Precast Porous Concrete Panels
09/12/25
“What makes NYC’s new porous concrete panels so special?”
Most cement panels block pervious surfaces, drastically increasing the chances of flooding during storm surges. To ameliorate this, NYC is making a new type of concrete panel that has a special concrete mix with a high void content that allows for some permeability. These Precast Porous Concrete Panels, or PCPPs, enable water to enter and sink into the permeable surfaces below, reducing stormwater runoff, ponding probability, and heat island effects. These new panels can potentially drastically reduce NYC’s already overbuilt environment’s chance of getting overwhelmed by floods and heatwaves. However, these new panels can also allow harmful chemicals to seep into the ground and have lower strength than regular concrete. NYC guidelines recommend that these panels not be installed on trucking routes, principal arterial roadways, industrial zones, significant underground utility corridors, or existing bike lanes/crosswalks.
Image credit: https://www.nycstreetdesign.info/
Isaac's science blog 