Top 10 Reasons to Specify Precast Concrete Stormwater Products

Water is an essential resource for humans, providing life and creating some of the most stunning natural features on the planet. However, it can also be detrimental – excessive amounts of water brought on by inclement weather can wreak havoc on infrastructure systems, resulting in flooding and pollution. Stormwater solutions help alleviate these issues, and there are many reasons to choose precast concrete, as this Top 10 list demonstrates.

An underground detention system in Lakeview, Calif., comprised of more than 500 pieces of precast concrete. (Photo courtesy of Oldcastle Precast.)

1. Precast concrete is strong.

With a nearly 100-year design life, precast stormwater systems are built to last thanks to high-strength mix designs, controlled manufacturing environments and strict QA/QC processes. Precast simply outperforms alternative materials.

Additionally, precast stormwater systems manufactured under the National Precast Concrete Association’s Plant Certification Program have advantages other materials don’t have. Detailed batch reports for each load verify performance while numerous third-party audits ensure products meet established strength standards.

2. Precast concrete is affordable.

When specifying precast, you don’t just get a product with an extended service life. You also get a stormwater solution that will save you money – the quality of the precast dictates project owners won’t have to come back and make repairs or install replacements. Contractors can set it and forget it.

3. Precast concrete is durable.

You can’t stick around for close to a century if you aren’t durable. Precast stormwater solutions can withstand wear, freeze/thaw cycles, pressure and damage like no other material. Plus, precast’s inherent properties allow it to withstand natural and man-made disasters, including everything from hurricanes to fires.

Multiple design options – including additives, coatings and high-strength mixes – enable precast to remain in service longer than the competition.

4. Precast concrete is contractor friendly.

Precast concrete is less reliant on the surrounding backfill for support compared to alternative materials. This means precast requires fewer special installation parameters, making things easier on the contractor. With precast, structural integrity is secured without the need of a third party to perform specific tasks, such as seam welding.

5. Precast concrete is fully customizable.

Precast concrete manufactures offer design flexibility that allow their products to perform at a high level even in extreme situations. Products can be manufactured to be watertight or to be used for airport loading, railroad loading and a variety of other special circumstances.

Got a unique project footprint that requires a specialized size or shape? Precast concrete stormwater structures can be fabricated to fit within your needs, and are ready to be installed quickly once delivered to the job site.

A curved precast concrete culvert unit in production for a stormwater project in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Photo courtesy of Lindsay Precast Inc. – Colorado Division.)

6. Precast concrete meets state and federal requirements, including those from the following groups:

• American Concrete Institute
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• American Society for Testing Materials
• American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
  International Building Code

Special mix designs can also be crafted to meet specific project needs.

7. Precast concrete is speedy.

Precast systems are manufactured ahead of time and arrive on the job site ready to be installed. There’s no need for onsite curing. In most cases, precast solutions can be installed in just days.

8. Precast concrete is green.

Many government agencies require buildings meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED requirements. Precast concrete can help you maximize your LEED points, enabling projects with precast stormwater systems to more easily attain LEED certification. Other materials do not offer the same sustainable benefits, which could result in a lower building certification level.

9. Precast concrete has a small footprint.

Precast stormwater systems can be manufactured to withstand extensive amounts of pressure, which means they can be built taller than when using alternate materials. As a result, a smaller site footprint is required.

10. Precast concrete is local.

Specifying precast concrete stormwater solutions means you have a local partner and you are supporting local businesses. Additionally, the raw materials used to fabricate the precast usually come from quarries located near the precaster’s manufacturing facility.

Looking for even more reasons to specify precast for your stormwater project? Take a look at how precast helped establish a 9,000-gallons-per-minute water flow rate for a stormwater system in Washington. You can also view a list of stormwater specifications or browse all of our stormwater management resources.

Ready to use precast? Contact a local precaster today.