Using Asphalts with More Confidence

Supported by extensive case studies, this useful one day course will enable you to understand, specify and manage bituminous mixtures for new highway construction, for repairs to existing highways and to confidently troubleshoot poor performance.

The programme focusses on:

• The various ways in which roads and other paved areas fail
• How to trouble-shoot areas of poor performance
• The production, transport and site practices that drastically affect the performance and durability of asphalt
• How to achieve intended performance and greatest possible durability from asphalt
• Practical guidance on how to achieve durable materials from bituminous mixtures

Specific reference is made to:

• European Standards and PD6691 dealing with the production of asphalts 
• The British Standard, BS594987, covering  the transporting, laying and compacting of all asphalts including SMA’s
• The revisions to the Highway Agency’s Specification for Highway Works 900 series clauses

It is a profusely illustrated course with an additional e-appendix, supported by one-to one e-mail support from the course presenter at no extra cost.

The e-appendix contains PowerPoint presentations on hand laying asphalt, Appendix 7/1 examples specifying most commonly used asphalts for base, binder and surface courses, providing and improving skidding resistance and quiet roads surfaces illustrations of common road problems, their likely causes and suggested remedial works.

NB: This course was formerly called "Specifying and using asphalts in roads and other paved areas with confidence" - the course programme is the same.

Sessions begin at 9:00 and finish at 17:00. Morning and afternoon coffee breaks and lunch are included in the programme.

• Session 1 - Introduction, overview
• Session 2 - Types of Bituminous Mixtures
• Session 3 - Road Surface Characteristics and Mixture Design
• Session 4 - Laying, Compaction and Resurfacing

Mr Jeff Farrington
CEng MICE MCIHT MIAT HonFIHE

A member of the ICE, Jeff has more than 40 years' experience in the design and construction of large and small highway construction and maintenance works. He is the author of numerous technical papers and has contributed to several text books. He is a member of the British Standards Asphalt Committee, B510/1 which he chaired for 20 years, and he has served on several other national and international committees dealing with asphalts and flexible pavements.

On completion of the course participants will understand:

• The basic constituents and characteristics of the aggregates and bitumens (including modified bitumens) used in the production of asphalts
• Which asphalts to use where in base and binder course layers in road pavements with a range of traffic loadings
• Where to use thin surfacings, stone mastic asphalts, hot rolled asphalts and close graded asphalt concretes for maximum asset management cost/benefit, including where the use of modified bitumens is especially useful
• Warm, semi-warm and cold mix asphalts
• The correct specification of the asphalts they select for use in their works in accordance with the UK National Guidance Document, PD6691.
• The types of asphalt plant used to produce asphalts including hot-bin storage and transport to the site, and the problems occasionally involved in these processes which can affect the quality and durability of the finished work and its compliance with the contract specification
• The correct preparation works need on site prior to the start of asphalt paving if maximum durability is to be achieved
• Asphalt paving covering all the critical aspects, what sometimes goes wrong affecting the work’s short and long term durability and remedial works to correct problems
• Compaction of the newly laid material, a most critical stage, and the problems to avoid.

These last three areas highlight 900 Series requirements of Highway England’s Specification, the variety of on-site problems which can result in claims and compensation events involving the asphalt sub-contractor, and how to avoid such issues.

This training course assumes no previous experience in dealing with asphalts in roads or other paved areas so is especially useful both for those wishing to update their previous experience, and newer entrants to the profession. Delegates will include:

• Consultants’ engineers and other technical personnel
• All Local Authority personnel involved with roads including asset managers
• Civil engineering and building contractors