Challenge

The hostile desert climate of Kuwait makes grass growth difficult, with summer daytime temperatures of over 45°C. This project featured an irrigation system to achieve grass growth.

Solution

The irrigation system featured feed pipes with pop-up sprinkler heads, beneath the edge margins of Grasscrete parking bays. Irrigation flow was governed by a timer switch.

The 13 metre wide car park was divided into two long strip bays with a 6 metre parking aisle and a 7 metre access aisle. With daytime temperatures over 35° during casting, plastic void formers were laid in position during late afternoon with casting taking place early the next day to see completion before mid-day temperatures.

Discharge for the first bay of 160m3 was poured within 3 hours, and to prevent the concrete drying too quickly under heavy sun, the surface was watered hourly until sunset.

Casting continued two days later to the second bay after which attention could be turned to landscaping.

To achieve early grass growth, paspalum grass was used with turf pre-cut to the required pocket shapes.

Outcome

With regular watering the turf was quickly heeled in, and the car park was ready for use two weeks after the concrete was placed.