Quantifying the Concrete Advantage in Parking Lots

Design Benefits• Established rational

design - ACI 330• Integral curb and gutter• Fewer drainage

structures needed• Can be easily designed

to hold storm water• Can be colored and

textured to owner’s desires

Maintenance

• Proven fewer repairs • No annual resealing

needed• Low annual

maintenance cost• No business

interruption

Performance• Proven long life• Strength increases

with age• Evenly carries heavy

loads• No potholes, bumps,

or wrinkles• Resistance to

freeze-thaw

Safety• Excellent light

reflectance• Greater visibility• Rigid pavement means

no potholes• High skid resistance• Less ponding means

less re-freezing and less exposure to liability in cold weather climates

Lower Total Ownership Costs

• Competitive first cost

• Proven longer life

• Lower life cycle costs

• Predictable cost estimates

• Energy Costs• Less lighting needed

• Savings as great as 30%

• Low heat absorption• 7° - 10° F cooler ambient air temp• Lower cooling costs

• Uses less raw materials

• No hazardous materials used

• Recycled materials can be used

• Conserves petroleum resources

• Does not pollute waterways

Environmentally Friendly

Compare Concrete and Asphalt• Portland Cement Concrete

• Hot Mix Asphalt– Formerly known as Bituminous Concrete

• Both use sand and stone

• How these raw materials are bound together make the difference

Portland Cement Concrete

• Industrial strength glue as binder– Inorganic – Does not break down– Gains strength over time

• Creates a rigid pavement– Able to evenly carry loads

• Low maintenance

Hot Mix Asphalt• Uses “Scotch-tape like” adhesive for binder

– Requires pressure (compaction)– Petroleum-based organic adhesive – breaks down

due to heat, water, & UV rays– Becomes weaker over time

• Requires costly seal coats & overlays to replenish this “adhesive”

• Creates a flexible pavement– Strength and durability highly reliant on quantity and

quality of base material

• Results in high maintenance costs

Pavement Failure• Not due to # of years• Due to stress of vehicle traffic

6,600 lbs6,600 lbs

pressure < 29 psi pressure 290 psi

Concrete’s rigidity spreads the load over a large areaand keeps pressures on the subgrade low.

Concrete Asphalt

Concrete vs. Asphalt

• Apples-to-apples comparison of pavement design should always be considered

• It takes 8” or more of asphalt to equal load carrying capacity of a 5” concrete pavement

Sample Parking Lot Comparison

• Utilizing NRMCA Concrete Pavement Analyst

• 100,000 ft2

• Average daily truck traffic (ADTT) 25

• Subbase soil type - Common - CBR 3

• Planned service life 20 years

ACI 330 Guidelines

Design Summary

Cost Summary(current costs – in thousands)

Concrete Parking Lots are a Smart Business Choice