Teaching
Pervious concrete is not easy. It is not easy to make and it is not easy to do all of the steps necessary to properly install it.
The first step that anyone wishing to work with pervious concrete needs to do is to become certified through the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's Pervious Certification Program. You can do this by checking with the local sponsoring group, normally a State Ready Mixed Concrete Association. Typically most of their classes are three hours long and then there is a written test.
We do not think that this class goes deep enough into the intricacies of pervious concrete so we have developed a class that involves seven + hours of classroom instruction.
Beyond the basics of pervious concrete we delve into how to choose the proper aggregates and how to properly proportion a mix so that you get reliable results every time. We go into batch plant operations and the training of the delivery drivers. We teach you when to use pervious and when not as well as when it is time to walk away from a job rather than doing it according to bad specifications. We do this through a balanced combination of the NRMCA text as well as using video's of pervious installations and examples from around the country of successful jobs as well as those that did not perform as expected.
The NRMCA program requires knowledge in the following areas of concrete construction: Basic concrete technology, pervious concrete materials and mix proportioning, proper use of tools and equipment, general design principles of pervious concrete pavements as well as pervious concrete construction, maintenance and troubleshooting
No matter what level of certification you are looking to get, we can help you be prepared for the test and then be on-site with you to make sure that what you learn in the class is properly applied in the field.
There are three levels of certication:
A Pervious Concrete Technician is a person who demonstrated knowledge about proper procedures to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect pervious concrete pavements, but who lacks the requisite field experience to qualify as a pervious concrete Installer or Craftsman. This is a good level for a testing lab technician, a ready mix sales person, a concrete batchman, an architect or engineer or in other words, people who do not plan on actually placing pervious concrete. We would never recommend to an owner that they allow five certified technicians to do a pervious installation without having a consultant onsite, they simply cannot have the experience needed to guarantee you a successful job.
A Pervious Concrete Installer is a person who has demonstrated the ability to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect pervious concrete pavements and has documented a limited project-based field experience in placing pervious concrete. This limited experience is 10,000 square feet over the course of three jobs. The problem with this level of certification is that it takes many more square feet and many more jobsites to become thoroughly educated about this unique product. At this level a contractor may or may not have the experience needed to be able to properly install pervious concrete on a consistent basis. We would still recommend that you consider hiring an outside consultant to monitor the job and to help make sure that the concrete mix design is properly done.
A Pervious Concrete Craftsman is a person who has demonstrated the ability to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect pervious concrete pavements and has documented a higher level of field time-based experience in placing pervious concrete.
What you need to do to become a Pervious Concrete Craftsman: Pass the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of 75% or greater administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA. Possess a current ACI Flatwork Finisher Technician or Craftsman certification at the time of application. Work Experience: OPTION A: Complete a Performance Evaluation administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA and document work experience constructing pervious concrete pavement exceeding 1500 hours – Forms PCC10 and PCC9, respectively OR OPTION B: Provide documentation of work experience constructing pervious concrete pavements exceeding 3000 hours – Form PCC9.