Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Don Wade
Enhanced Porosity Concrete/Pervious Concrete & ACI
In 1999 Mr. Wade made a request to the American Concrete Institute (ACI)
to create a new Committee to evaluate the properties, and the use of Pervious
Concrete. 
After two years of working with the ACI Technical Actions Committee (TAC),
and various individuals that agreed to become the founding members, the first
official meeting of
Committee 522 "Enhanced Porosity Concrete" (EPC) was held. The name was soon
changed to "Pervious Concrete" by action of the Committee. Mr. Wade requested
Dan Brown be made the first Chairman, and ACI accepted the nomination. Mr. Wade
has remained in the position of Vice Chairman of the Committee and is still
actively "recruiting" new members. Because of the increased interest in the
Environmental aspects of Pervious Concrete, the Committee has now grown to be
one of the largest within ACI. Take a look at the page on
this Web site dedicated to ACI.
In Memory of the late Dan Brown, "Thank You" for a job well done.
Certifying Concrete Contractors in the Construction of Pervious Concrete Pavements
In 2005, just after Mr. Wade was hired by Magruder Construction, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) requested that he write the manual to be used for the Certification of Concrete Craftsmen, and others, in the design and construction of Pervious Concrete Parking Lots. Don Wade wrote the Manual, which has been peer reviewed, and is now being used as the instruction-manual for all levels of National Certification for those interested in working with Pervious Concrete. After taking the exam himself, and meeting the experience requirements, Don Wade has been recognized by the NRMCA as a "Pervious Concrete Craftsman". Mr. Wade is also recognized as an authority by the cement and concrete industry on the design of pervious concrete, and conventional concrete, pavements for parking lots. Take a look at the page on this site dedicated to the NRMCA.
Pervious Concrete, Stormwater Management and LEED Certification
Mr. Wade is currently working with Local, State and National Groups to encourage the use of pervious concrete pavements as an integral part of the dual-use system of a pavement and infiltration basin combination. The dual-use system is an integral part of the application of pervious concrete pavements for LEED Credits in the U.S. Green-Building System. The dual-use system is one of the most cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly stormwater storage/treatment systems ever used. Don Wade is credited with the creation of the Dual-Use, and Park in the Pond concepts. (See the article published by Concrete Monthly: Parking lot can be designed as detention pond - December, 2005.)
Mr. Wade is also a founding-member of the new ASTM Committee on Pervious Concrete (ASTM C-09.49). The new Committee was organized in December of 2006, and is currently looking at tests that can be used for acceptance criteria for pervious concrete.
During the last 25-years Mr. Wade has written many articles about pervious concrete pavements and stormwater management such as the article published in Concrete Monthly. He has also participated as guest-speaker at many functions across the country pertaining to pervious concrete, Dual-Use and Park in the Pond concepts for on-site stormwater management such as APWA- Missouri Chapter Fall Conference.
History and Development of the Pervious Concrete Market
Don Wade has been involved in the marketing, and the construction, of Pervious Concrete pavements since the late 1970's. Mr. Wade first learned about Pervious Concrete by being introduced to the material at a Ready-Mix plant in Sarasota, Florida. The Ready-Mix plant was affiliated with a company from Great Britain, and had received the mix-design from them. The plant created about one cubic foot of Pervious Concrete, in a pile, by using a small concrete mixer. The Manager of the plant showed Mr. Wade this "new" material they had created, but at that time didn't know what to do with it. The Manager told Don, "watch this", and poured a glass of water on the pile of concrete, the water immediately disappeared into the concrete. It was an amazing sight. This was the first known demonstration of Pervious Concrete, and how fast it will absorb water. (See the new NRMCA Video of water being poured on a section of pervious concrete pavement.)
First Market for Pervious Concrete
Mr. Wade requested a "sample" of the material, and information on the mix design. The "pile" was broken-up and Don received a few of the pieces, and the mix design. Mr. Wade's first attempt to "create" a market for this unique material was to convince the Tampa Parks Department to allow its use as a pavement under trees. After being shown how fast water flowed through a sample, the Parks Department was convinced. From that point, word spread pretty quickly, and a few Engineering Companies, after also seeing the "demo", started seeing the value in using the material as a total-pavement instead of just under trees. A few years later, other areas of the U.S. created their own projects using Pervious Concrete.
Contact information
Don Wade can be reached best by e-mail: dwade@magruderconstruction.com , or by cell-phone: 321-229-7223. He may also be reached through the Magruder Construction - Pervious Concrete Division Web site. Also, take a look at the page on this Web site dedicated to Magruder Construction.