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August 27, 2009

Pervious Concrete Training Seminar--September 11, 2009

Pervious concrete -- made of gravel and cement minus the sand that gives regular concrete its impenetrable density -- has the look and porous quality of a Rice Krispies bar. It is an ideal alternative to traditional storm water “catch basins” and is becoming an important “green” building material in controlling pollutants and creating sustainable communities.

The Sierra Nevada Concrete Association is hosting a 5-hour technician certification course, provided by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24 on the proper installation of pervious concrete.

The course is being held in cooperation with the City of Reno, and is supported by the Truckee River Fund and Nevada Department of Environmental Protection’s 319 funding.

The City of Reno’s Structural Controls Ordinance (March 2009) requires the collection and retention of storm water on-site for new developments. Pervious materials are one way to do the job; allowing rainwater and snowmelt to soak into the ground, not runoff into the river. The installation of pervious concrete in our region will require contractors with certified installers as part of requirements for city-approved projects.

“The City of Reno is supporting the use of pervious concrete and is hoping to create local expertise with pervious concrete for our community,” said Hydrologist Lynell Garfield of Reno’s Public Works Department. “Our smart development ordinances require designs and installations that manage storm water and control pollutants on-site. Properly installed pervious concrete is an ideal material to accomplish that.”

The City is using pervious concrete in its planned “McKinley Low Impact Development Demonstration Project.” This project kicks off shortly and includes a retrofit with rain gutters, a rain garden and pervious parking lot to let rainwater soak in, as ‘best management practices” for protecting the Truckee River.

“With what we know of rainfall carrying urban chemicals from hardscapes into the river, it is exciting to capture roof and parking lot pollutants and protect our river in such a creative way,” Garfield said.

The course will provide each attendee with a comprehensive and working knowledge of pervious concrete pavements for installation in various applications and well as a design and/or supervision of placements. This first level certification allows attendees to apply for installer certification, highly beneficial to companies looking to bid on projects requiring personnel certification. This project includes two additional courses later in the summer, one for design engineers, and one for operations and maintenance staff.

Cost of the course is $350 and includes written materials, a placement demonstration as well as lunch.

For information, call Paulette Salisbury of the California Nevada Cement Association at (925) 918-0982 or e-mail at Paulette.salisbury@cncement.org.