Grasellenbach in the Odenwald
Concrete paving is always the first choice for paving in municipal renovation and development projects: an attractive appearance and the possibility of easy excavation are the main reasons why many urban planners give priority to paving over asphalt in this application. Concrete paving systems are also in no way inferior to asphalt in terms of load-bearing capacity.However, this only applies if the stones are installed in accordance with the regulations. One of the most important prerequisites for permanently damage-free paving is the existence of a standard-compliant joint. DIN 18318 stipulates that there must be an average gap of approx. 4 mm between the stones. Only if this is the case can the shear and horizontal forces caused by traffic on the surface be buffered by the joint material and transferred evenly to the base course. However, this is precisely where experts often see a problem: due to the high cost and time pressure, surfaces are repeatedly laid without DIN-compliant joint spacing, as aligning the stones costs time and therefore money. Molded spacers merely simulate a joint when the stones are laid in a crunchy manner. The load is then transferred via the pure concrete contact. This results in damage to the paving surfaces, which leads to costly repairs. To avoid this problem, the municipality of Grasellenbach in the Bergstrasse district of southern Hesse always uses a stone covering that guarantees a joint as part of the system and therefore prevents damage caused by poor joint design whenever new paving stones are required for road construction.
Since the 1970s, the population of the small municipality of Grasellenbach has risen from 2,900 to just under 4,200 today. With around 70,000 overnight stays a year, the Kneipp spa is mainly characterized by tourism, as Grasellenbach is a stop on the Siegfried Road. As described in the Song of the Nibelungs, one of the Siegfried Fountains is located here, where it is said that Siegfried was murdered by Hagen von Tronje. Grasellenbach has also joined the network of so-called Nibelungen towns and is a member municipality of the Bergstrasse-Odenwald Geo-Nature Park.
CombiStabil paving system from Betonwerk Pfenning
Because there is so much going on in the small community, those responsible are constantly striving to keep the existing roads intact and to develop new residentialareas. When choosing a suitable material for the surfaces to be paved in this process, the municipality has been relying on the CombiStabil paving system from the Pfenning concrete plant in Lampertheim for years. The special feature of this paving system from the Einstein paving family is the D-point joint technology, which ensures that there is only minimal contact at the bottom edges of the stones when they are laid. Unlike many other interlocking pavers with spacer or interlocking cam systems, the proportion of the surface where the stones touch remains very small thanks to the Einstein paver technology. This avoids crunching and the joint required to absorb traffic loads is always maintained, thus ensuring optimum force transmission between the stones.
Proven for 10 years
Mayor Markus Röth is convinced: “The stone system has proven to be very durable for over 10 years now – even in busy streets, some of which also have a steep gradient. Because we often have to deal with somewhat cramped conditions here, we are happy to dispense with the sidewalk when we build new roads. Instead, they are built at the same level, which is no problem at all thanks to the stability properties of the paving system. This means that all road users can use the road space for themselves. Thanks to the interlocking effect of the paving stones, traffic loads – even from heavier vehicles – can be carried over the entire surface without restriction,” says Röth.
The look also fits
The paving system in 18 x 30 cm and 14 x 21 cm format in the rustic “Natura” version also fits very well visually in the climatic health resort. “The iridescent shade of vine leaves looks warm and friendly,” says Markus Röth. “Even over the years, the stones retain their beautiful reddish-ochre shimmering surface.” With regard to future construction projects, the mayor is certain: “The previous construction projects with the CombiStabil paving system have really impressed us. That’s why we have also paved the Nibelungenring and the Krummwies development area with this material in 2023,” says Markus Röth.
