Landscape Architect Articles

GENUINE CLAY PAVERS ADD ACCESSIBILITY TO THEIR LIST OF BENEFITS12-05-02 | News

Wheelchair Accessibility Proven in Recent University of Pennsylvania Study An LandscapeOnline Exclusive, Courtesy of the Brick Industry Association December 3, 2002 (Reston, VA) Most people instantly recognize the longevity and beauty of brick-paved streets and sidewalks ? the way they seem to exude permanence, taking on a patina that only improves with age. But they may not think of them as particularly wheelchair friendly. Results of a recent study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania prove that clay paved sidewalks actually outperform traditional poured concrete sidewalks in their ability to minimize vibrations experienced by wheelchair users. The single-site engineering evaluation featured 10 unimpaired adult volunteers traversing six different test pavements, including a poured concrete control, three surfaces laid with concrete pavers and two brick pavements. The study was designed to measure the amount and frequencies of vibrations absorbed by the wheelchair user (at the seat and footrest), as well as the amount of energy expended (by the user or the electric wheelchair) to propel the wheelchair across the pavement. In both the manual and electric wheelchair scenarios, the two clay brick paved surfaces outperformed the poured concrete control, with their peak accelerations significantly lower than the concrete pavement, producing lower vibration levels at both the seat and footrest than was found with the poured concrete sidewalk. Similarly, the "work required to propel over the surfaces tested were not statistically significantly different." The study should remove any doubts planners, developers or architects have about choosing clay pavers for their large-scale, public projects for which wheelchair accessibility is not only desirable, but required by law. Other benefits clay pavers offer to municipalities and commercial developments include: EASE OF MAINTENANCE Clay pavers, laid on a sand bed with a crushed stone base, can simply be removed and replaced to provide easy access to below-ground infrastructure, maintaining the look of the pavement after the repair. In contrast, continuous pavement surfaces, like poured concrete, must be demolished to gain access to underground utilities, requiring a patch which rarely matches the existing pavement. LONG-TERM SAVINGSIn sections of Boston's Beacon Hill, there are clay pavers that are still in service after over 200 years. The secret to this longevity is simple: a clay paver laid in a flexible base system stands the test of time. A properly constructed segmental system moves with the earth but solid surfaces will crack over time, requiring regular repair. Combining this system with a clay paver, man's oldest building product, provides for less repair and lower cost over time. Finally, there?EUR??,,??s the look of genuine clay pavers. They come from the earth to cover the earth. There?EUR??,,??s no product more environmentally friendly, and none that can bring such a human scale to the ground we walk and drive on. As cities strive to promote quality or ?EUR??,,?>>smart?EUR??,,? growth, clay pavers are one tool to help communities avoid becoming concrete jungles as their populations increase. A complete copy of the study's results can be downloaded at www.access-board.gov/prowac/comments/smith-d-attach.pdf . The study was funded by a consortium of paver manufacturers (the Brick Industry Association, Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute, and National Concrete Masonry Association), with additional funding provided by the VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and the U.S. Department of Education?EUR??,,??s National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheeled Mobility.