Report Tracks Long-Term Pervious Concrete Performance

Validating the long-held claim that pervious concrete performs well in freeze-thaw environments, with little maintenance, the RMC Research & Education

Validating the long-held claim that pervious concrete performs well in freeze-thaw environments, with little maintenance, the RMC Research & Education Foundation’s new Portland Cement Pervious Concrete Pavement: Field Performance Investigation on Parking Lot and Roadway Pavements report confirms the material’s suitability for northern markets. Although the use of pervious concrete has increased significantly in southern climates over the last decade, practitioners in northern markets have not embraced its use as widely due to questions about its performance in cold weather.

Research was conducted at Cleveland State University over three years and included a long-term field performance investigation on the use of pervious concrete, particularly in areas where freeze-thaw conditions are prevalent. The study is the latest of several final and ongoing pervious concrete research projects funded by the Foundation. This study should provide assurance that pervious concrete can be successfully placed in cold climates, resulting in safer parking lots and roadways with reduced icy conditions, as melting snow runs through the pavement rather than refreezing on it, says Foundation Chairman Dominique Calabrese (Lafarge North America).

The full report may be downloaded from the Foundation’s website (www.rmc-foundation.org), which also offers insight on related pervious concrete, research and educational projects.