900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS CATEGORY 900 MATERIALS SECTION 900 — GENERAL
900.01 General
Sample, test, and inspect all materials included in this Category as specified in the most recently published cited standards. The specification limits for each material are established and deviations from these limits are prohibited except when, in the judgment of the Engineer, the deviation will not be detrimental to the work. In these cases, refer to the appropriate specification governing price adjustments for nonconformance. Within 30 days after receipt of notification of award of the Contract, submit in writing, to the Office of Materials Technology (OMT), the proposed sources of all materials to be incorporated into the project. Update and submit all nursery stock sources to OMT 45 days prior to the planting season in which the planting is to begin. Do not introduce material into the work until sources are approved. The Administration reserves the right to completely or partially test any material for Specification compliance. Sample according to the Administration’s Sample Testing and Frequency Guide unless otherwise directed. All source approvals are made subject to continuing production of materials conforming to these Specifications. Material sources may be rejected where it is evident that the material tends to be of marginal quality when compared to the Specification limits in any of its specified properties.
900.02 Technician Qualification Requirements
Technicians performing Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) sampling and testing shall be qualified through the certification program provided by the Administration. Private laboratories performing testing shall be in the AASHTO Accreditation Program or approved by the Administration. Technicians include those who work for inspection agencies, Contractors, consultants, producers, private laboratories, and State and local government employees.
900.03 Recycled Materials
900.03.01 CERTIFICATION. All recycled or rehandled material furnished or supplied for use
may require testing and certification to ensure compliance with all State and local applicable environmental and EPA regulations. The required testing may include, but not be limited to, the EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) or its successor. Provide testing and 900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS certification for all recycled materials at no additional cost to the Administration. Evaluation and interpretation of the test data will be made by an OMT QA Manager. The above requirements do not preclude the normal materials acceptance process, and the recycled material shall meet all applicable specifications. EPA regulations governing the use of the material, certified test results, and material safety data sheets shall accompany the source of supply letter and sample submitted for approval. Only highway demolition materials are to be used in constructing reclaimed/recycled concrete stockpiles for Administration projects. The use of building materials is prohibited. Refer to the Contract Documents for recycled materials not covered by this specification.
900.03.02 Reclaimed/Recycled Concrete (Rc)
Usage. Use RC for the following with written approval.
a.Graded Aggregate Base (GAB).
b.Common, Select, or Modified Borrow.
1.At least 2 ft above saturated soil or groundwater conditions, as determined.
2.At least 100 ft from surface waters (streams, creeks, or rivers, ponds and lakes).
3.At least 3 ft from exposed metal surfaces.
4.At least 3 ft from geotextile.
5.At least 3 ft from any water discharge locations. Do not use RC as Capping Borrow nor as aggregate for the following.
a.Portland cement concrete.
b.Asphalt mixes.
c.Drainage systems.
1.Base course under permeable pavements.
2.Longitudinal underdrains.
3.Base course and Subbase within 3 ft of Longitudinal underdrains.
d.Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) systems. 900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
1.MSE walls.
2.Reinforced soil slopes (RSS).
3.Reinforced earth slopes (RES).
e.In embankment construction as follows.
1.Within 1.5 ft of the top surface of any area to be vegetated.
2.Within 2 ft of saturated soil or groundwater conditions, as determined.
3.Within 100 ft of any surface water course (streams, creeks, or rivers, ponds and lakes).
4.Within 3 ft of any metal pipe or shoring.
5.Within 3 ft of any water discharge locations.
6.Under permeable or porous surfaces. Grading Requirements. The grading requirements for the use of RC.
a.Table 901 A when used as GAB or for any other application within the pavement structure.
b.204.02 when used in embankment construction.
c.916.01 when used as Borrow material. RC shall not contain more than 5 percent brick and asphalt mix material by mass except when used as Common Borrow. pH Requirements. RC pH shall be less than 12.4 for all applications. RC usage shall not cause any outfall and infiltration water leaving the site to exceed a pH of 8.5. Acid sulfate, sulfur or any other environmentally safe organic material may also be used to control the pH. pH Testing.
a.Plant: The producer is required to test pH at the plant per T 289 every 1000 tons shipped or once a day, whichever yields the greater frequency. Plant pH testing shall be recorded as specified and a history shall be kept at the producer’s laboratory. The producer may be required to present TCLP and any other tests conducted by an independent laboratory as directed. 900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS The Administration reserves the right to test the producer’s RC at the plant for pH. Material delivery may be terminated if the test results repeatedly meet or exceed a pH of 12.4. In case of high pH the producer is require to use shorter stock pile by spreading the material at around the plant or mixing the RC-GAB with the natural GAB to reduce the pH issue.
b.Construction Site: The OMT representatives will perform QA testing to monitor, test, for the pH levels for any discharge associated with RC placement as directed. This includes monitoring and testing during periods of precipitation or dampness. In cases of high pH, the producer shall provide a reduction control plan for the pH. Quality Control. The producer shall submit a Quality Control Plan and obtain approval prior to production. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the operational techniques and procedures proposed to produce the RC product. QC includes the sampling, testing and data recording performed to validate the quality of the product during production operations. Quality Assurance. OMT QA personnel will perform quality assurance inspection, sampling, and testing at the RC plant and construction site. Additional inspection, testing and compaction control will be performed by the Engineer.
900.03.03 Recycled Asphalt Pavement (Rap)
Usage. Use RAP for Common, Select, Capping, or Modified Borrow. Do not use RAP as aggregate for the following.
a.Graded Aggregate Base (GAB).
b.Portland cement concrete.
c.Drainage systems.
d.Embankment construction.
1.Within 1 ft of the top surface of any area to be vegetated. Refer to MSMT 412 and M 323 for the use of RAP in asphalt mixes. Grading Requirements. The grading requirements for the use of RAP.
a.204.02 when used in embankment construction,
b.916.01 when used as Borrow material,
c.901.02.01 when used as riprap. 900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS Quality Control. Create a captive stockpile for storing the RAP prior to use. Create a new captive stockpile and take new acceptance samples for gradation approval whenever the source of the RAP changes. Quality Assurance. OMT QA personnel will sample and test the RAP stockpiles to ensure that they meet the above gradation requirements. The completed test results will be reviewed by the OMT Soils and Aggregate Division for approval. Construction of Control Test Strip. The location, equipment, and methods used to construct the control test strip shall be as directed; prior to approval. The equipment and methods used to construct the control test strip shall be the same as those used in subsequent construction. Place and test the control test strip when the RAP is 32 F or higher to establish the maximum density. RAP is temperature sensitive, which may affect the density. Construct the control test strip that shall be at least 100 ft long, 12 ft wide and a maximum compacted lift thickness of 6 in. Prepare the subgrade for the control test strip in accordance with
204.03.07 Do not construct the control strip, or perform any subsequent construction, on frozen
subgrade. Compact the RAP for the control test strip with one pass of the roller. Measure the density after one pass with a nuclear density gauge (backscatter method) at the frequency for capping material at five random locations distributed across the length and width of the control test strip, as directed. Record the measurements and mark the locations for future reference. Compact the RAP for the control test strip with a second pass of the roller. Measure and record the density again at the exact locations previously tested and as described above. Prepare a plot of density versus the number of roller passes. Continue this process until the maximum dry density of the control strip is established. There should be no drop in average density during construction of the control test strip for each lift. A drop in the average density of greater than 2 pcf during construction of the control test strip is an indication that the material is not properly compacting, and a new test strip shall be constructed. The Engineer may require the Contractor to cut into the control test strip for visual inspection. All material, labor, equipment, tools, and incidentals necessary to provide an approved control test strip shall be at no additional cost to the Administration. Compaction Control. Use the roller pattern and number of passes determined from the construction of the test strip to compact the RAP for production placement. The density of the RAP compacted for production work shall be at least 97 percent of the maximum density obtained from the control test strip. Recheck the density of the production work if it is less than 97 percent of the maximum density obtained from the control test strip. Construct a new control test strip if the second density does not meet the 97 percent requirement. Construct a new control test strip if the measured density of the compacted RAP for production work exceeds 105 percent. 900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS Establish one rolling pattern to achieve maximum density for each use based on the control test strips. Samples or results produced prior to the construction of any new stockpiles will not be considered.
900.03.04 DREDGED MATERIAL (DM) and DREDGED MATERIAL BLENDS (DMB)
Definitions. Dredged Material (DM). Material excavated or dredged from the waters of the State as referenced in COMAR 26.04 and COMAR 26.10.13. The term "waters of this State" is also specifically defined in COMAR. It includes a wide range of surface and underground waters within Maryland's jurisdiction, such as surface and underground waters within state boundaries, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, and various bodies of water and drainage systems like ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. It also encompasses the portion of the Atlantic Ocean within the state's boundaries and the floodplain of free-flowing waters as determined by the Department based on the 100 year flood frequency. The DM includes Sand, Silt, Clay, Gravel, Mud, Muck, Rock or other sediment or material excavated or dredged from tidal, estuarine, or riverine waters of the State, including potentially dry areas at the time of excavation beneath the plane bounded by the normal high water line. DM includes but is not limited to dredged slurry, hydraulic fill, or dewatered dredged material from fresh, brackish, or saltwater environments. Dredged Material Blend (DMB): A homogeneous mixture of dredged material with other approved borrow materials. Corrosivity, Gradation and Toxicity Requirements. DM and DMB shall meet the following requirements: Parameter Acceptable Range Test Method Minimum resistivity (Ω·cm) > 3,000 T 288 pH 5.5 – 8.5 T 289 Sulfate content (ppm) < 500 T 290 Chloride content (ppm) < 400 T 291 PFOA and PFOS Organic Content < 4 ng/L (in leachate) < 8% EPA Method 1633 with D 3987 (Leaching) T 267 Gradation % Passing #200 Sieve ≤ 30% T 11 Notes: Ω·cm = Ohm·Centimeter, ppm = Parts per Million. PFAS = Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances PFOA = Perfluorooctanoic Acid PFOS = Perfluorooctane Sulfonate 900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS In addition to the above requirements, DM and DMB shall follow the procedures and meet the requirements of Category 1 – Residential Unrestricted Use Soil and Fill Material or Category 2 – Non-Residential Restricted Use Soil and Fill Material land use categories as specified by Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in the current Innovative Reuse and Beneficial Use of Dredged Materials (IRBDM). All MDE requirements shall be satisfactorily met, including but not limited to the screening process, sampling, frequency of sampling, and testing analysis with a listing of the appropriate test procedures. It is the contractor’s responsibility to obtain the MDE approval, whether directly or indirectly from the source vendor, satisfactorily demonstrating that all MDE requirements are met. DMB requires blending DM, as necessary, with soil, quarry fines or other materials to meet the above requirements. The DMB will be subject to a blending study done by the contractor or supplier. The blending study will be outlined in the Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) which will be reviewed and approved by MDE within 30 days. Test the blending material(s) in accordance with all MDE IRBDM testing requirements. SHA will only sample and test the final blend for the final approval of the material after receiving approval and test results per the IRBDM. Source submissions will be considered with an approved Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP) from MDE if a blending study was conducted. Provide a declaration of potential environmental impacts to adjacent properties and a Confirmation of Suitability of use / Interim Receiving Site Form containing the following information:
a.MDE Tracking Number.
b.Land Use Category.
c.Volume of Material.
d.The End User/Interim Receiving site a “Groundwater Use Area” has been determined.
e.Both forms must have the appropriate signatures. Usage. Use DM and DMB as Common, Select or Modified Borrow provided DM and DMB meet the requirements of 916.01, 204.02, MDE IRBDM, and the Corrosivity, Gradation and Toxicity Requirements above. An additional written consent by the Administration is required prior to DM or DMB use. Do not use DM and DMB for the following:
a.Portland cement concrete.
b.Hot mix asphalt.
c.Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) systems:
1.MSE walls.
2.Reinforced Soil Slopes (RSS). 900 — GENERAL 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
3.Reinforced Earth Slopes (RES).
d.Within 500 feet of any potable water supply wells.
e.Within karst geologic terrain.
Referenced in this section
General in other states
Get an email when 900 changes
Maryland revises spec sections through supplementals and new editions. We check this one every week and email you the day it changes. Free, no account.
Source: Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials, 2026 Edition. Pages 930–937 of 1,138. View official source ↗