Percoa USA LLC is the first company to develop and patent precast pervious concrete. Pervious concrete is engineered with an open-cell structure to allow rainwater to drain directly through its entire surface, so the water can percolate down into a stone aggregate subbase and then infiltrate into the soil.
“We have demonstrated the durability of Percoa precast pervious concrete as well as its effectiveness in capturing and filtering runoff,” says Brett Pomerleau, founder and president of Percoa USA. “Now that we have secured our patent, we are moving forward to license our technology to companies ready to manufacture pervious slabs and pavers for stormwater management in commercial and residential applications.”
“Percoa has the potential to revitalize and expand the use of pervious concrete,“ says Mary Vancura, civil engineer, Beton Consulting Engineers, Mendota Heights, Minn.
Pervious concrete controls and reduces stormwater runoff at the source, improves water quality by decreasing erosion and filtering out pollutants, and recharges groundwater supplies. The EPA recognizes it as a Best Management Practice for Low-Impact Development (LID). A land planning and engineering methodology, LID emphasizes natural features integrated with engineered hydrological controls to capture and clean stormwater runoff onsite.
Withstands freeze-thaw
Precast pervious concrete has been proven in a wide variety of successful installations. Since October 2011, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has monitored an installation of Percoa slabs at MnROAD, one of the most sophisticated, independently operated pavement test facilities in the world. To date, the test slabs have withstood three winters of freeze-thaw action and an estimated 720 tests with the weight of a fully loaded 18-wheel, five-axle tractor trailer with very little settlement or cracking, according to MnDOT.
“Percoa provides a good alternative to other permeable and porous pavement materials and products,” said Steve Klein, vice president and senior civil engineer, Barr Engineering, Edina, Minn. With expertise in stormwater mitigation, water resources management, and watershed planning, Barr provides engineering and environmental consulting services to clients around the world.
Percoa claims its pervious concrete is superior to cast-in-place pervious concrete, with more consistent structural characteristics, greater uniformity throughout, and predictable performance. It is strong and durable and is immediately functional and usable when installed. Percoa can be cast in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. It offers great flexibility for civil engineers, landscape architects, and contractors to design and install parking lots, driveways, sidewalks and walkways, plazas, and patios that are attractive, functional, and low-maintenance as well as pervious.
Percoa is more effective than permeable pavers. Permeable pavers themselves are impervious. Water infiltrates only in the space between them, which is filled with construction aggregate. Per square foot, permeable pavers infiltrate the least amount of stormwater compared to other porous and pervious materials.
Visit www.percoausa.com for more information.
