SECTION 704 - MASONRY UNITS
704-01 Common Brick
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for common brick, made from clay or shale, used in the construction of drainage structures and manholes. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Brick shall conform to the requirements of ASTM C32, Grade MS, including the requirement for saturation coefficient. Common brick may be furnished in any of the designated standard sizes that will produce the required dimensions in the completed structure, and the bricks shall be solid. SAMPLING AND TESTING. Samples, when requested by the Department, shall be randomly selected from production-run material. A minimum of 10 full-size bricks of the same size and style will be required. Samples will be tested for the physical properties identified in ASTM C32. Tests will be performed in accordance with ASTM 67. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Common brick will be accepted on the basis of a material certification that specifies the product conforms to this specification.
704-02 Concrete Brick
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for concrete brick produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Concrete Masonry QC/QA titled “Procedures for Achieving and Maintaining Concrete Masonry Units Approved List Status”. Item 704-02 can be used in brick masonry construction, altering drainage structures, leaching-basins and manholes (section 604). MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Concrete brick shall conform to the requirements of ASTM C936, except as noted herein. Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 Aggregates that have use limitations with high alkali Portland Cement. Materials used in the manufacture of concrete brick shall meet the requirements of the following subsections: Portland Cement 701-01 Coarse Aggregate 703-02 Mortar Sand 703-03 Grout Sand 703-04 Concrete Sand 703-07 Fly Ash 711-10 Ground, Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag 711-12 Water 712-01 Fly ash or ground, granulated blast-furnace slag may be substituted up to a maximum of 20% by weight of the total amount of cement plus pozzolan in the mix. Pigments used for integral coloring shall meet the requirements of ASTM C979. Other materials may be used in the manufacture as approved by the Director, Materials Bureau. The nominal dimensions of the brick shall be 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 2⅔ inches in height.
A.Physical Properties. Concrete brick shall meet the compressive strength and absorption requirements in ASTM C936. In addition, the maximum acceptable average freeze/thaw loss of five paver samples, subjected to 25 freeze/thaw cycles in a 10% NaCl solution, is 1.0%, with no individual sample exceeding 1.5%. SAMPLING AND TESTING. When samples are requested by the Department, they will be randomly selected from production-run material. A total of 15 concrete bricks of the same size and style will be required. Five samples will be tested for compressive strength and five for absorption, in accordance with ASTM C140. Five samples will be tested for freeze/thaw durability in accordance with NYSDOT test methods. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Concrete brick will be accepted on the job site based on the following: • The manufacturer's name must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being supplied. • A manufacturer’s certification. An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
SCOPE. This specification covers the general material and quality requirements for precast concrete items produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for precast concrete QC/QA titled “Procedures For Achieving And Maintaining Precast Concrete Manufacturer’s Approved List Status”. It is intended for use in conjunction with the individual item specifications. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. The Portland Cement Concrete shall meet the requirements in §501 Portland Cement Concrete – Production, §501-2.02 and Materials Procedure (MP) 501-1 Plant Production Requirements and Procedures for Portland Cement Concrete Facilities except as noted herein. Cement may be used in conjunction with pozzolans to achieve the required performance characteristics of the concrete mixture.Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine & Coarse Aggregates that have use limitations with a high alkali portland cement. When requested, the Materials Bureau may approve this combination when 15-20% by weight of the cement in the mix is replaced with fly ash.
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 The concrete shall have an air content of 5.0 to 9.0%. Unless noted otherwise in the contract documents, approved fabrication drawings or item specification, the minimum compressive strength of concrete used in precast units shall be 3000 psi @ 28 days. Threaded inserts used to connect reinforcing steel to precast concrete shall be non-corrosive and shall have a tensile capacity of at least 50% of the yield strength of the reinforcing steel. The use of galvanized reinforcing in place of specified epoxy coated reinforcing is allowed. If galvanized reinforcing is used, all reinforcing in the unit must be galvanized. The use of galvanized dowels to attach secondary pours, requires all reinforcing in secondary pours to be galvanized. When galvanized wire fabric for concrete reinforcement is used, it shall be galvanized in accordance with ASTM A123. Fabrication, including bending of fabric, shall be performed prior to galvanizing. Additional materials, listed below, shall meet the requirements of the following subsections: Concrete Repair Material 701-04 Concrete Repair Material - High Early Strength 701-12 Bar Reinforcement, Grade 60 709-01 Wire Fabric For Concrete Reinforcement 709-02 Epoxy Coated Bar Reinforcement, Grade 60 709-04 Epoxy Coated Wire Fabric Reinforcement 709-08 Cold-Drawn Wire For Concrete Reinforcement 709-09 Mechanical Connectors for Reinforcing Bar Splices (Epoxy Coated) 709-10 Galvanized Bar Reinforcement 709-11 Quilted Covers (for curing) 711-02 Plastic Coated Fiber Blankets (for curing) 711-03 Polyethylene Curing Covers (White Opaque) 711-04 Membrane Curing Compound (Clear w/Fugitive Dye) 711-05 Burlap 711-06 Corrosion Inhibitor 711-13 DRAWINGS. Precast concrete units shall be fabricated to conform to the details contained in the plans and contract documents. Fabrication Drawings shall be one of the following:
A.Contract Plan Sheets. When the contract plans contain enough detail to properly fabricate and inspect the precast element they may be used as the fabrication drawings. The Materials Bureau will determine wether or not the contract plans contain enough detail.
B.Department Standard Sheets. When Department Standard Sheets are referenced in, and are in compliance with the contract plans, the Standard Sheet shall be used as the fabrication drawing.
C.Fabricator Working Drawings. When the contract plans do not contain enough detail to be used as fabrication drawings and there is no Department Standard Sheet for the precast element or the Standard Sheet is not in compliance with the contract plans, Fabricator Working Drawings shall be used as the fabrication drawings.
D.Fabricator Standard Drawing. Fabricator Standard Drawings, previously approved by the Director, Materials Bureau, which meet the requirements of the contract plans, may be used as the fabrication drawings in place of Contract Plan Sheets, Department Standard Sheets or Fabricator Working Drawings. Fabrication Drawings shall be prepared and processed in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Preparing And Processing Fabrication Drawings For Precast Concrete Products.
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 FABRICATION. The manufacturer shall produce precast units that conform to the details of the approved fabrication drawings. The precast units shall be uniform in appearance. All concrete surfaces which will be exposed to view after installation shall be flat and smooth, free from irregularities and uniform in color and texture. The Department, and it’s representatives, shall have free access to the manufacturing facility and all products produced for the Department.
A.Formwork. Concrete shall be cast in rigidly constructed forms which will maintain the units within specified tolerances to the shapes, lines and dimensions shown on the approved fabrication drawings. Forms shall be constructed from flat, smooth, non-absorbent material and shall be sufficiently tight to prevent the leakage of mortar. When wood forms are used all faces in contact with the concrete shall be laminated with a non-absorbent material. All worn or damaged forms which cause irregularities on the concrete surface or damage to the concrete during form removal shall be repaired or replaced before being reused. Form coatings, appearing on the Department's Approved List, shall be applied to all forms.
B.Lifting Devices. Lifting devices shall be a recessed type designed for use in precast concrete. The precast manufacturer shall ensure that the lifting devices selected for use have an adequate capacity to safely handle the precast product. Reinforcing steel shall not be used as a lifting device. Lifting devices that are used for turning or rotating a unit at the precast facility but are not necessary for further handling or installation shall be filled with concrete repair material before the unit is shipped. All other lifting devices shall be filled with concrete repair material after the unit is installed.
C.Reinforcing. Shall meet the requirements in §556, Reinforcing Steel for Concrete Structures; §556-3.01B and C, §556-3.02A and §556-3.03A through §556-3.03C. Unless noted otherwise in approved fabrication drawings or item specification, the minimum concrete cover over reinforcing steel shall be 1 1/2 inch. Reinforcing steel shall be tied and supported to keep it in position during the concrete placement. The ends of chairs or spacers, used to support or locate reinforcing steel, that bear on the faces of forms, shall be made of, or coated with, non-corrosive material so that no discoloration will show on the face of the units. Chairs, tie wires and other devices used to support, position or fasten epoxy coated or galvanized reinforcement shall be made of or coated with a dielectric material. Tack welding or any other welding of specified steel reinforcement will not be allowed. Welding for cage stability will be permitted provided that redundant steel is added in each direction and tied to the cage. The redundant steel shall be thirty (30) bar diameters, minimum, in length and shall be positioned so that the midpoint is located at the weld.
D.Corrosion Inhibitor. When allowed by the individual item specification, corrosion inhibitor may be used in lieu of epoxy coated reinforcing. When corrosion inhibitor is selected for use it shall be clearly noted on the fabricator working drawing or in the fabrication request when standard sheets, contract plan sheets, etc are used as the fabrication drawings. When selected for use, corrosion inhibitor shall be used in all units produced to the referenced fabrication drawings. The corrosion inhibitor shall be added to the concrete as an aqueous solution at a dosage rate of 4 gal/cy. The calcium nitrite, which acts as an accelerator, may be used in conjunction with compatible retarding admixtures to control setting time and workability of the concrete, however the use of a formulation of calcium nitrite solution which includes a set control ingredient may be used if setting times and increased water demands are of concern, consult the manufacturer of the product. The corrosion inhibitor must be added to the mix immediately after air entraining and retarding admixtures have been introduced into the batch. When a batching problem exists or is perceived the Department reserves the right to test the hardened concrete at any time to verify the quantity of calcium nitrite present. Units with less than the specified amount of calcium nitrite shall be subject to rejection. If hardened concrete is tested, 4 inches diameter cores shall be drilled by the manufacturer under the supervision of a Department
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 representative. Cores shall be a minimum of 4 inches in length unless otherwise approved by the Materials Bureau. Core holes shall be plugged and repaired in accordance with the requirements of repair indicated below.
E.Concrete Placement And Consolidation. Suitable means shall be used for placing concrete to prevent segregation. The concrete shall be thoroughly consolidated by external or internal vibrators or a combination of both, unless otherwise approved by the Materials Bureau. Vibrators shall not be used to move concrete within the forms. Concrete shall be placed and consolidated in a way that minimizes the presence of surface voids or bug holes on the formed surfaces.
F.Cold Weather. When concrete is cast in ambient temperatures less than 50°F the following requirements shall apply:
1.Immediately before concrete placement the minimum temperature inside the forms shall be 40°F.
2.Immediately following completion of the placement the requirements of the chosen curing method shall be followed.
3.Concrete temperatures required by the chosen curing method shall be maintained by means of an external indirect heat supply or by utilizing the heat of hydration. Curing temperatures shall not exceed 85°F unless units are steam cured in accordance with this specification. When an external heat supply is used the enclosure shall be properly vented to prevent surface disintegration of the fresh concrete due to an accumulation of carbon dioxide gas.
4.The plastic concrete shall not be exposed to freezing temperatures after it has been placed into the forms or during the curing period.
G.Dimensional Tolerances. The following tolerances shall apply, unless noted otherwise in the contract documents, approved fabrication drawings or item specification:
1.Unit dimensions ±1/2 inch
2.Variations in required spacing of reinforcing steel, not cumulative. ±2 inches
3.Concrete cover over reinforcing steel +5/8 inch -1/4 inch
4.All reinforcing steel fabrication tolerances shall conform to ACI 117 sec 2.1.
5.All reinforcing steel embedded and lap length tolerances shall conform to ACI 117 sec 2.2.8. The application of fabrication tolerances shall not impact the proper fit, alignment or function of the assembled precast item, nor shall it negatively impact the appearance of precast items which are exposed to view after installation.
H.Architectural Treatments
1.Architectural Patterned And Textured Precast Concrete. The architectural pattern or textured effect called for in the contract plans shall be obtained by using form liners, stamping equipment or other texturing tools recommended by the manufacturer. Details of the architectural
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 pattern or texture and the fabrication method used shall be shown on the fabrication drawings for the precast item. Concrete surfaces treated with form liners or by stamping shall have a repeatable, seamless pattern such that when installed the units will form a continuous, natural looking, matching and repeatable pattern. Surfaces treated with texturing tools shall be uniform in appearance. When form liners are used, a high quality release agent compatible with the form liner material shall be used. Form liners which are worn or damaged resulting in a non-uniform appearance or damage to the concrete during form removal shall be replaced. Fabrication drawings shall clearly show the design thickness of the precast element and the thickness being added by the architectural pattern or texturing. The architectural pattern or texturing shall not penetrate into the required concrete cover over the reinforcing steel at any point.
2.Exposed Aggregate Precast Concrete. Coarse aggregate shall meet the color and size requirements in the plans. When no size is specified a dried, Department approved aggregate having a Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (as defined in ASTM C125) of 1/2 inch, or equal approved by the Director, Materials Bureau, shall be used. A set retarder designed for use in exposed aggregate applications shall be used. Surfaces requiring an exposed aggregate finish shall be uniform in appearance with the surface completely covered with exposed aggregate. A set retarder shall be applied, in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations, to the surfaces receiving the exposed aggregate finish. Alternate methods of obtaining the exposed aggregate finish require prior approval of the Director, Materials Bureau. Unless otherwise shown in the contract plans, the depth of exposure shall be 30% of the primary size of the coarse aggregate. The depth of exposure shall be measured by laying a straight edge across the plane of the concrete face and measuring back to the concrete matrix.
3.Integral Coloring. Integrally colored concrete shall be produced by use of a pigment coloring system meeting the requirements of ASTM C979. For each color used the pigment shall be from the same batch or lot unless otherwise approved by the Director, Materials Bureau. Pigment will be approved based on a manufacturers certification of compliance with these requirements. Type 6 white cement, meeting the requirements of §701-01, may be used to achieve the desired color. Coloring pigment shall be added to the concrete mix per manufacturer’s recommendations, at a dosage rate to achieve the desired color as specified in the contract documents. The manufacturer’s recommended maximum dosage rate shall not be exceeded.
4.Visual Standards. The Contractor shall construct visual samples that are the same general size and shape as the production units they represent. The samples must be submitted to the Regional Landscape Architect for written approval. Each of the patterns, textures and colors identified in the plans shall be represented by the samples. Only one pattern or texture shall be used per sample face. When multiple patterns or textures are called for, additional samples will be required. Materials and fabrication techniques used in the samples, including curing, concrete pigment and sealers, shall be the actual materials and techniques to be used in the construction of the final product. If the samples are rejected by the Landscape Architect, the Contractor shall construct additional samples as required to obtain the Landscape Architect’s approval. The approved samples shall be made available at the precast plant, for use by the inspector as visual standards, throughout production of the units. When surface coatings are to be field applied additional samples, without the surface coatings, shall be prepared and retained at the precast plant for use as visual standards. The fabrication of precast concrete units shall not begin until written approval of the visual standards has been received from the Department.
5.Visual Evaluation. When comparing production units against the visual standards there shall be minimal color and texture variations, from the standard, when viewed in good typical lighting at a 20 foot distance. When viewed alone, production units shall show no obvious imperfections
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 or evidence of repairs other than minimal color and texture variations when viewed in good typical lighting at a 20 foot distance.
I.Curing. All precast concrete units shall be subjected to curing by any one of the methods described in the following paragraphs. The manufacturer shall provide minimum/maximum temperature thermometers to monitor curing temperatures unless otherwise specified. If, at any time, curing temperatures fall below the specified minimum for the chosen curing procedure, the curing period shall be increased accordingly. Except as noted under D. Moisture Retention Curing, no unit shall be subjected to freezing temperatures until the following two conditions are met: • The chosen curing cycle has been completed. • The specified 28 day compressive strength or 3000 psi, whichever is less, has been reached. Cylinders shall be cured in the same manner and maintained in the same temperature and environmental conditions as the units they represent until being tested.
1.Steam Curing. The units shall be cured in a suitable enclosure. The enclosure shall be designed to minimize the loss of heat and moisture while allowing for the uniform circulation of steam around the entire unit. The interior surfaces of the enclosure and the surface of the unit shall be moist at all times. Steps shall be taken to prevent localized "hot spots" caused by the steam lines. The enclosure shall be free from outside drafts. Steam curing shall not begin until a preset period has been completed. The preset period begins when the last concrete has been placed and continues until the concrete obtains initial set. Prior written approval from the Director, Materials Bureau is required when preset periods of less than two hours are to be used. During the preset period, moderate heat may be applied to the enclosure to maintain the initial temperature of the concrete. The maximum temperature inside the enclosure during the preset period shall be the initial temperature of the concrete +10°F. After the preset period is complete, steam shall be injected into the curing enclosure. The temperature inside the enclosure shall not be increased at a rate greater than 40°F per hour. A moist atmosphere shall be maintained at a temperature between 105°F and 185°F for a period of not less than 12 hours. The temperature inside the enclosure shall then be decreased at a rate not exceeding 40°F per hour until the ambient temperature outside the enclosure is reached. The manufacturer shall provide automatic temperature recorders to continuously record the curing temperature inside the enclosure.
2.Water Spray Curing. Curing shall begin as soon as the concrete has hardened sufficiently to prevent surface damage from the water spray but not more than 2 hours after the completion of finishing. All exposed surfaces of the precast unit shall be kept wet with a continuous fine spray of water in an enclosure maintained at a temperature of not less than 70°F for a period of not less than 72 hours. Additional curing time may be necessary to meet the 28 day strength requirements.
3.Saturated Cover Curing. The saturated covers used under this method shall be burlap. Curing shall begin as soon as the concrete has hardened sufficiently to prevent surface damage from the saturated burlap but not more than 2 hours after the completion of finishing. All exposed concrete surfaces on the precast unit shall be covered with burlap, saturated with water before applying. The burlap shall be kept saturated and the units kept at a temperature of not less than 70°F for a period of not less than 72 hours. Additional curing time may be necessary to meet the 28 day strength requirements.
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4
4.Moisture Retention Curing. Units cured in accordance with these methods shall be maintained at a temperature of not less than 45°F for a period of not less than 7 days except as noted below. Additional curing time may be necessary to meet the 28 day strength requirements. When the specified 28 day compressive strength or 3000 psi, whichever is less, has been reached the unit may be exposed to freezing temperatures however the membrane curing compound or curing covers must still be maintained for a minimum of 7 days.
a.Membrane Curing Compound. The membrane curing compounds used under this method must appear on the Department's current Approved List of Membrane Curing Compounds under B. Clear (with fugitive dye). The compound shall be properly agitated immediately before each use. A minimum coverage rate of one gallon per 150 square feet shall be used. The membrane curing compound shall be applied to the concrete surface after finishing as soon as the free water on the surface has disappeared and no water sheen is visible, but not so late that the liquid curing compound will be absorbed into the concrete. When curing compound cannot be applied within the above requirements, the manufacturer shall instead immediately begin curing the unit in accordance with one of the other curing methods contained in this specification, until curing compound can be applied. If the forms are left on for a minimum of 7 days, curing compound is not required on any formed surfaces. When the forms are removed prior to 7 days, the exposed concrete surfaces shall be wet with water within one half hour of form removal and shall be kept moist until the curing compound is applied. Before application, the concrete shall be allowed to reach a uniformly damp appearance with no free water on the surface and then the compound shall be applied immediately. This method of curing shall not be used on any concrete surface which is to have plastic concrete, grout or mortar bonded to it or on any concrete surface that will have a penetrating or coating type treatment such as a sealer or stain applied to it. Another approved method of curing shall be used when this condition exists.
b.Curing Covers. The curing covers used under this method shall be either Plastic Coated Fiber Blankets, §711-03, appearing on the Department's Approved List or Polyethylene Curing Covers meeting the requirements of §711-04. Curing covers shall be placed immediately following the finishing operation or form removal, whichever is applicable. Care shall be taken not to damage any exposed concrete surfaces during cover placement. Curing covers shall be placed and secured and be of such condition as to minimize the loss of moisture and temperature. When it is necessary to use more than one curing cover the edges shall be lapped a minimum of 12 inches.
5.Other Methods. Other Methods of curing are subject to approval by the Director, Materials Bureau.
J.Repair. Precast concrete units that contain minor defects caused by manufacture or mishandling shall be repaired at the manufacturing site. In addition, units that contain minor defects caused by mishandling during shipment or installation shall be repaired at the project site. When repairs are made to a unit that has been sprayed with curing compound, the compound must be removed from the repair area before making the repair as it will act as a bond breaker between the precast concrete and the repair material. Major defects and non repairable defects in a unit will be cause for rejection of the unit. Defects are defined as follows:
1.Surface Defects. Surface voids or bugholes which are less than 5/8 inch in diameter and less than 1/4 inch deep are acceptable, except as noted under D. of this section. Surface defects need not be repaired.
704-03 Precast Concrete - General
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4
2.Minor Defects. Minor defects are defined as: spalls, honeycombing and surface voids which have no dimension greater than 12 inches, when measured along a straight line, and do not expose the reinforcing steel. Minor defects shall be repaired by removing all unsound concrete from the defect, square cutting the edges of the defect to prevent feather edging of the repair and then filling the void with concrete repair material meeting the requirements of §701-04 or §701-12. Concrete repair material shall have a color similar to that of the precast unit. The repair shall be finished to the proper shape and cured in accordance with the repair material manufacturer's recommendations. It shall withstand a moderate blow with a 16 oz hammer. The blow shall produce a sharp ring indicating proper bonding of the repair.
3.Major Defects. Major defects are defined as: spalls, honeycombing and surface voids which have any dimension greater than 12 inches, when measured along a straight line, or expose the reinforcing steel. Cracks which go through the section or are greater than 0.01 inch in width are also major defects. No major defect shall be repaired without prior approval of the Department. Requests to repair major defects shall be made in accordance with the requirements contained in the current Materials Procedure for precast concrete.
4.Non Repairable Defects. Non repairable defects are defined as: cracks in a concrete surface, which will be exposed to view after installation, that are visible when viewed in good typical lighting with the naked eye at a 10 foot distance; minor defects which in total make up more than 5% of the surface area of the unit and excessive surface defects on more than 5% of the surface area which will be exposed to view after installation. SAMPLING AND TESTING. Sampling and testing shall be done by the precast manufacturer in accordance with Materials Bureau requirements contained in the current Materials Procedure for precast concrete. MARKING. All precast units shall be clearly marked with permanent waterproof paint. Unless noted otherwise in the item specification, units shall be marked on an inside or back surface which will not be exposed to view after installation. The following information shall be included: Name or trademark of the manufacturer. Date of manufacture. Unique piece identification number. NYSDOT Contract number. FINAL PRODUCTION INSPECTION. A final production inspection shall be performed by the precast manufacturer on every precast unit produced for the Department. An inspection will be considered satisfactory when it verifies that the precast unit is in compliance with the appropriate Department specifications. The specific requirements and procedures for the inspection are contained in the precast manufacturer’s Department approved Quality Control Plan. SHIPPING. Upon completion of a satisfactory final production inspection the precast unit may be shipped from the manufacturing location except that units produced between the dates of October 31st and April 1st shall not be shipped for a minimum of 72 hours following the completion of casting. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Precast units will be accepted at the job site based on the following: The manufacturer’s name must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being supplied. A manufacturer’s certification. An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-04 Concrete Block Slope Paving
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4
704-04 Concrete Block Slope Paving
SCOPE. This specification covers the material details and quality requirements for concrete block for use in concrete block slope paving and produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Concrete Masonry QC/QA titled “Procedures for Achieving and Maintaining Concrete Masonry Units Approved List Status”. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse Aggregates that have use limitations with high alkali Portland Cement. Materials used in the manufacture of concrete block shall meet the requirements of the following subsections: Portland Cement 701-01 Coarse Aggregate 703-02 Mortar Sand 703-03 Grout Sand 703-04 Concrete Sand 703-07 Fly Ash 711-10 Ground, Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag 711-12 Water 712-01 Fly ash or ground granulated blast furnace slag may be substituted for up to a maximum of 20% by weight of the total amount of cement plus pozzolan in the mix. Pigments used for integral coloring shall meet the requirements of ASTM C979. Other materials may be used in the manufacture as approved by the Director, Materials Bureau.
A.Physical Properties. The minimum acceptable average compressive strength of five-block samples is 6000 psi, with no individual block less than 5500 psi. The maximum acceptable average freeze/thaw loss of five- block samples, subjected to 42 freeze/thaw cycles in a 3% NaCl solution, shall not exceed 1.0%, with no individual sample exceeding 1.5%. Block dimensions shall be as required in the contract documents. Dimensions shall not vary by more than ¼ inch from those specified. Blocks shall be sound and free from cracks or other defects that would interfere with their proper placement or performance. SAMPLING AND TESTING. When samples are requested by the Department, they will be randomly selected from production-run material. A minimum of five samples, prepared by the manufacturer in accordance with ASTM C1262, will be required for freeze/thaw testing. Samples will be tested for compressive strength in accordance with ASTM C140. Samples will be tested for freeze/thaw durability in accordance with ASTM C1262. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Concrete block will be accepted on the job site based on the following: • The manufacturer's name must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being supplied. • A manufacturer’s certification. An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-05 Precast Concrete Barrier
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for precast concrete barrier used in highway applications, precast concrete barrier for structures, and precast temporary concrete barrier.
704-05 Precast Concrete Barrier
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. The Material Requirements contained in 704-03 Precast Concrete - General shall apply except as noted herein. Concrete mixtures used under this specification shall have a maximum cement content of 750 lbs per cubic yard. Unless noted otherwise in the contract documents or approved fabrication drawings, the compressive strength of concrete used in precast concrete barrier shall be as follows: Concrete Barrier 3,000 psi (minimum) @ 28 days Concrete Barrier for Structures 5,000 psi (minimum) @ 28 days Temporary Concrete Barrier 3,000 psi (minimum) @ 28 days All reinforcing steel for Concrete Barrier and Concrete Barrier For Structures shall be epoxy coated meeting the requirements of 709-04 Epoxy Coated Bar Reinforcement, Grade 60. All reinforcing steel for Temporary Concrete Barrier shall meet the requirements of 709-01 Bar Reinforcement, Grade 60. DRAWINGS. The drawing requirements contained in 704-03 Precast Concrete - General shall apply except as noted herein. Concrete Barrier and Temporary Concrete Barrier shall use dimensions as shown on the Standard Sheets. Concrete Barrier for Structures shall use dimensions as shown on the Bridge Design (BD) Sheets. FABRICATION. The fabrication requirements contained in 704-03 Precast Concrete - General, as well as the following shall apply. • Cross-sectional dimensions shall not vary from the dimensions shown by more than 1/4 inch. • Barrier shall not be out of plumb by more than 1/4 inch. • Longitudinal dimensions shall not vary from the dimensions shown by more than 1/4 inch per 10 feet of barrier. • When checked with a 10 foot straight edge, irregularities shall not exceed 1/4 inch. SAMPLING AND TESTING. The Sampling and Testing requirements contained in 704-03 Precast Concrete - General shall apply. MARKING. The Marking requirements contained in 704-03 Precast Concrete - General shall apply except as noted herein. Concrete Barrier and Concrete Barrier For Structures shall be marked on one end of each barrier segment such that they will not be exposed to view after installation. Temporary Concrete Barrier shall be marked with “NYSDOT” in place of a Department contract number. In addition, each Temporary Concrete Barrier segment shall be permanently marked with a manufacturer’s identification and a date of manufacture in a manner that will remain legible throughout its service life. The date, at a minimum, shall contain the month and year. Permanent markings shall be placed in a consistent location on the top, bottom, or one end of each segment. Imprinting the required information a minimum of 1/4 inch into the concrete surface will be considered an acceptable permanent marking. Paint will not be considered a permanent marking. If permanent markings are located on the bottom of the segment, paint markings matching the permanent markings shall be placed on one end of each segment to facilitate field inspection. FINAL PRODUCTION INSPECTION. The Final Production Inspection requirements contained in
704-03 Precast Concrete - General shall apply.
SHIPPING. The Shipping requirements in 704-03 Precast Concrete - General shall apply.
704-06 Precast Concrete Wall Units and Precast Concrete Cribbing
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 BASIS OF APPROVAL. Designs for permanent, standard Concrete Barrier other than those shown on the Standard Sheets will not be approved. Concrete Barrier for Structures designs may be proposed, and if found acceptable, will be placed on the Approved List. Evidence shall be provided that the proposed anchorage system has been successfully tested in accordance with the procedural directives issued by the DCES. Temporary Concrete Barrier designs other than those shown on the Standard Sheets may be proposed, and if found acceptable, will be placed on the appropriate Approved List based on their deflection and fixity (pinned or unpinned). Evidence shall be provided that the temporary concrete barrier, with the proposed joint system and anchorage, is MASH compliant. Additionally, the submitted design must include details of a barrier segment that can connect between the proposed system and NYSDOT’s generic Temporary Concrete Barrier. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. The Basis of Acceptance requirements contained in §704-03 Precast Concrete - General shall apply.
704-06 Precast Concrete Wall Units and Precast Concrete Cribbing
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and fabrication requirements of precast concrete wall units and precast concrete cribbing for prefabricated wall systems. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. The Material Requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. DRAWINGS. The Drawing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. FABRICATION. The Fabrication requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. SAMPLING AND TESTING. The Sampling And Testing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. MARKING. The Marking requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. FINAL PRODUCTION INSPECTION. The Final Production Inspection requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. SHIPPING. The Shipping requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. The Basis Of Acceptance requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply.
704-07 Dry Cast Concrete Wall Units
SCOPE. This specification covers the material details and quality requirements for dry cast concrete wall units produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Concrete Masonry QC/QA titled “Procedures for Achieving and Maintaining Concrete Masonry Units Approved List Status”. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Provide dry cast concrete wall units meeting the style and color requirements in the contract documents. Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse Aggregates that have use limitations with high alkali Portland cement. Use materials, meeting the following requirements, in the manufacture of dry cast concrete wall units: Portland Cement 701-01 Coarse Aggregate 703-02
704-08 Brick Sidewalk and Driveway Pavers
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 Mortar Sand 703-03 Grout Sand 703-04 Concrete Sand 703-07 Fly Ash 711-10 Ground, Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag 711-12 Water 712-01 Fly ash or ground, granulated blast-furnace slag may be substituted for up to a maximum of 20% by weight of the total amount of cement plus pozzolan in the mix. Use integral coloring pigments, when required, meeting the requirements of ASTM C979. Other materials may be used in the manufacture as approved by the Director, Materials Bureau.
A.Physical Properties. The minimum acceptable average compressive strength of five-block samples is 6000 psi, with no individual block sample less than 5500 psi. The maximum acceptable average freeze/thaw loss of five-block samples, subjected to 42 freeze/thaw cycles in a 3% NaCl solution, is 1.0%, with no individual sample exceeding 1.5%. The formed dimensions of dry cast concrete wall units will not differ more than ¼ inch from the nominal dimensions shown on the approved Materials Detail Drawing. Provide sound blocks, free from cracks or other defects that would interfere with the proper placing, performance, or appearance of the blocks.
B.Materials Details. At the time of application to the Approved List, submit Materials Details Drawings to the Director, Materials Bureau for approval. Prepare and submit drawings in accordance with Departmental procedural directives. Submit a unique drawing(s) for each block style under consideration. SAMPLING AND TESTING. When samples are requested by the Department, they will be randomly selected from production-run material. A minimum of 5 samples, prepared by the manufacturer in accordance with ASTM C140, will be required for compression testing. A minimum of five samples, prepared by the manufacturer in accordance with ASTM C1262, will be required for freeze/thaw testing. Samples will be tested for compressive strength in accordance with ASTM C140. Samples will be tested for freeze/thaw durability in accordance with ASTM C1262. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Dry cast concrete wall units will be accepted on the job site based on the following: • The manufacturer's name and block style must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being supplied. • A manufacturer’s certification. • Conformance to the approved material detail drawing(s). An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-08 Brick Sidewalk and Driveway Pavers
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for brick pavers made from extruded fire clay or shale for use in brick paving. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Brick pavers shall conform to the requirements of ASTM C902, Class SX, Type I. Brick pavers shall be the shape, size, and color shown in the contract documents. SAMPLING AND TESTING. Samples, when requested by the Department, shall be randomly selected from production-run material. A minimum of 10 full-size bricks of the same size and style will be
704-09 Stone Blocks
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 required. Samples will be tested for the physical properties identified in ASTM C902. Tests will be performed in accordance with ASTM C67. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Brick sidewalk and driveway pavers will be accepted on the basis of a material certification that specifies the product conforms to this specification.
704-09 Stone Blocks
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for stone blocks for use in Grouted Stone Block Paved Sidewalks and Driveways. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Stone blocks shall be new or used granite or other stone as specified. The blocks shall be sound and durable, reasonably uniform in quality and texture throughout, free from shale, excess mica, seams, scaling or evidence of disintegration. Color shall be as specified. Samples of stone blocks shall be submitted to and be approved by the Engineer prior to beginning of work. The blocks shall be rectangular in shape, with the following approximate dimensions: 8 - 12 inches in length, 3 - 5 inches in depth, unless otherwise specified or approved, and so dressed that they may be laid with a maximum of 1 1/4 inch joints or as specified. All blocks shall have one reasonably smooth split face with no projections or depressions over 1/4 inch. Cutting of blocks to meet the pattern requirements will be permitted subject to the approval of the Engineer. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Stone blocks shall be inspected, by the Engineer, for dimensional and color compliance upon arrival at the project location. Blocks not in compliance with the contract documents may be rejected by the Engineer.
704-10 Split-Faced Concrete Brick
SCOPE. This specification covers the material details and quality requirements for split faced concrete brick for use in facing structural walls and produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Concrete Masonry QC/QA titled “Procedures for Achieving and Maintaining Concrete Masonry Units Approved List Status”. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Split-faced concrete brick shall conform to the requirements of ASTM C90, except as noted herein. The shape, size, and color of split-faced concrete brick shall be as shown in the contract documents. The splitting operation shall leave relatively sharp, straight and parallel edges. Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse Aggregates that have use limitations with high alkali Portland Cement. Materials used in the manufacture of split-faced concrete brick shall meet the requirements of the following subsections: Portland Cement 701-01 Coarse Aggregate 703-02 Mortar Sand 703-03 Grout Sand 703-04 Concrete Sand 703-07 Fly Ash 711-10 Ground, Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag 711-12 Water 712-01 Fly ash or ground, granulated blast-furnace slag may be substituted for up to a maximum of 20% by weight of the total amount of cement plus pozzolan in the mix. Pigments used for integral coloring shall
704-11 Precast Concrete Coping
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 meet the requirements of ASTM C979. Other materials may be used in the manufacture as approved by the Director, Materials Bureau. SAMPLING AND TESTING. When samples are requested by the Department, they will be randomly selected from production-run material. A minimum of 10 full-size, split-faced bricks of the same size and style will be required. Five samples will be tested for compressive strength and five for absorption, in accordance with ASTM C140. The manufacturer shall be responsible for having brick tested for linear drying shrinkage in accordance with ASTM C90. A copy of the test report shall be included with the samples submitted to the Department for compression and absorption testing. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Split-faced concrete brick will be accepted on the job site based on the following: • The manufacturer's name must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being supplied. • A manufacturer’s certification. An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-11 Precast Concrete Coping
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for precast concrete coping. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. The Material Requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. DRAWINGS. The Drawing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. FABRICATION. The Fabrication requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply except as noted herein. Coping shall be produced with a dense, smooth, uniform finished surface without rubbing or additional treatment. Corners shall have a maximum radius of 1/8 inch and grinding will not be allowed. Coping shall be removed from the forms and handled in a manner that will prevent chipping of the edges and faces of the concrete.
A.Repair. Surface defects, regardless of size, shall be repaired by wetting the surface to achieve a damp condition with no standing water in the holes and then filling the holes with a mortar composed of an appropriate proportion of sand and cement having the same color and physical characteristics of the original mix. The mortar shall be allowed to partially harden and then be rubbed until a clean, uniform appearance, with no visible coating of mortar on the concrete, is obtained. The mortar repair shall be cured in the same manner as the coping unit. SAMPLING AND TESTING. The Sampling and Testing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. MARKING. The Marking requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply except as noted herein. Markings shall be placed on one end of each unit such that they won’t be exposed to view after installation. FINAL PRODUCTION INSPECTION. The Final Production Inspection requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. SHIPPING. The Shipping requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply
704-12 Concrete Block
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. The Basis Of Acceptance requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply.
704-12 Concrete Block
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for concrete block for use in structural walls and produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Concrete Masonry QC/QA titled “Procedures for Achieving and Maintaining Concrete Masonry Units Approved List Status”. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Concrete block shall conform to the requirements of ASTM C90 except as noted herein. The shape, size, and color of concrete block shall be as shown in the contract documents. Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse Aggregates that have use limitations with high alkali Portland Cement. Materials used in the manufacture of concrete block shall meet the requirements of the following subsections: Portland Cement 701-01 Coarse Aggregate 703-02 Mortar Sand 703-03 Grout Sand 703-04 Concrete Sand 703-07 Fly Ash 711-10 Ground, Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag 711-12 Water 712-01 Fly ash or ground, granulated blast-furnace slag may be substituted for up to a maximum of 20% by weight of the total amount of cement plus pozzolan in the mix. Pigments used for integral coloring shall meet the requirements of ASTM C979. Other materials may be used in the manufacture as approved by the Director, Materials Bureau. SAMPLING AND TESTING. When samples are requested by the Department, they will be randomly selected from production-run material. A minimum of 10 full-size concrete blocks of the same size and style will be required. Five samples will be tested for compressive strength and five for absorption, in accordance with ASTM C140. The manufacturer shall be responsible for having block tested for linear drying shrinkage in accordance with ASTM C90. A copy of the test report shall be included with the samples submitted to the Department for compression and absorption testing. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Concrete block will be accepted on the job site based on the following: • The manufacturer's name must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being supplied. • A manufacturer’s certification. • An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-13 Precast Concrete Driveway and Sidewalk Pavers
SCOPE. This specification covers the material details and quality requirements for precast concrete pavers used for driveway and sidewalk paving and produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Concrete Masonry QC/QA titled “Procedures for Achieving and Maintaining Concrete Masonry Units Approved List Status”.
704-14 PRECAST CONCRETE PANEL UNITS (Mechanically Stabilized Earth System)
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Precast concrete pavers shall meet the requirements of ASTM C936 except as noted herein. The shape, size, and color of precast concrete pavers shall be as shown in the Contract documents. Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse Aggregates that have use limitations with high alkali Portland Cement. Materials used in the manufacture of precast concrete pavers shall meet the requirements of the following subsections: Portland Cement 701-01 Coarse Aggregate 703-02 Mortar Sand 703-03 Grout Sand 703-04 Concrete Sand 703-07 Fly Ash 711-10 Ground, Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag 711-12 Water 712-01 Fly ash or ground, granulated blast-furnace slag may be substituted for up to a maximum of 20% by weight of the total amount of cement plus pozzolan in the mix. Pigments used for integral coloring shall meet the requirements of ASTM C979. Other materials may be used in the manufacture as approved by the Director, Materials Bureau.
A.Physical Properties. Precast concrete pavers shall meet the compressive strength and absorption requirements of ASTM C936. In addition, the maximum acceptable average freeze/thaw loss of five paver samples, subjected to 25 freeze/thaw cycles in a 10% NaCl solution, is 1.0%, with no individual sample exceeding 1.5%. SAMPLING AND TESTING. When samples are requested by the Department, they will be randomly selected from production-run material. A total of 15 precast concrete pavers of the same size and style will be required. Five samples will be tested for compressive strength and five for absorption, in accordance with ASTM C140. Five samples will be tested for freeze/thaw durability in accordance with NYSDOT test methods. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Precast concrete driveway and sidewalk pavers will be accepted on the job site based on the following: • The manufacturer's name must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being supplied. • A manufacturer’s certification. An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-14 PRECAST CONCRETE PANEL UNITS (Mechanically Stabilized Earth System)
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for precast concrete panel units used to construct a mechanically stabilized earth system. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. The Material Requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply except as noted herein. Unless noted otherwise in the contract documents or approved fabrication drawings the concrete used to fabricate panel units shall have a minimum compressive strength of 5000 psi @ 28 days. Reinforcing steel shall be epoxy coated meeting the requirements of §709-04 or §709-08.
704-14 PRECAST CONCRETE PANEL UNITS (Mechanically Stabilized Earth System)
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 Embedded items shall be as detailed on the fabrication drawings. Acceptance of embedded items will be based on manufacturer’s certification, unless otherwise directed by the Materials Bureau. When steel embeddments are required, they shall be galvanized to §719-01. DRAWINGS. The drawing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. FABRICATION. The Fabrication requirements contained in §704-03, along with the following, shall apply.
A.Corrosion Inhibitor. When required in the contract plans the concrete used shall contain a corrosion inhibitor. The use of corrosion inhibitor does not replace the requirement for epoxy coated reinforcing.
B.Dimensional Tolerances
1.Panel dimensions (edge-to-edge of concrete). ±1/4 inch
2.Panel thickness. ±1/4 inch
3.Length difference between two diagonals (squareness). ±3/8 inch
4.Distance between the centerline of dowel and dowel sleeve. ±1/4 inch
5.Dimension from the face of panel to centerline of dowel and dowel sleeve, and to centerline of reinforcing steel. ±1/4 inch
6.Warping of the exposed panel face 1/4 inch in 5 feet
7.Location of tie strips. ±1 inch
8.Location of coil embeds. ±1/4 inch
9.Location of connection slots. ±1 inch
10.Contact surfaces of each fabricated embedment assembly. ±1/8 inch from a straight line.
11.Miscellaneous tolerances. as detailed on the fabrication drawings.
C.Coating of Concrete Units. When required in the contract plans, panel units shall be coated on all surfaces with a penetrating sealer meeting the requirements of §717-03 Penetrating Type Protective Sealers. Surfaces to be coated must be prepared by blast cleaning, removing all laitance, loose particles, etc. The surface shall be allowed to dry for 24 hours after wetting for any reason. All surface preparation work shall be completed before sealer application can commence. The coating of units shall take place prior to shipping unless otherwise approved by the Engineer. Sealer materials shall not be applied during wet weather conditions. Any unit exposed to wetting within 12 hours of being sealed shall be recoated. Ambient and surface temperatures shall be a minimum of 40°F during application and until the sealed concrete is dry to the touch. Application by spray methods shall not be used during windy conditions. The sealer shall be used as supplied by the manufacturer without thinning or alterations, unless specifically required in the manufacturer’s instructions. Thorough mixing of the sealer before and during use shall be accomplished as recommended by the manufacturer. Equipment for sealer
704-15 Precast Concrete Pavement Slab Systems
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 application shall be clean of foreign materials. A minimum of two coats of sealer shall be applied. The total quantity of sealer applied by each coat shall be equal to the quantity required at the application rate specified in the Approved List. Each coat shall be allowed to dry before the next coat is applied. On sloping and vertical surfaces, sealer application shall progress from the bottom to the top. Care shall be taken to ensure that the entire surface of the concrete is covered and all pores filled. SAMPLING AND TESTING. The Sampling and Testing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. MARKING. The Marking requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. FINAL PRODUCTION INSPECTION. The Final Production Inspection requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. SHIPPING. The Shipping requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. The Basis Of Acceptance requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply.
704-15 Precast Concrete Pavement Slab Systems
SCOPE. This specification covers material and fabrication requirements for precast concrete pavement slab systems. Approved systems can be supplied by any manufacturer appearing on the Department’s Approved List entitled “Precast Concrete Manufacturers Approved for QC/QA Production – Groups 1 & 6,” provided they obtain approval from the system designer. SYSTEM APPROVAL. For Approved List consideration, the system designer must submit the following information to the Materials Bureau. After the Materials Bureau reviews the submitted information, the system designer will be required to perform a trial installation as detailed herein.
A.Fabricator Standard Drawings. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete – General. Include the following details:
1.Transverse joint support type, locations, spacing, and the mechanism used to transfer loads across transverse joints after slabs are placed.
2.Longitudinal joint tie type, locations, spacing and the mechanism used to tie adjacent slabs together.
3.Lifting insert type, location, positioning, and capping or backfill method.
4.Grout port type, location, positioning, and capping or backfill method.
B.Installation Instructions. Provide installation instructions, including any special equipment, to address the following.
1.Subbase Preparation. Instructions for any recommended subbase preparation.
2.Slab Installation. Instructions for lifting, moving, protecting, lowering, and adjusting the slabs into position.
704-15 Precast Concrete Pavement Slab Systems
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4
3.Bed and Level Slabs. Instructions to ensure slabs are fully supported by underlying layers at the correct line, grade, and cross slope while meeting contract smoothness requirements. Slabs may be either:
a.Placed on a precisely graded bedding layer and grouted in-place to fill any small, isolated voids between the slabs and bedding layer (grade-supported).
b.Placed or held near final position and jacked into place (grout-supported).
c.Placed by other methods approved by the Director, Materials Bureau.
d.For grade-supported slabs, include all pertinent bedding and leveling instructions, including:
1.Bedding material composition and gradation.
2.Bedding grout mix design and anticipated strength gain. Bedding grouts must develop a minimum compressive strength of 600 psi in 12 hours.
3.Method used to place the bedding material and grout beneath the slab.
4.Method used to ensure complete bedding when placed.
e.For grout-supported slabs, include all pertinent bedding and leveling instructions, including:
1.Material properties, composition, mix design, and anticipated strength gain of any slab-jacking material.
2.Method used to place the slab-jacking material beneath the slab.
3.Method used to ensure complete slab contact with jacking material when placed.
4.Backfilling Pavement Hardware. Instructions to completely encase load transfer devices, longitudinal joint ties, lifting inserts, and grout ports. Include all pertinent information, including:
a.Material properties, composition, mix design, and anticipated strength gain of any backfill material that is not named in Backfill Material for Pavement Hardware, or, revised instructions for those materials if the manufacturer’s instructions are not followed.
b.Method used to place backfill material.
c.Method used to ensure complete hardware encasement. Subsequent to system approval, any change to approved installation instructions must be submitted to, and approved by, the Director, Materials Bureau, to maintain Approved List status. The Department reserves the right to require additional trial installations if the changes are deemed significant.
C.Trial Installation. Perform a trial installation at a facility agreeable to the Regional Materials Engineer that is within a 1-hour drive of a Regional Materials Laboratory. Ensure Materials Bureau and Regional Materials personnel are present. Place 4 (minimum) 12 x 12 foot slabs simulating 2 lanes of traffic. Provide a drill rig, with operator, capable of retrieving 4 inch diameter cores through
704-15 Precast Concrete Pavement Slab Systems
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 any portion of the slab, and a technician capable of fabricating test specimens in accordance with Test Method NY 701-13P, C, Concrete Repair Material. As a minimum, the following will be evaluated:
1.Bedding Grout Properties and Completeness of Placement. Fabricate 24 cubes meeting Test Method NY 701-13P, C, Concrete Repair Material.
2.Leveling Material Properties and Completeness of Placement. Fabricate 24 cubes meeting Test Method NY 701-13P, C, Concrete Repair Material.
3.Backfill Material Properties and Completeness of Placement. If a material identified in this specification as Backfill Material for Pavement Hardware (under Material Requirements) is used in accordance with the manufacturer’s written instructions, no further material testing is required. If a different material is used (or if a material is not used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions), fabricate a sufficient amount of test specimens to determine the properties identified in Table 704-15-1, Backfill Material Requirements, when tested in accordance with Test Method NY 701-13P, C, Concrete Repair Material.
4.Dimensions and Tolerances. Slabs must conform to the Fabricator Standard Drawings and be capable of being placed in an essentially true plane.
5.Instruction Completeness. Manufacturer’s instructions must accurately reflect the processes used in the trial installation.
6.Load Transfer Efficiency (LTE). The Department reserves the right to conduct falling weight deflectometer testing to determine LTE at the joints. Poor LTE (≤ 70 %) is cause for rejection. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete – General, except as noted herein.
A.Concrete. Use concrete having a minimum 28-day compressive strength of 4500 psi unless noted otherwise in the contract documents or approved fabrication drawings. Use aggregate meeting the friction requirements of Sections 501, Portland Cement Concrete – General, and 502, Portland Cement Concrete Pavement, for precast slabs that will remain concrete surfaced. Friction aggregate type is identified in the contract documents by pay item.
B.Reinforcement. Use bars meeting §709-04, Epoxy-Coated Bar Reinforcement, Grade 60. As a minimum, fabricate slabs with single-mat reinforcement located in the bottom third of the slab. Provide 2 inch (minimum) concrete cover between the mat and the slab bottom. Fabricate mats using a size and spacing of steel (in both directions) that results in a steel area to cross-sectional area ratio of 0.0018 (minimum). Maximum bar spacing is 18 inches. The manufacturer may provide additional reinforcement based on jobsite loading conditions. (A typical example is when slabs must be loaded before a bedding grout is placed.)
C.Backfill Material for Pavement Hardware. If the precast slab system requires a backfill material around pavement hardware, use DBR Retrofit Mortar, HD-50, Five Star Highway Patch, or an alternate prepackaged material submitted as an approved equal. If the brands named above are mixed in accordance with their manufacturer’s written instruction, no further testing is required. If the manufacturer’s written instructions are not followed, or if an alternate material is proposed for use, the material must meet Table 704-15-1, Backfill Material Requirements, when tested in accordance with Test Method NY 701-13P,C, Concrete Repair Material. Material submission instructions can be found at the Department’s web site, www.nysdot.gov, under Approved List of Materials and Equipment Submission Instructions.
704-16 Thru 704-22 for Site Manager Use
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 TABLE 704-15-1 BACKFILL MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS Property Minimum Maximum Compressive Strength, Opening to Traffic 2500 psi - Compressive Strength, 28 Day 4000 psi - Expansion - 0.40 % Contraction - 0.05 % Freeze - Thaw Loss (25 cycles at 10% NaCl) - 1.0 % Bond Strength (to dry PCC) 300 psi - Initial Set Time 15 minutes - Chloride Content - 0.05 % Sulfate Content - 5.0 % DRAWINGS. Apply §704-03 Precast Concrete – General, except as noted herein. Provide job-specific Fabricator Working Drawings, from the system designer, for each contract. Use these drawings, in conjunction with approved Fabricator Standard Drawings, to manufacture the pavement slabs. Copies of approved working drawings will be returned to the system designer. If the manufacturer is not the system designer, include the manufacturer’s name, address, and telephone number on the drawings. FABRICATION. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete – General, except as noted herein.
A.Texture. Apply §502-3.10, Texturing, to the top surface of the slab.
B.Curing. When membrane curing compound is the selected curing method and the slabs are exposed to sunlight while curing, use a white pigmented membrane curing compound from the Department’s Approved List instead of a clear compound with fugitive dye. SAMPLING AND TESTING. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete - General. MARKING. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete - General. FINAL PRODUCTION INSPECTION. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete - General. SHIPPING. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete - General. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Apply §704-03, Precast Concrete – General, and the following: • The system must appear on the Department’s Approved List entitled “Precast Concrete Pavement Slabs Systems (§704-15).” • Written approval from the system designer to use the approved system if the manufacturer is not the system designer.
704-16 Thru 704-22 for Site Manager Use
704-23 Precast Concrete Street Pavers
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and quality requirements for precast concrete pavers used for street paving and produced in accordance with the current Materials Procedure for Concrete Masonry
704-23 Precast Concrete Street Pavers
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 QC/QA titled “Procedures for Achieving and Maintaining Concrete Masonry Units Approved List Status”. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. Precast concrete pavers shall meet the requirements of ASTM C936 except as noted herein. The shape, size, and color of precast concrete pavers shall be as shown in the contract documents. Minimum thickness for precast concrete street pavers shall be 3 1/8 inches. Certain aggregates appear in the Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse Aggregates that have use limitations with high alkali Portland cement. Materials used in the manufacturing of precast concrete pavers shall meet the requirements of the following subsections: Portland Cement 701-01 Coarse Aggregate* 703-02 Mortar Sand* 703-03 Grout Sand* 703-04 Concrete Sand* 703-07 Fly Ash 711-10 Ground, Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag 711-12 Water 712-01 *Aggregates. For precast concrete pavers or equivalent products placed in concrete highway wearing surfaces, use aggregate from a source or sources on the “Approved List of Sources of Fine and Coarse Aggregate.” All aggregate must be approved for use in concrete. Fine aggregate, natural or manufactured sand, must meet the requirements of §703-01, Fine Aggregate. Crushed stone, crushed gravel, or crushed slag from a coarse aggregate source must meet the requirements of §703-02, Coarse Aggregate. Aggregate friction requirements: Sample and test aggregate for friction characteristics according to the procedures of Materials Method 28 “Friction Aggregate Control and Test Procedures”, PCC Sand. The Engineer will identify pavement areas, if any, represented by failing samples according to the procedures of Materials Method 28 “Friction Aggregate Control and Test Procedures.” Aggregate must contain at least 25.0% acid-insoluble residue in the plus No. 30 size fraction and in the minus No. 30, plus No. 200 size fraction. If more than one source of aggregate is used, aggregate from each source must meet the acid-insoluble residue requirements. Fly ash or ground, granulated blast-furnace slag may be substituted up to a maximum of 20% by weight of the total amount of cement plus pozzolan in the mix. Pigments used for integral coloring shall meet the requirements of ASTM C979. Other materials may be used in the manufacture as approved by the Director, Materials Bureau.
A.Physical Properties. Precast concrete pavers shall meet the compressive strength and absorption requirements of ASTM C936. In addition, the maximum acceptable average freeze/thaw loss of five paver samples, subjected to 25 freeze/thaw cycles in a 10% NaCl solution, is 1.0%, with no individual sample exceeding 1.5%. SAMPLING AND TESTING. When samples are requested by the Department, they will be randomly selected from production-run material. A total of 15 precast concrete pavers of the same size and style will be required. Five samples will be tested for compressive strength and five for absorption, in accordance with ASTM C140. Five samples will be tested for freeze/thaw durability in accordance with NYSDOT test methods. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. Precast Concrete Street pavers will be accepted on the job site based on the following: • The manufacturer's name must appear on the Department’s Approved List for the item being
704-24 Precast Concrete Panels
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Section 700 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 VOLUME 4 supplied. • A manufacturer’s certification. An acceptable product evaluation made by the Engineer.
704-24 Precast Concrete Panels
SCOPE. This specification covers the material and fabrication requirements for precast concrete panels. MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS. The Material Requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. DRAWINGS. The Drawing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. FABRICATION. The Fabrication requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. SAMPLING AND TESTING. The Sampling And Testing requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. MARKING. The Marking requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. FINAL PRODUCTION INSPECTION. The Final Production Inspection requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. SHIPPING. The Shipping requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply. BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE. The Basis Of Acceptance requirements contained in §704-03 shall apply.
704-99 for Site Manager Use
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Sections that cite this one
Masonry Units in other states
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Source: Standard Specifications (US Customary Units), 2026 (Jan) Edition. Pages 1107–1130 of 1,489. View official source ↗