The goal of this certification program is to ensure that knowledgeable
contractors are selected to place the product and thereby minimize the
chance for failure.
The program is designed to be administered locally by local sponsoring
groups in conjunction with planned training sessions or demonstrations of
pervious concrete placement. NRMCA provides certification exams and
performance evaluations to approved local sponsoring groups for
administering the certification. For the current list of local sponsoring
groups, CLICK
HERE.
Three levels of certification are available:
A Pervious Concrete
Technician is a person who
demonstrated knowledge by successful completion of a written exam about
proper procedures to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and
protect pervious concrete pavements, but who lacks the requisite field
experience to qualify as a pervious concrete Installer or Craftsman.
The Technician level is intended for contractor
and non contractor personnel in learning the proper techniques of
installing pervious concrete.
It is
assumed that contractor personnel who are certified as technicians will
be supervised by an individual with a higher level of certification and
they will upgrade to the higher levels when they achieve the work
experience criteria for Installer and Craftsman levels to qualify to
install pervious without supervision. This level is also intended for
any non-contractor persons such as ready mixed concrete personnel,
testing labs, inspectors, admixture personnel, specifiers and engineers
that need to understand the pervious concrete system. This certification
level is also recommended for individuals who are knowledgeable about
pervious concrete who intend to participate in training programs for
local sponsoring groups.
A Pervious Concrete
Installer is a person who has
demonstrated the ability to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure
and protect pervious concrete pavements and has documented a limited
project-based field experience in placing pervious concrete.
The
Installer
level is intended for contractor personnel who have achieved this
intermediate level of certification by completing installation of work
as indicated by the certification criteria. Installers are expected to
assume leadership roles when installing pervious concrete and make
decisions on placement conditions and procedures. It is anticipated that
contractor personnel will upgrade to Craftsman level when they achieve
the work experience criteria for that level.
A Pervious Concrete
Craftsman is a person who has
demonstrated the ability to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure
and protect pervious concrete pavements and has documented a higher
level of field time-based experience in placing pervious concrete.
The
Craftsman
level is intended for contractor personnel who have achieved this
highest level of certification by completing the work experience as
indicated by the certification criteria. Craftsman are expected to lead
an installing crew, work with the concrete supplier to ensure the
mixture is appropriate for the installation, designate duties and
assignments to the crew, evaluate site and placement conditions and make
decisions when the pour needs to be stopped or re-scheduled.
Scope and Knowledge
The program requires knowledge in the following areas of concrete
construction:
General information about applications and use of pervious concrete
Pervious concrete materials, mixture proportioning and
production
Proper use of tools and equipment
General design principles of pervious concrete pavements
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Pervious Concrete
Contractor certification program includes certification of personnel at the
following levels:
Pervious
Concrete Technician
Pervious
Concrete Installer
Pervious Concrete
Craftsman
Pervious Concrete Technician:
Personnel achieving the following
criteria will obtain certification as a Pervious Concrete Technician.
Pass the NRMCA Pervious
Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of
75% or greater administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by
NRMCA.
Pervious Concrete Installer:
Personnel achieving the following
criteria will obtain certification as a Pervious Concrete Installer.
Pass the NRMCA Pervious
Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of
75% or greater administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by
NRMCA
Complete a Performance
Evaluation administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by NRMCA –
Form PCC10.
Provide project experience
documentation of successful construction of a minimum of 3 projects with
a total area exceeding 10,000 square feet (1000 m²) –
Form PCC8.
Pervious Concrete Craftsman:
Personnel achieving the following
criteria will obtain certification as a Pervious Concrete Craftsman.
Pass the NRMCA Pervious
Concrete Contractor Certification Written Examination with a score of
75% or greater administered by a Local Sponsoring Group approved by
NRMCA
Possess a current ACI Flatwork
Finisher Technician or Craftsman certification at the time of
application
Work Experience:
OPTION A: Complete a
Performance Evaluation administered by a Local Sponsoring Group
approved by NRMCA and document work experience constructing pervious
concrete pavement exceeding 1500 hours – Forms
PCC10 and
PCC9,
respectively.
OR
OPTION B: Provide
documentation of work experience constructing pervious concrete
pavements exceeding 3000 hours –
Form PCC9 and
Work Experience Worksheet, respectively.
Work experience shall be documented in hours and
square footage on a standard spreadsheet. Documentation shall
include project and contact, preferable an owner, who can verify the
conduct of the work. The craftsman applicant shall document a
minimum of 3 problems they have had on pervious concrete jobs and
how they resolved these problems. The craftsman application
shall be reviewed and approved by a minimum of 3 member
certification committee established by the Local Sponsoring Group.
NRMCA Pervious Concrete Contractor
Certifications shall be valid for a period of five [5] years. The expiration
date for the certification shall be based on the date of completion of the
written examination.
Exam Information
The two-hour written examination is "closed book," consisting of
approximately 60 multiple-choice questions. The passing grade for the
written examination is 75%.
During the performance evaluation, each examinee must demonstrate procedures
for placing, compacting, finishing, edging, jointing and beginning curing a
pervious concrete slab. The examiner will observe and evaluate the
techniques used and record passing or failing grades on the various
individual procedures. A passing grade is defined as "no significant
variation from proper procedure and no more than two variations from proper
technique in the use of the tools."
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