Paving and Asphalt
Use Permeable Clay Brick Pavers
What Is It?
Pine Hall Brick
Permeable clay brick pavers are very similar to permeable interlocking concrete pavers (PICPs). With the exception of the construction material (clay brick vs concrete), brick and concrete pavers share many technical specifications, maintenance needs, and applications. Relative to interlocking concrete pavers, permeable clay brick pavers have wider joints between bricks that allow for water infiltration. These open-graded aggregate-filled joints can allow for theoretical permeability of hundreds of inches per hour, though in practice, infiltration rates will depend on the permeability of the subgrade soil. Replacement of aggregate fill should occur as needed. Periodic vacuuming will help maintain infiltration rates, and frequency should be determined by exposure to sediments (e.g. pavers not frequently exposed to mud and winter sanding may not need to be vacuumed for many years). Like PICPs, permeable clay brick pavers have very high load bearing strength and can be used in industrial applications, with the exception of areas that handle hazardous materials.
Benefits
- Enhances groundwater infiltration while reducing stormwater runoff volume, rate, and pollutants.
- Bricks can reduce urban heat island through increased reflectivity and evaporative cooling
- Very high load bearing strength
- Reduces occurrence of black ice/freezing puddles in cold climates; requires less applied de-icers
- Variety of colors and shapes available,which can preserve urban or rustic aesthetic
- Easy to repair – units can be easily removed and reset
Drawbacks
- Pollutants and deicing salts can infiltrate groundwater—should not be installed in areas where hazardous material spills are possible
- More expensive than other permeable pavements
Regulatory Impacts and Requirements
Potential regulatory touchpoints in Boston and Massachusetts include:
- Boston Groundwater Trust
- Boston Water and Sewer Commission
- Local Utilities
- Boston Public Works Department
- Public Improvement Commission
- Zoning Board of Appeals
- Architectural Access Board
- MA Historical Commission/Boston Landmarks Commission
Financing Options, Incentives, and Rebates
- State of Massachusetts:
- Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF)
- Coastal Pollutant Remediation (CPR) Grant Program
- Section 319 Nonpoint Source Competitive Grant (Funding provided under federal Clean Water Act)
- 604b Water Quality Management Planning Grant (Funding provided under federal Clean Water Act)
- Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program
- Newton, MA: Municipal stormwater abatement service fees
News
- “How Technology Can Help Cities Make Better Use of Stormwater,” Gizmodo, May 13, 2015
- “Spokane entrepreneurs pave the way to collect rain with porous bricks,” The Spokesman-Review, Jan. 31, 2015
Resources
- The Brick Industry Association: Permeable Clay Brick Pavements
- The Belden Brick Company: Permeable Pavers
- California Coastal Commission: Permeable Pavement
A Sample of Providers
Project Examples
- On Third Street in New Albany, OH, the city found that using permeable brick paving not only was an environmental and smart stormwater management solution, but also cost less than replacing the worn out traditional asphalt.
- Several permeable brick paving projects by StormPave keep city aesthetics while ensuring storm and ice resilience and pollutant filtering, as well as earning LEED points and saving maintenance money.
