To address these challenges, green
holders, including regulatory agencies
concrete forms, developed by
building developers are turning to
and testing laboratories, through test
Subcommittee
E 06.21
on
pervious concrete, an environmentally
methods and practices aimed at
Serviceability. E2634 focuses on the
friendly solution for the surfaces of
reducing water pollution and control-
use of ICF systems as energy efficient
streets, driveways and parking areas
ling erosion. Currently under develop-
building envelopes for both residential
that are part of or adjacent to homes
ment by C27.70 is a new testing proto-
and commercial construction.
and office buildings. Pervious
col for stormwater hydrodynamic
Airtightness and windtightness are
concrete captures stormwater and
systems, used to remove settable
core components in sustainable build-
allows it to seep into the ground,
solids that could cause contamination
ing
design
and
construction.
reducing runoff and helping to meet
from stormwater runoff.
Controlling air leakage -- unwanted
EPA stormwater regulations. By elimi-
Raising
the
Bar
for
H igh
flow of air through the external fabric of
nating the runoff of untreated storm-
Performance Buildings
the building envelope -- is central to
water, pervious concrete advances
Today's high performing green build-
energy efficiency and unnecessary
sustainable development goals by miti-
ings share a common characteristic:
heat loss. In addition, heat that
gating pollution, protecting streams,
they do more with less. High perform-
escapes from buildings carries a
watersheds and ecosystems, reduc-
ing buildings have small ecological
significant amount of moisture. This
ing surface temperatures and heat
footprints and create a healthy indoor
can lead to damage to buildings and
island effects, and eliminating the
environment for the user; they meet
building materials, and may have a
need for expensive collection and
occupants' functional and aesthetic
severe effect on the air quality of the
detention systems. The LEED rating
needs while scoring gains in energy
living space. Two E06 standards that
system on high performance, sustain-
efficiency, materials use and sourcing,
assist green building stakeholders in
able buildings now recognizes pervi-
water efficiency, carbon footprint,
testing
and
quantifying
the
ous concrete and offers points when it
construction practices and indoor air
airtightness of a building envelope are
is used for stormwater management in
quality. Some "net-zero" homes, built
E779 on air leakage rate and E1827
a building project.
on the cutting edge of sustainable
on airtightness of buildings. To help
ASTM Subcommittee C09.49 on
development, are so efficient that they
assess air leakage through the physi-
Pervious Concrete is filling the market
generate a large portion of their own
cal parts of the building envelope is
need for standards for pervious
energy.
another E06 test method, E283 on air
concrete. As a result of its porous
Helping green construction stake-
leakage through exterior windows,
nature, pervious concrete cannot be
holders to fulfill their vision for high
curtain walls and doors. A companion
tested using traditional concrete stan-
performing homes and buildings is the
standard, E1105 on water penetra-
dards. Filling the void is test method
diverse range of standards from
tion, outlines the procedures for test-
C1688 on freshly mixed pervious
ASTM International Committee E06
ing the water resistance of installed
concrete, which helps verify that the
on Performance of Buildings. Through
exterior windows, skylights, doors and
pervious concrete delivered to a
18 technical subcommittees, E06
curtain walls.
project corresponds to the producer's
addresses topics related
mix proportions, and C1701 on in-
to the overall perfor-
place pervious concrete, which is
mance, improvement,
used to detect a reduction of infiltration
and management of
rate of the pervious concrete, thereby
buildings and related
identifying the need for remediation.
facilities. Notable E06
ASTM Subcommittee C27.70 on
standards that provide
Precast Concrete Products for
valuable utility in sustain-
Stormwater Management, part of
able building-related
Committee C27 on Precast Concrete
applications include
Products, is also assisting stake-
E2634 on flat insulating
23
Issue 72 March 2014
2014
72

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