BMP Monitoring Sites - Urban Drainage and Flood Control District

UDFCD BMP MONITORING SITES
Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement
PERMEABLE INTERLOCKING
CONCRETE PAVEMENT
Description Location Typical Details Installation
Photo Gallery Monitoring Data Other Examples
Description
General
Permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) consists of concrete block
units with open surface voids laid on a gravel subgrade. These voids occupy
at least 20% of the total surface area that are filled
with sand or sandy loam turf that has at least 50%
sand by weight in its volume. However, unless the
pavement will be watered regularly (i.e., using a
sprinkler system) to keep the vegetation viable,
concrete sand infill is the recommended
material. Permeable interlocking concrete
pavement may be sloped or flat. PICPs
have been in use in the United States since
the mid-1970s. Although field data that
quantify their long-term performance are somewhat limited, the data
collected locally, and at other parts or the country and the episodic
reports from Canada, Australia, Asia and Europe indicate that properly
installed PICP are reliable and have experienced few problems under a
wide range of climates. An alternate application of PICP provides for a
surcharge zone above its surface to detain runoff and provide storage
space for the water quality capture volume.
Site Specific
The permeable interlocking concrete pavement site monitored
by the District is located at the Denver Wastewater
Management Division building. The PICP was placed
in May of 2005 by Rocky Mountain Hardscapes. The design
included a 3 1/8” paver on top of 16 inches of #8 gravel, #67