Boral PermCon™ is a structural permeable concrete that lets rainfall pass through the surface into a designed drainage, treatment or infiltration profile below. It manages stormwater where it falls, supports groundwater recharge and contributes to Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) outcomes.
Available in six colours and up to 25 MPa strength, it suits driveways, car parks, footpaths and public spaces. Boral PermCon™ is an end-to-end solution with installation available nationally by our specialist partners, Australian Permeable Concrete.
Features and benefits
Manages stormwater at the source
Water passes through the surface, reducing runoff and peak flows and supporting groundwater recharge.
Maximises usable land
Builds water management into the pavement, reducing reliance on traditional drainage and retention structures.
Faster and more cost effective
Installs up to 70% faster than segmental permeable paving, with potential project savings of up to 40% compared with permeable paving systems.
Improves water quality
Helps filter pollutants before they reach rivers, streams and waterways.
Supports council requirements
Helps meet WSUD outcomes and can assist with council requirements for permeable surface areas.
Strong and available in colour
Up to 25 MPa, trafficable (12 tonnes per axle*), in six contemporary colours.
*Based on 200 mm slab thickness.
Contact Boral for a quote and to discuss suitability for your project.
Applications
Permeable concrete is suitable for a broad range of project types, including:
Residential
- Driveways and pathways
- Patios and outdoor entertaining areas
- Developments that need to meet permeable surface ratios
Car parks and hardstands
- Commercial car parks and accessways
- Trailer parks and caravan parks
Footpaths and cycleways
- Pedestrian and active transport infrastructure
- Shared zones, public realm and streetscape projects
Tree protection and urban greening
- Tree Protection Zones and sensitive root environments
- Parks, open space and landscape projects
Recreation and sporting facilities
- Tennis, pickleball and basketball courts
- Artificial turf foundations
Stormwater and water storage
- Extended water storage applications
- WSUD projects where integrated stormwater management is a key driver
Designed for both performance and appearance
PermCon™ is available in a range of colours, making it suitable for visible residential and public-facing applications where both performance and finish matter.
This makes it a practical alternative to exposed aggregate or standard concrete where:
- Visual finish is important
- Councils or developers require softer environmental outcomes
- Projects aim to integrate paving into landscaped or urban design schemes
How permeable concrete works
Permeable concrete is constructed with interconnected voids that allow water to pass through the surface rather than run off.
Rainfall moves through the pavement into the underlying layers, where it is temporarily stored before naturally filtering into the ground or being managed within the drainage system.
This reduces pressure on conventional stormwater infrastructure and helps replicate natural water behaviour across developed sites.
How Boral PermCon™ differs from standard no-fines concrete
No-fines concrete is a mix design defined by the absence of fine aggregates (sand), resulting in an open structure that allows water infiltration but delivers limited structural capacity.
PermCon™ is a permeable concrete designed to provide both infiltration and structural performance.
- PermCon™: up to ~25 MPa strength
- Typical no-fines concrete: around ~5 MPa
This enables PermCon™ to be used in trafficable applications such as driveways, car parks and public infrastructure, where higher strength and durability are required.
Supporting council requirements and planning outcomes
As urban development increases, many councils are placing greater emphasis on:
- Reducing stormwater runoff
- Maintaining natural water cycles
- Limiting the percentage of impermeable surfaces on site
Permeable concrete can support these outcomes by:
- Increasing permeable surface area
- Reducing reliance on additional drainage systems
- Enabling greater flexibility in site design
This makes it particularly relevant for:
- Residential developments with site coverage limits
- Multi-dwelling and infill housing
- Council and infrastructure projects incorporating WSUD principles
A complete solution, supplied by Boral and installed by APC
Boral PermCon™ is delivered in partnership with Australian Permeable Concrete (APC), providing a fully managed supply and install solution for commercial and residential projects across Australia.
- A dedicated national team delivering projects throughout Australia
- More than 85,000 m² of permeable pavement installed
- Installation capability exceeding 500 m² per day
- More than 90 personnel across Australia and New Zealand
- Accredited to ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 45001 (Health and Safety Management)
Range
- Standard permeable concrete mixes
- Permcon is available in a range of colours to suit residential, commercial and public realm applications. Refer to the colour range above.
Availability may vary by region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It is commonly used for residential driveways and hardstand areas, particularly where councils require a balance between paved and permeable surfaces.
In many residential and light-use applications, permeable concrete can be used as an alternative where both appearance and drainage performance are important.
Permeable concrete can contribute to meeting requirements related to stormwater management and permeable surface ratios, depending on the specific council guidelines and site design.
A general maintenance regime of sweeping or surface washing will minimise the opportunity for the product to clog. In situations where this does occur, an industrial vacuum can be used to clear the void.
Permeable concrete is typically used in pedestrian and light vehicle applications. Suitability for higher load areas should be assessed based on project requirements.
Permeable/pervious concrete, when properly installed and maintained, can last in excess of 30 years.
Drainage aggregates that are structurally sound when fully saturated/submerged with water.
The amount of void in permeable concrete can vary in the range of 22-30%. Boral PermCon™ usually has a consistent void structure of 20-26%.
Permeable pavements have a very high permeability and are approximately tenfold the requirement to allow for sediment loading to achieve longevity.
One of the test methods is ASTM C1701/C 1701M -09 ‘Standard Test Method for Infiltration Rate of In Place Pervious Concrete’. It is simple and easy to conduct in on site locations.
Yes, as Permeable concrete uses a unique mix design which requires more expertise than normal concrete to be installed, however overall solution cost is comparable.