Hi all,
In my projects in Poland usually when we aim to achieve heat island option 1. points with non-roof "open-grid pavement" strategy we mean permeable grass pavers, just like the ones on the picture, of course 50% unbound: https://kb.pl/static/site_media/uploads/images/plyta-azurowa-polbruk-ekologiczny-meba.jpg
However, recently I was asked if using gravel or some other king of aggregate instead of grass inside grid openings is an acceptable strategy. The building owner would like to give up on grass for aesthetic and water saving reasons.
After reading the definition of open-grid pavement I wonder if aggregate would be acceptable. I think it still would be a loose substrate supported by a grid, so it seems compliant. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance!
Rachel David
Sustainability Consultant / OwnerWasatch Enverdigris
November 2, 2020 - 3:14 pm
Hello, I wonder if you've found any direction on this? We have a few large areas of gravel only for excess parking, etc. They do not have and open grid to stabilize but it seems gravel would meet the intent to minimize paving and as it is stated in the reference guide: 'unbounded, loose substrates do not transfer and store heat like bound and compacted materials do.'
Afogreen Build
www.afogreenbuild.comGreen Building Consultant
247 thumbs up
November 17, 2020 - 5:19 am
Hi Aleksandra,
Yes, it still can meet the requirement. Because if we use grass for the open grid pavement, we still have to calculate the grass opening area itself and then exclude it from the pavement area.
If you change the opening area with aggregates, then just make sure that the SR at least 0.33 to score the SS5 credit.
Best regards.