Overview
ISO 17785-1:2016 defines a laboratory test method to determine the infiltration rate of hardened pervious concrete specimens. It specifies specimen preparation, curing, apparatus, pre-wetting and timing procedures, and the calculation required to report infiltration rate (k). This part applies to cylindrical specimens prepared in the laboratory or cored from field placements (minimum 100 mm diameter and 100 mm height) and explicitly states it is not a method for measuring permeability of in-place pavements.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Laboratory procedure for measuring infiltration rate of pervious concrete specimens (ISO 17785-1:2016).
- Specimen size: Minimum diameter 100 mm and height 100 mm; cores from field must meet these minima.
- Sampling: Minimum of three similar specimens per test series.
- Specimen preparation:
- Two filling options: single-layer pour (typical vertical porosity) or multi-layer pour (more uniform vertical porosity).
- Immediate covering after consolidation; mould removal after a minimum curing period of seven days.
- Cores: cut full depth of pervious slab when using field specimens.
- Apparatus:
- Cylindrical mould (100 mm), balance (±5 g), coring machine, shrink wrap (three layers), heat gun, funnel (200 ml capacity), water container (~2 000 ml), stopwatch (0.1 s), potable water.
- Pre‑wetting and test procedure:
- Specimens are pre-wetted to represent antecedent precipitation; water head maintained between marks at 15 mm and 25 mm from specimen top.
- For 100 mm specimens the standard indicates 1 000 ml for pre-wetting and 2 000 ml for the timed infiltration test.
- Start timing when test water first contacts the specimen surface; stop when no free surface water remains. Start test within 5 minutes after pre-wetting.
- Calculation:
- Infiltration rate k is calculated as k = W / (A · t), using the measured volume of infiltrated water (W), specimen cross-sectional area (A) and time (t). Report k in mm/s.
- Reporting: Include sample ID, specimen origin (lab-made or field core), preparation and curing details, specimen dimensions and density, age at test, water volume, time and calculated infiltration rate.
Applications and users
ISO 17785-1:2016 is useful for:
- Laboratory testing by materials and pavement testing laboratories
- Civil and pavement engineers evaluating pervious concrete mixes
- Contractors and QA/QC teams verifying mix performance during research, mix development, or acceptance testing
- Academics and researchers studying infiltration performance of pervious concrete
Keywords: pervious concrete, infiltration rate, ISO 17785-1:2016, laboratory testing, specimen preparation, pre-wet, shrink wrap, funnel, coring.
Related standards
- ASTM C1701/C1701M - Standard Test Method for Infiltration Rate of In-Place Pervious Concrete (referenced in the ISO document).
