Concrete Curb Specifications

Shape

• Common shapes for concrete curbs are a vertical face or a sloping face. A vertical-faced curb is generally used in locations where the pavement edge must be clearly defined and motorists are discouraged from leaving the paved surface. A sloped or mountable curb is used when the control of storm runoff is needed, but motorists can leave the roadway to access driveways, medians and other minor travel ways.

Height

• Public agency standards for curb height varies with the specific application. For vertical face curb with an attached gutter, a curb height of about 6 inches, as measured from the gutter flow line, is typical. Mountable curbs can be as short as about 4 inches. Curbs intended to provide a barrier can be as tall as 8 or 9 inches.

Joints

• Expansion joints accommodate the expansion of material due to temperature. Expansion joints are placed at periodic intervals, as defined by the public agency, and at locations where a curb abuts a fixed structure or pavement, Contraction joints are sawed or tooled into curbs at frequent intervals to control the location of shrinkage cracks.