Asphalt Paving Asphalt Paving Technical Committee Technical Committee

(APT)(APT)

ProposedProposed revisions to the revisions to the Asphalt Concrete Sections Asphalt Concrete Sections of the MAG Specificationsof the MAG Specifications

After several years of review and use After several years of review and use of the current MAG Specifications for of the current MAG Specifications for Asphalt Concrete Production and Asphalt Concrete Production and Placement, the local construction and Placement, the local construction and engineering community believes that engineering community believes that there are areas in which revisions or there are areas in which revisions or replacement are necessary and/or replacement are necessary and/or beneficial.beneficial.

INTRODUCTION

• We recognize that much time and We recognize that much time and effort has been put into the effort has been put into the development of the current development of the current specification.specification.

• With this in mind, APT has also With this in mind, APT has also invested a significant amount of time invested a significant amount of time and research in the proposed and research in the proposed changes we are submitting.changes we are submitting.

THE PROCESSTHE PROCESS

• An independent expert was An independent expert was retained to review the acceptance retained to review the acceptance portions of the current portions of the current specifications to evaluate the specifications to evaluate the technical aspects and the financial technical aspects and the financial risk of conducting business for the risk of conducting business for the contractor, supplier and owner.contractor, supplier and owner.

• A subcommittee of members from A subcommittee of members from contracting firms, materials contracting firms, materials suppliers, engineering firms, and suppliers, engineering firms, and municipal agencies was formed to municipal agencies was formed to evaluate the information generated evaluate the information generated by the consultant. by the consultant.

THE PROCESS

• Each member reviewed the Each member reviewed the applicable sections of the MAG applicable sections of the MAG Specifications and identified Specifications and identified sections which needed to be sections which needed to be addressed.addressed.

THE PROCESS

AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED

These specifications are being These specifications are being utilized by various municipalities and utilized by various municipalities and agencies which differ significantly in agencies which differ significantly in their details and implementation.their details and implementation.

AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED

The revisions in the MAG The revisions in the MAG Specifications related to asphalt mix Specifications related to asphalt mix designs for low traffic roadways designs for low traffic roadways deviate from local practice and deviate from local practice and experience.experience.

AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED

The provisions for Quality Control The provisions for Quality Control testing include some unreasonable testing include some unreasonable requirements for location of testing, requirements for location of testing, test data evaluation, and remedial or test data evaluation, and remedial or corrective measures.corrective measures.

AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED

The acceptance criteria for The acceptance criteria for production and placement of asphalt production and placement of asphalt concrete mixtures are spread concrete mixtures are spread between Sections 321 and 710 and between Sections 321 and 710 and are difficult to follow/interpret.are difficult to follow/interpret.

AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED

Many off-site or similar projects Many off-site or similar projects consist of small quantities of consist of small quantities of materials which would be better materials which would be better evaluated under a different evaluated under a different specification.specification.

AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED

There are numerous problems with There are numerous problems with projects constructed under permit. projects constructed under permit.

Projects dedicated to the City, County, or other final Projects dedicated to the City, County, or other final governing agency, discovered that the testing governing agency, discovered that the testing performed at the direction of the Developer is lacking performed at the direction of the Developer is lacking in quantity, type, or quality. in quantity, type, or quality.

There is no clear-cut requirements for inspection and There is no clear-cut requirements for inspection and testing of asphalt concrete produced under this testing of asphalt concrete produced under this situation, resulting in assured acceptability to the situation, resulting in assured acceptability to the eventual governing agency.eventual governing agency.

AREAS TO BE ADDRESSED

Industry (owners, architects and Industry (owners, architects and engineers) reference or utilize the MAG engineers) reference or utilize the MAG Specifications for acceptance of materials Specifications for acceptance of materials placed on private or commercial projects. placed on private or commercial projects.

Many of the provisions of Sections 321 and Many of the provisions of Sections 321 and 710 are unsuitable or inappropriate for this 710 are unsuitable or inappropriate for this type of construction. However, there are type of construction. However, there are no suitable or widespread alternatives no suitable or widespread alternatives available in the local market.available in the local market.

NEXT STEPS

• Based on the review performed by the Based on the review performed by the subcommittee over the past two years the subcommittee over the past two years the committee has worked to rewrite and committee has worked to rewrite and revise Sections 321 and 710 as well as revise Sections 321 and 710 as well as develop a new section 320.develop a new section 320.

• The following are the proposed revisions to The following are the proposed revisions to the current specificationsthe current specifications

PROPOSED REVISIONS

Separation of the materials requirements Separation of the materials requirements section of the specification from the section of the specification from the construction and administration portions.construction and administration portions.

This allows the same materials specification to be This allows the same materials specification to be utilized for multiple construction specifications. utilized for multiple construction specifications.

It also gathers like information together and It also gathers like information together and simplifies evaluation of asphalt mix designs and simplifies evaluation of asphalt mix designs and materials properties.materials properties.

PROPOSED REVISIONS

The utilization of ADOT test methods The utilization of ADOT test methods where applicable.where applicable.

ADOT, and industry, routinely evaluates and updates ADOT, and industry, routinely evaluates and updates test methods as technology and industry practice test methods as technology and industry practice change resulting in a living” specification which is change resulting in a living” specification which is more relevant.more relevant.

A living specification requires fewer changes in the A living specification requires fewer changes in the written specification documents.written specification documents.

PROPOSED REVISIONS A separate section has been proposed to A separate section has been proposed to

address the particular issues and address the particular issues and requirements of permit, private, and small requirements of permit, private, and small projects. projects.

Clear-cut requirements for inspection and testing of Clear-cut requirements for inspection and testing of asphalt concrete produced under this situation. asphalt concrete produced under this situation. (which should result in its acceptability to the (which should result in its acceptability to the eventual governing agency.) eventual governing agency.)

Intended for use by architects, engineers, and owners Intended for use by architects, engineers, and owners for acceptance of materials placed on private or for acceptance of materials placed on private or commercial projects.commercial projects.

PROPOSED REVISIONS

The provisions for Quality Control The provisions for Quality Control testing have been revised to better testing have been revised to better reflect industry standards and reflect industry standards and practice, as well as to ensure practice, as well as to ensure adequate testing frequency and adequate testing frequency and accuracy. accuracy.

PROPOSED REVISIONS

The requirements for certification The requirements for certification and qualifications of laboratories and and qualifications of laboratories and personnel engaged in testing or personnel engaged in testing or evaluating asphalt concrete are evaluating asphalt concrete are expanded and clarified.expanded and clarified.

PROPOSED REVISIONS

A statistical basis for evaluation and A statistical basis for evaluation and acceptance of asphalt concrete acceptance of asphalt concrete production has been provided for use production has been provided for use on suitable projects.on suitable projects.

In addition, provisions have been In addition, provisions have been

added and/or clarified for referee added and/or clarified for referee testing and engineering analysis of testing and engineering analysis of deficient or questionable material.deficient or questionable material.

ADVANTAGES TO REVISIONS

• Provides a qualified procedure for Provides a qualified procedure for administration of deficiencies.administration of deficiencies.

• Specifications promote consistency of Specifications promote consistency of administration.administration.

• Local engineers can utilize the specific Local engineers can utilize the specific portions that directly apply to their project.portions that directly apply to their project.

ADVANTAGES TO REVISIONS

• Allows the contractor to work more Allows the contractor to work more efficiently with cost effective benefits.efficiently with cost effective benefits.

• The proposed materials specification The proposed materials specification becomes a living document due to the becomes a living document due to the references to local and national test references to local and national test methods and standardsmethods and standards

CONCLUSIONS• The committee would like to present all of The committee would like to present all of

our proposed revisions.our proposed revisions.

• For ease of review and understanding, we will For ease of review and understanding, we will present them as individual cases. present them as individual cases.

• Over the course of the next several meetings we Over the course of the next several meetings we would appreciate the opportunity to submit each would appreciate the opportunity to submit each specification section (case) along with revision specification section (case) along with revision comments for your review.comments for your review.

• The following is a list of the technical The following is a list of the technical committee that was assembled to review committee that was assembled to review and edit the current specifications. and edit the current specifications.

Donald E Green, P.E.Donald E Green, P.E. Operations ManagerOperations Manager Rinker MaterialsRinker Materials

Syd Anderson, P.E.Syd Anderson, P.E. Engineering SupervisorEngineering Supervisor City of PhoenixCity of Phoenix

Joe Phillips, P.E.Joe Phillips, P.E. Materials EngineeringMaterials Engineering AMEC Earth & EnvironmentalAMEC Earth & Environmental

Tom Kennedy, P.E.Tom Kennedy, P.E. Quality Control ManagerQuality Control Manager FNF ConstructionFNF Construction

James CarusoneJames Carusone Vice PresidentVice President MACTEC EngineeringMACTEC Engineering

Brian GallimoreBrian Gallimore PresidentPresident Western States ProfilingWestern States Profiling

Donald Cornelison, P.E.Donald Cornelison, P.E. Vice PresidentVice President Speedie and AssociatesSpeedie and Associates

Jeff BenedictJeff Benedict Sales & Technical ManagerSales & Technical Manager Sunland AsphaltSunland Asphalt

Phil FelizPhil Feliz PrincipalPrincipal Western TechnologiesWestern Technologies