PERVIOUS CONCRETE PRIMER

& KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS

WSU Storm Water University / Puyallup
April 2012
 OBJECTIVE: COMMUNICATE
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED; THE
GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
 PERVIOUS CONCRETE PRIMER
With a proper mix design, properly constructed;
• a structural pavement
• interconnected voids in the range of 15 – 25%
• Allowing for onsite infiltration of storm water
 APPLICATIONS
• Sidewalks
• Residential Streets
• Paths and walkways
• Residential driveways
• Parking areas:
• Light duty & commercial
• Transit &Pedestrian areas
• Watershed & Wetlands
• Low Impact Strategy
 HISTORY
• Florida since 1989- Started from Scratch
• Initially spread thru SE and SW
• Areas in Freeze Thaw begin to consider its use
• In PNW: approx. 500K (+/-) sq. ft per year
• Largest NW project: 4.8 acres

Puget Sound Clean Up !!!

Storm Water targeted….
• Every Mix starts by understanding Coarse Aggregates
• “Locally readily available...”
• CA for Pervious is “designed”
• ASTM- 10-50% passing the #4
• Prefer “clean under the #4”
• Higher #4 sieve = less Cement
• Lower #4 sieve requires more Cement
• Round, crushed or blend
• 3/8 typical; ¼” available only in limited areas and quantities
PASTE, COMPACTION & BONDING

•Properly coated aggregate is approx 1/15th of an inch

•Aggregates should exhibit a paste bridge and relies on “Point to Point” contact
•Surface voids should be readily visible in a uniform appearance
•Properly coated aggregates show clearly defined aggregate particles
 Cement & SCM’s
CEMENT CONTENT:
• ASTM C-150 Type I / II NO Type III
• 564 MAXIMUM / 540 Preferred / 500 Minimum
• Fly Ash and Slag maybe used but up to Cementitious maximum
• Producer selects cement content

WHY ?
• Cement based on % of voids in Coarse Aggregates. Texture, Gradation
• Too Much Cement = can’t add enough water
• Maintain Void Structure
• Maintain consistent and proper paste coating IE: Yogurt
• Aggregates should be well defined, NOT like they have been rolled in
flour
• Maintain point to point contact
• Maintain paste bridge between aggregates
More Cement = More Strength Right ?
NOPE !
•Reduces Point to Point contact
•Thickens Paste bridge = weakened plane
•Excessive cement prevents point to point
contact and separates aggregate with paste.

•Overall lower quality paste

•Lower strength via unhydrated cement
•We can’t add enough water for hydration
•Too little water = Rapid evaporation and drying

•Higher Cement = higher water demand = paste

at surface of pavement during placement

•Excessive cement inhibits mixing and discharge

 WATER
• Recognize Pervious is a low W/C ratio concrete,
Typically .28 - .35
• Two Types of Water:
Water of Necessity = w/c 3.0
Water of Convenience = water for workability

• Approx. 18.5 gallons per yard vs. 32

• Producer should have a “optimized” mix with
maximum amount of practical water
• Water additions must be allowable on site-
Typically 1.5 - 3 gallons per yard
 Other Mix Design Ingredients
• Hydration Stabilizer (HSA): Essential Ingredient
• Differs from Normal Retardants
– Slows hydration in Tricalcium Aluminate
– Slows hydration in Tricalcium Silicate
• Dose according to ambient temperature, consider travel time
& traffic-- allows for 90 minutes till discharge / Communicate
 60 Degrees 4-5 oz/cwt

 70 Degrees 6-8 oz/cwt

 80 Degrees + 8-10 oz/cwt

 Grace “Recover” Master Builders- “DELVO” products

 ADMIXTURES
• Viscosity Modifiers (VMA’s) Common, BUT…
• Firms or “Thickens” Cement Paste
• Promotes cement paste to cling to aggregate
• Allows maximum water content to be reached
With Max Water Content:
• Discharge rate will increase (40 - < 15 minutes)
• Retains moisture better during placement
• Aids in surface strike-off
• VMA counteracts the plasticity effects of water reducer
 ADMIXTURES
• WRA’s and HRWR’s can be used
• Not to reduce water content, but to make cement
hydration more efficient
• Air Entraining Agents:
good in Freeze / Thaw climates; In Western WA:
optional, with a nominal dosage rate of approx. 1/3
to 1/2 oz. / 100#-
• Aids in workability and discharge
• Fibers welcome: ¾” Fibrillated
 KEYS UPON DELIVERY
• Everyone should understand what a good mix
looks like:

Too wet, Paste is flowing from

Chalky / Dusty / Dry- Rock- Do NOT Use as is, maybe
Do NOT use as is, add water able to re-mix or add VMA
 “WET METALLIC SHEEN”
95% of the pervious delivered
exhibits a “wet metallic sheen” BUT:

•NOT all sheen is created equal

•NOT a snowball test
•Mixture should NOT retain its shape
•Mixture should fall apart cohesively
when vigorously jiggled in the hand
•And the paste can be influenced
from the aggregates

•Then you will have reached

optimum water content / sheen

NOTE: Pervious containing VMA will

be more sticky
 CONTRACTOR TRAINING
• Why ?
• This is a Specialty Concrete
• Chances for Failure are greater than
success
• Special tools and equipment are
necessary
• “30 years of concrete experience”
• Every mix & project is slightly
different
• Short cuts, One job wonder…
• Treats it like any other concrete job
NRMCA CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION
• Contractor CREW should trained and certified
• Preferably Crews (6-12) should be to the “Installer”
level: pass written test (75%), performance
evaluation, 3 projects equaling 10K sq. ft or more
• Technician is fine (written exam only) but committed
contractors go to next level
• Craftsman: More robust accounting of experieince
based on professional hours, experience or expertise.
• Only 24 in the county, WA has 9.
 CONTRACTOR ROLE &
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Make the investment
to be trained and
certified: Most R/M
won’t sell unless
certified
• Make the investment
in proper equipment
• Be committed to
quality, every time
• No short cuts
 PROPER EQUIPMENT
• Spinning screed
MUST be able to
add more weight:
approx 22 – 30 lbs
/ lineal foot
• Sufficient Weight
= compaction =
bonding (raveling)
• Not all screeds are
created equal
 PROPER EQUIPMENT
The jointing cross roller cuts a fresh
joint (preferred to a saw cut) to a
depth of 1-3/4 inches and forms a firm
radius on each side.

•The standard cross roller may be

used on top of or before placement of
the visqueen. It is used to apply light
compression, remove surface flaws,
and seat the surface aggregate one
more time.
•Some Contractors also use a walking
trowel.
CURING: Your Responsibility too !
 SPECIFIERS ROLE
• WORK WITH INDUSTRY
RESOURCES BEFORE YOU
START PLANNING
• BECOME TRAINED ON WHAT
GOOD PERVIOUS IS
• ON SITE: KNOW WHAT
GOOD PERVIOUS LOOKS LIKE
• KNOW WHEN A MIX DESIGN
LOOKS OFF
• KNOW WHEN CONTRACTOR
IS NOT FOLLOWING
PROCEDURES
 SPECIFICATIONS
• Do NOT Google “pervious specifications” !!!
• Do NOT “Cut and Paste” or copy someone else’s specifications!
• Pervious to a large degree is a regional product, what works in
Peoria may not work here !
• DO NOT specify cement content or limit voids. Once you do
you specified and own the outcome !!!
• Do NOT reduce % of voids below 18% i.e.: 12% Why ?
• Do NOT arbitrarily limit void content range IE: 15 +/- 3%
• DO NOT specify Strength, Slump, Air content
• Do NOT chase % of Voids in hardened cores (ASTM D-1188)
 SPECIFICATIONS
• DO use ACI 522-10- Good; limited as a National Spec.
Anticipate new acceptance revisions in 2013 ?
• DO use local Industry Resources: WACA and NRMCA
Certified Contractors… WA Pervious Network!
• Good local resources include: Chris Webb PE, Bruce Dees
Landscaping, many others have successful projects.
• ACI 330R-10: good for practical depth design or use PCA
Design Pave software
• Do NOT specify “new” or proprietary products that
promise a bazillion things but only increase or double
material costs
 ACCEPTANCE TESTING
No ASTM standards for Cylinders, Slump, Air
Content - Strength a function of the depth of
the mass

ASTM C-09.49 Committee is developing:

ASTM C-1688- Test Method for Density

and Void Content of Freshly Mixed
Pervious Concrete has been released

ASTM C-1701 Test Method for Infiltration

Rate of Pervious Concrete has recently
been finalized

In 2010 and beyond: ASTM R & D

Abrasion Resistance, Fresh Concrete

Density, Compressive & Flexural Strength,
Hardened Density, Surface Durability
 ACCEPTANCE TESTING
• Do NOT us non standard testing methods
• Do NOT be subjective in spot infiltration testing;
Pervious by nature isn’t pretty
• Do NOT try to correlate Strength to % of voids in
hardened cores.
• Consistent Unit weights of fresh pervious
concrete (120 lbs / cu ft) +/- 5 pounds with
consistent weighted equipment and procedures
will yield consistent in place compaction
 PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS
• DO try to require contractor certification in
specifications as a prequalification to bidding
• DO insist a Pre-Con with all interested parties well in
advance. Make sure the spec has been read !!
• DO validate Crew certification, project experience
• DO adopt suggested recommendations on mix
designs, joint layouts, water additions, compactive
equipment and other details
• Do a Mock Up- subject to acceptance
 EDUCATION RESOURCES
• WACA can provide assistance as requested to help
you be successful in your Pervious project;
specification development and review, mock up or
on site assistance, Contractor recommendations etc
• WACA can provide NRMCA Pervious Training or
Certification training to project team members or
specifiers
• On Line Certified Contractors at: www.nrmca.org,
click on pervious certification, select WA state
• http://www.washingtonconcrete.org/sustainability
/washington-pervious-projects/
Very Nice… over 500,000 sq ft / year
Thank you !!