17 FebPermeable Paving Solutions

Posted at 12:45h in Stormwater Management by
Permeable pavers up close

Managing stormwater is a critical concern for municipalities, engineers and developers. As our communities grow and develop, naturally permeable surfaces like grass and gravel are replaced with impermeable materials like concrete and asphalt.

Permeable paving is a green infrastructure solution that allows you to pave a strong and stable surface without sacrificing permeable space.

If you’re looking for a green solution that is practical for you and the environment, keep reading to learn about the benefits of permeable paving.

What is Permeable Paving?

Permeable paving is an alternative to traditional paving that intends to improve stormwater infiltration. This environmentally friendly paving technique is a favorable way to increase the total permeable area on a development while still supporting foot and vehicular traffic. Permeable paving, however, is not meant to be a substitution for traditional paving on every site.

We hope to answer some of your permeable paving questions in this article by covering the following topics:

            1. Permeable paving vs. traditional paving

            2. Advantages and disadvantages of permeable paving

            3. Product options

Permeable Paving vs. Traditional Paving

The difference between permeable paving and traditional paving is the porosity of the paving material.

Traditional paving applies asphalt, concrete or pavers to a graded base in order to create a smooth road, driveway, path or parking lot.

Paving with these products, however, increases the impermeable surface area. Runoff doesn’t infiltrate asphalt and concrete but rather flows over the hard surface.

Permeable paving, on the other hand, applies materials that absorb stormwater runoff.

Permeable products include pavers, porous paving systems, cellular confinement systems, and even artificial turf. Each product is designed to improve infiltration and increase the permeable surface area.

Porous paving systems and cellular confinement systems can be filled with stone, soil and natural vegetation. These materials naturally absorb runoff while also creating a stable base for traffic. These environmentally friendly options are not intended to be a direct substitution for all paving projects, however, you will find that they do have proven success for a wide variety of applications.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Permeable Paving

Porous paving products are proven solutions for green infrastructure but that doesn’t mean they will work for every project. Before specifying or purchasing, learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of permeable paving.

Advantages

Improved runoff infiltration is at the top of our list for why you should consider a permeable paving product. If you are having issues with flooded driveways, pooling parking lots, and puddling cart paths, a porous paving product might be the solution you need. Other major advantages include:

Reduce the volume of stormwater runoff

Reduce impermeable surfaces

Improve aesthetics

Earn LEED credits

Reduce the threat of flooding

Disadvantages

Permeable paving’s greatest shortcoming is that it is not suited for all of the same applications as traditional paving.

Although many products have an H-20 rating, you wouldn’t pave a highway or an entire port with a permeable paving product. Installing porous paving systems on these projects would take too long and would be too expensive.

Additionally, porous materials should not be installed on sites like gas stations where there are hazardous materials. Permeable products are designed to maximize runoff infiltration which means gas, oil or chemicals could infiltrate the cells and seep into the ground water system.

Permeable Paving Options

Although many permeable paving products appear similar, each product has a unique design that distinguishes its performance from others.  

We’re going to break down four of our favorite permeable paving options to help you decide which product works best for you.

PaveDrain

PaveDrain is a permeable articulated concrete block that interlocks to create a permeable paving system. PaveDrain is not a traditional permeable paver.

PaveDrain parking lot

Applications for PaveDrain

  • Parking lots
  • Fire lanes
  • Street parking lanes
  • Sidewalks
  • Cart paths
  • Emergency access roads
  • Residential driveways

Paver Size

12″ x 12″ x 5.65″

Why We Like PaveDrain

We love the product’s arch design that maximizes stormwater storage but the stormwater monitoring system is what truly distinguishes PaveDrain. The P4 INFIL-Tracker and P4 Rain-mX monitoring system reports the infiltration rate and the volume of captured stormwater runoff in order to accurately document infiltration success and guide maintenance requirements.

There are several characteristics that distinguish PaveDrain from traditional permeable pavers.

First, PaveDrain blocks are big blocks (12” x 12” x 5.56”) that each weigh 50 pounds and are manufactured in a variety of colors. Each block has an arched internal storage chamber that collects stormwater runoff.

Additionally, the joints in between PaveDrain blocks are left open. Most permeable paver joints, on the other hand, are filled with aggregate. The open joints allow water to infiltrate quickly. If the joints become clogged with debris, a vacuum truck can clean out the build-up and restore the joints to nearly new form. Smaller projects can be cleaned out with an air compressor and wand attachment.

Finally, PaveDrain has a HS-25 load rating and a compressive strength of 4,000 psi. This means it can withstand heavy loads like fire trucks and some equipment.

GEOPAVE® Gravel Paver

This paving system is manufactured by Presto Geosystems, a leading provider of innovative geosynthetic and drainage products.

GEOPAVE installed for parking lot

Applications

GEOPAVE® works for light, medium and heavy duty applications. Common applications for the GEOPAVE® include:

  • Emergency and Utility Access Lanes
  • Parking Areas
  • Pedestrian Trails & Walkways
  • Driveways
  • Shoulders & Medians

Sizes

  • 2″ x 20″ x 40″ (D x W x L)

Why We Like the GEOPAVE® Paver

GEOPAVE® units feature a herringbone design with a mesh cell bottom that results in structural support for heavy traffic. Just like the GEOBLOCK® units, GEOPAVE® doesn’t require stakes to connect the 20 inch by 40 inch units.

If you’re specifying GEOPAVE® for permeable parking lots, add snap delineators for high visibility parking indicators.

Gravel filled porous pavers offers excellent stormwater infiltration which can result in earning LEED credits.  

GEOBLOCK® Grass Porous Pavers

GEOBLOCK® is very similar to the GEOPAVE®. Both products are manufactured by Presto Geosystems, snap together for easy install and are made of recycled polyethylene.

GEOBLOCK for permeable parking lot

Applications

Choose GEOBLOCK® for commercial applications like fire lanes and overflow parking because the porous paver offers superior load distribution when subjected to high stress and heavy loads.  

  • Emergency and Utility Access Lanes
  • Overflow Parking Areas
  • Road Shoulders
  • Pedestrian Trails
  • Greenways

Paver Size:

1.2″ x 20″ x 40″ (D x W x L)

Why We Like GEOBLOCK®

GEOBLOCK® panels snap together (no stakes needed) which makes installation quick and easy. Each paver panel is rigid but contours to the ground.

Units of GEOBLOCK® Grass Pavers ship in stackable pallets with 92 units per pallet. Palletized products are easier to ship and easier to store.

GEOBLOCK® grass pavers also require 2 -3 times less base than other drivable grass products. The recommended engineered base is 30% topsoil and 70% aggregate. When successfully installed and vegetated, drivable grass should be achieved in about 2 to 3 weeks.

Geocell

Geocell is a cellular confinement system that is specified for many purposes including permeable paving.

GEOWEB geocells

Applications

  • Slope stabilization
  • Swale stabilization
  • Erosion control
  • Soil and ground stabilization
  • Green parking
  • Equipment yards
  • Access roads

Why We Like Geocell

Geocell cellular confinement systems are priced very competitively for permeable paving. The cell’s large openings also make it easy for grass to grow and establish a root system.

Our Geocell is manufactured from HDPE. This permeable paving system design, however, is much more flexible than the before mentioned products.

Geocell ships in panels of flexible strips that you pull apart to expand during installation. The panels are secured with ATRA Keys, Tendons, ATRA Speed Stakes or steel stakes with ATRA Clips. Once the cellular confinement system is installed, fill the cells with soil, stone, sand, concrete or grass.

Conclusion

We hope that this article provided you some key details for comparing permeable paving products. If you need further information or would like to request pricing for any of these products, please contact our sales team. 

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