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 lbs pressure < 29 psi pressure  290 psi Concrete’s rigidity spreads the load over a large area and keeps pressures on the subgrade low. ConcreteAsphalt

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 ft 2 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