Permeable blocks for multi-function buildings

Within the Investment Pact Social Integration in the Quarter, the German Federal Ministry of Construction supports projects in urban neighborhoods that enable municipalities to offer facilities for education, social encounter, integration and participation in support of social cohesion. Obersulm, a town near Heilbronn in Germany, was among the 570 municipalities that profited from a total of 750 measures included in this program. The construction of a multi-functional building was supported by a subsidy of around 1.5 million euros. In the course of construction, special value was also placed on ecological paving for the outdoor facilities.

Permeable Stuttgarter Sickerstein blocks with local infiltration of precipitation

Consistent with the overall objectives for infiltration, the planners also looked for a sustainable solution for paving the approx. 1,400 m² of exterior surfaces to be newly installed. “We had searched for a permeable concrete pavement from a regional manufacturer,” continues Ferdinand Böddinghaus. “And because we’d had previous good experience with Betonwerk Adolf Blatt in Kirchheim am Neckar, located only 30 km away, we decided on the permeable Stuttgarter Sickerstein pavement measuring 30 x 20 and 20 x 20 cm. This is a system that allows precipitation to infiltrate directly through the blocks and, made with lightweight aggregate concrete with open structure, easily satisfies the permeability specifications of at least 540 liters per second and hectare.”

This, in addition, corresponds to double the design rainfall and means that hardly any surface discharge is expected even during stronger rainfall events. Ferdinand Böddinghaus explains: “The contrary is the case – the water infiltrates the basecourse below. Another advantage results from the narrow joint width of the block system used. In contrast to other permeable systems, the Stuttgarter Sickerstein block is installed with a normal joint width of 3 to 5 mm, which minimizes growth of wild plants. And the design of the newly paved surfaces at the Michelbachhaus likewise speaks for itself.

Following a construction time of only 20 months, the new multi-function building of the Obersulm municipality was officially opened on 25 April 2024 in a festive ceremony as part of the Day of Urban Development observed nationwide throughout Germany. The overall costs amounted to just short of 7 million euros. “Until now, the pavement has fully met our expectations,” noted Ferdinand Böddinghaus in conclusion. More information about this block system as well as important details on all aspects of its use are available at www.blatt-beton.de.