• Record URL:
  http://www.erosioncontrol.com/EC/Articles/Permeable_Pavers_Expand_22575.aspx
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10737227
• Authors:
  • Goldberg, Steve
• Publication Date: 2013-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: pp 36-41
• Serial:
  • Erosion Control
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Forester Media
  • ISSN: 1073-7227

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air voids; Case studies; Concrete blocks; Construction of specific facilities; Detention basins; Durability; Environmental impacts; Mixed use development; Parking lots; Permeability; Runoff
• Identifier Terms: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
• Geographic Terms: Golden (Colorado); Louisville (Kentucky); Murfreesboro (Tennessee)
• Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Highways; Materials; Pavements; I15: Environment; I32: Concrete; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01493694
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 20 2013 4:31PM