Since it's founding in 1990, CMS has been a consulting firm to ready mix producers and contractors
throughout the United States optimizing concrete mix designs, training concrete batchmen,
salesmen and finishers and promoting concrete as the best building material in the world. Over the
past eleven years our business has focused more on research and development of pervious
concrete as well as becoming a national authority on the benefits, use and education of pervious
concrete. To date CMS has consulted, contracted and taught pervious certification classes in sixteen States.
While the use of pervious concrete in the United States originated in Florida in the 1980's and was used mostly in warm weather areas of the country, CMS was instrumental in proving that it was a viable product by building the first pervious parking lot in Williston, Vermont, a project that was chosen for the harsh winter environment that Vermont typically experiences each year.
Pervious Concrete - Returning Balance Back To Nature
Pervious concrete eliminates stormwater detention structures and can return valuable land to the
developer. Getting those lots back can oftentimes pay for the entire pervious system.
Environmentally, it makes good sense to let rainwater directly recharge our groundwater. Pervious
can mitigate "first flush" pollution and protects our streams, watersheds and ecosystems.
CMS offers specifiers with detailed pervious concrete specifications that can help make sure that
your job is designed and most importantly, bid properly.
Specifiers Viewpoint
Baton Rouge, Louisiana had three pervious jobs completed. The problem was nobody wanted to
do a fourth job. The mix did not perform well due to an unbalanced mix design that was doomed to
ravel. The Concrete and Aggregates Association of Louisiana in partnership with a progressive
thinking concrete contractor brought Bob Banka, President of CMS to do a lunch and learn on how
pervious concrete should be done. Below is an explanation from the architect as to what he saw
and learned from our process:
"There is much miss-conception by
the general public as well as owners, designers and builders related to the efforts required for a successful pervious concrete installation. Utilizing
the proper mix selection, actual material mixing, techniques of setting and
finishing and curing pervious concrete require a new set of skills not normally found by those who have no experience with pervious concrete. Bringing
knowledgeable and skilled craftsmen to the project site was critical in the
success of this project, and it provided an opportunity for all that witnessed
this work a better understand of the steps necessary to use this type of
concrete and the benefits to the environment.
The educational seminar opportunity offered earlier in the year was important in establishing a new and higher level of understanding of the differences between normal and pervious concrete. It was clearly seen in that classroom environment that even the concrete supply professionals lacked a fundamental understanding of the “attention to detail” required for a successful pour.
My observations of this work at the Lab School Gym include the following:
1. Understanding the preparatory work required in advance of a pervious concrete pour is critical. 2. Giving the designers an opportunity to visit and tour the batch plant was very helpful in understanding the importance of the mix and mix design. 3. Requiring a test pour in advance of the actual job placement was vital in demonstrating the expectations and end results required of the project. 4. Proper training of the setting and finishing crew in advance of the pour is vital to a successful installation. There were a few issues during the first pour that a more experience crew would have overcome more effectively or not have experienced at all. I do know the subsequent pours were executed more successfully. 5. Your description of the work, tools required and finishing techniques while it was being executed was very helpful and informative. 6. Coordination with the general contractor played a key role in the success of this work.
The attention paid to these items contributed to a successful installation, and I also believe this was the first time our client, LSU, was able to witness a successful pour. More importantly, all that now walk by this site can now see what properly set pervious concrete looks like and, hopefully, recognize the benefits to the environment that a drainable and breathable material can offer to a campus full of rich landscape treasures.
The attention paid to these items contributed to a successful installation, and I also believe this was the first time our client, LSU, was able to witness a successful pour. More importantly, all that now walk by this site can now see what properly set pervious concrete looks like and, hopefully, recognize the benefits to the environment that a drainable and breathable material can offer to a campus full of rich landscape treasures.
I hope this helps.
Thanks. "
Bryon
bryon m. hume, architect, aia, leed ap
tipton associates
architecture | planning | interiors
449 westmoreland drive baton rouge, la 70806
office: 225.387.0101 ext 15 fax: 225.387.0104
CMS now offers specifiers with detailed pervious concrete specifications that can help make sure that your job is designed and most importantly bid properly.
Check out our pervious blog!
Ohio Ready Mix of Huntsville, Ohio asked our company President, Bob Banka to contribute to a
blog they developed for their website to pass along information that they could use to learn
the benefits and downfalls of using pervious concrete. While at their website, please check out
the other concrete related information that they have posted.
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