Purposes of use, types, rules for installing road concrete curbs

In road construction, concrete curbs are crucial because they offer both practical and decorative advantages. They improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians by guiding traffic and defining the boundaries of the roads. It can be easier to choose the appropriate concrete curb for a given project if you are aware of its uses and varieties.

Concrete curbs come in a variety of forms, each intended for a particular use. Mountable curbs provide easier access, while barrier curbs are frequently used to keep cars from leaving the road. Decorative curbs are found in parks, commercial zones, and residential areas. They provide a design element to streetscapes.

To ensure durability and efficacy, installing concrete curbs requires careful planning and execution. The base preparation, form setting, concrete pouring, and surface finishing are important steps. Curb longevity can be increased and maintenance expenses can be decreased by adhering to proper installation guidelines.

What is it?

A road concrete curb is a factory-made piece product made of heavy concrete based on Portland cement, small and large aggregate with plasticizers. As a rule, the curb is processed in an autoclave oven to increase strength. The product is widely used in road construction, is an element of the pedestrian zone.

Scope of use

When building federal, regional, city, or village roads, road curbs are used to accomplish the following objectives:

• Dividing the space of the roadway and the pedestrian zone – the sidewalk.
• Separation of the road surface from the roadside.
• Equipment of bicycle paths when arranging city streets.
• Strengthening compacted soil when laying road surfaces or installing sidewalks.
• Fencing off tram tracks and other areas with limited vehicle traffic.

In addition, the curb makes it possible to define a straight path for the road, which makes paving sidewalks and squares in the middle of urban developments much easier.

Requirements, dimensions and other parameters

Requirements for road curbs are regulated by GOST 6665-92 "Concrete and reinforced concrete curb stones", as well as internal TU of manufacturing enterprises, provided that the products have passed tests and have a certificate of conformity.

These regulatory documents state that the following specifications must be met by road curbs:

• Products must be made of concrete with a compressive strength class of at least B30. Some modifications with reduced dimensions are allowed to be made of heavy concrete class B22.5.
• All standard stones with a length not exceeding 1000 mm can be manufactured without reinforcement.
• Any products manufactured according to the mentioned GOST, with a length of more than 1000 mm, must be made of heavy concrete with a reinforcement frame installed in it.
• Marking of concrete stones according to GOST contains letter designations and numerical indices, for example, BR100.30.18, which means an ordinary curbstone with a length of 1000 mm, a height of 300 mm and a width of 180 mm.
• The water absorption index for curbstones made of heavy concrete should not exceed 5%.
• The frost resistance grade of road curbs should be at least F200 – F300, depending on the climatic conditions of the area.

The granulometric composition of the concrete mixture, the quantity of sand and crushed stone, the grade of cement, and the presence of plasticizers are among the other parameters governed by the regulatory document.

Varieties

Road concrete curbs can be divided into multiple groups based on the geometric dimensions, strength attributes, and mixture composition used in their manufacturing.

1. Depending on the production method and surface treatment, all products are divided into standard stones, polished, chipped products with a torn surface. There are also burnt concrete curbs with a non-standard surface and different shades, depending on the granulometric composition.
2. By functional purpose – pavement, road or highway stone.
3. Depending on the type of chamfer processing – with an inclined front edge or a radius outline.
4. By the type of components, their physical properties and chemical composition – with a minimum water absorption rate, that is, with the addition of plasticizers, on granite crushed stone, using a reinforcement frame.
5. According to the production method of products – production using classical technology, in formwork, by casting liquid concrete with subsequent hardening in atoclav. In addition to this technology, the semi-dry vibration pressing method and the vibration casting method of manufacturing individual structures are also used.
6. According to marking, there are also several types of road curbs:
7. BR – standard ordinary products.
8. BU – trapezoidal curbs that have different widths of the upper and lower bases.
9. BUP – non-standard curbs, some of which are widened, and the second part remains with standard dimensions.
10. BL – standard products that have a tray for collecting water as part of the structure.
11. BV – a special series of entry curbs that are laid in front of gates or driveways horizontally so that a car can overcome the excess height without a step, since the wheel enters along the inclined part.
12. BK – products that have a radius outline in plan, which allows you to design a flower bed, a roundabout or small architectural forms.

According to GOST, the road curb types listed above are all standard products. Simultaneously, uncommon designs are hard to come by on the open market because they are typically made to order.

Selection criteria

The following crucial factors must be considered in order to select the appropriate concrete road curb:

• Product quality certificate, which specifies all its characteristics according to the current GOST.
• State certificates of compliance with technical conditions issued by the manufacturer, environmental and fire safety requirements, which are obtained based on the results of full-scale product testing.
• Product surface quality, absence of chips, cavities and other visible defects.
• Uniform color of the finished product.
• One of the main parameters is the manufacturer"s reputation, the year the plant was founded, as well as the presence of positive reviews from satisfied customers about the brand"s products.

Based on the opinions of actual customers, the following companies’ products stand out among the most well-known domestic brands that have been in the construction materials market for a long time:

• OOO PK Tekhnologiya, founded in 2003.
• OOO Stroyindustriya 2000, has been operating on the market since 2000.
• OOO Knyaginin Kamen, the company has been supplying products to consumer and retail customers for over 15 years.
• OOO Mosobltrotuar, a large manufacturing enterprise that has held a leading position in the market since 2001.

On internet forums, the aforementioned companies have amassed hundreds of reviews. Customers commend the products for their excellent quality, dependability, and durability; they also commend them for fully adhering to GOST specifications and for being reasonably priced.

Installation technology

You should hire professionals to lay road curbs. In the event that this is not feasible, the following process map must be followed when installing the structure:

• Before installing the curbstone, geodetic work is carried out with the marking of the edge line of the road or sidewalk.
• A base of sand and gravel mixture, compacted to a degree of 0.95 or more, is arranged under the curb.
• Stones are fixed on a mixture of heavy concrete with fine aggregate on granite.
• When constructing federal or city roads, longitudinal reinforcement of the base with 1 or 2 d16 A500s rods is required.
• Before installing the curb, according to the geodetic breakdown, it is necessary to install pegs, as well as tighten the cord, which is verified both in plan and in height.
• When installing the stone, workers use a heavy mallet with a rubber working element, which allows you to align all products along the line.
• Before installing the shoulder or sidewalk, you must wait at least 24 hours until the concrete of the base under the curb stone begins to gain strength.

The stone that will be installed in the structure should have the fewest possible chips, cracks, and other flaws because not only the front but also the back upper portion of the curb stay in the line of sight for people.

Difficulties

Beginners often make a number of mistakes when choosing and installing curbs for roads, which will negatively impact the coating’s performance. In order to avoid this, it is important to consider the following professional advice and subtleties:

• Curbs should be selected only from trusted manufacturers, whose products are of high quality and have a minimum percentage of defects.
• When ramming the underlying layer, it is necessary to use only washed quarry or river sand without the inclusion of clay particles, since heaving materials will provoke soil movement.
• When installing an armored belt, cement with a grade of at least M300 should be used, as well as crushed stone based on granite.
• Work should not be carried out without geodetic breakdown, since the use of standard measuring instruments will give a strong error in the construction of an extended object.
• When installing curbstones, it is prohibited to use sledgehammers, since the metal can seriously damage the structure of the concrete.

Since the curb is the side of the formwork for the compacted base beneath the tiles or asphalt concrete of the pedestrian zone and roadway, many beginners make the primary error of installing stone against the sequence of works. The curb must be installed strictly before the sidewalk covering.

Pros and cons

Curbs are widely used in road construction, and consumers, as well as companies engaged in the installation of linear objects of federal or city significance, note their obvious advantages:

• Reliable support for the base of the sidewalk, bike path – the soil does not creep over time during operation.
• Convenient divider, if necessary to delimit the operating space.
• Optimal ratio of the price of the product, strength characteristics and quality.
• The presence of a wide range of geometric parameters allows fencing not only linear sections of roads, but also arranging open drainage and fencing flower beds, roundabouts, small architectural forms.

However, some customers also point out a number of drawbacks that come with installing and buying curb stones in addition to the benefits:

• Labor intensity of installation.
• High dead weight of the product, which requires the participation of several specialists in the production process.
• Fragility of the road curb – the stone easily splits if handled carelessly during installation.

When constructing roads or pedestrian zones, the majority of customers favor road concrete curbs despite the arbitrary drawbacks.

Average cost

As was already mentioned, a variety of road curbs from various manufacturers are available on the market.

Average prices for various curbstone types from a variety of manufacturing companies are maintained at nearly the same level due to the intense competition and unique nature of the technological process:

• BR with a length of 1 m – 450 – 500 rubles / piece.
• BR with a length of 3 m – 1100 – 130 rubles / piece.
• BU – with a length of 1 m – 500 – 600 rubles / piece.
• Radius products – from 700 rubles / piece.
• Road construction elements with a tray for open water drainage – from 600 rubles / piece.

The prices listed below are accurate as of September 2021, but they could vary slightly based on the quantity of items in the batch, the products’ delivery shoulder, and the outlet’s internal pricing guidelines.

Curbs made of concrete for roads are essential to preserving the integrity and security of roads. They improve the environment’s aesthetics, aid in effective water drainage, and create the necessary division between the sidewalk and the road. We can recognize the significance of these in road construction and urban planning by being aware of their types and purposes.

Concrete curbs come in a variety of forms, each intended to serve a particular purpose. All types of curbs, be they decorative, mountable, or standard barrier curbs, have specific uses and advantages. The desired visual impact, road width, and traffic volume are some of the factors that determine which type is best.

The longevity and efficiency of concrete curbs on roads depend on their installation being done correctly. Curbs that are installed correctly should be stable, able to support large loads, and resistant to weathering. Paying close attention to details during installation can save money in the long run by averting maintenance problems later on.

In conclusion, concrete road curbs are a crucial part of the infrastructure of roads. Their varied varieties meet a range of needs, and their performance and durability are ensured by following installation instructions. These components can be added to road construction projects to make the finished product safer, more aesthetically pleasing, and more functional.

Concrete road curbs are crucial for directing traffic, safeguarding pedestrians, and extending the life of roadways. They are available in different varieties, and each is appropriate for a particular use, such as dividing lanes, supporting edges, or enhancing appearance. In order to guarantee their efficacy and longevity, proper installation is essential. This calls for the use of particular materials and procedures to produce a stable and long-lasting result.

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