4-92 Sectio N 417 – Bituminou S Crac K Sealing
417.0 1 DESCRIPTION . This work shall consist of furnishing and placing crack -sealing material in the cracks of existing bituminous concrete pavement. 417.0 2 MATERIALS . Materials shall meet the requirements of the following subsection s: Joint Sealer, Hot Poured ................................ ................................ ............................ 707.0 2(a) The Contractor shall provide the Engineer with a copy of the material manufacturer’s recommendations pertaining to heating, application, and reheating prior to the beginning of operations or the changing of material s. 417.0 3 EQUIPMENT . Equipment shall mee t the approval of the Engineer and shall always be maintained in working condition.
a.Air Compressor . Air compressors shall be portable and capable of furnishing at least 100 cubic feet of air per minute with a minimum pressure of 90 psi at the nozzle . The compressor shall be equipped with traps that will keep the compressed air free of any oil or water.
b.Hand Tools . Hand tools shall consist of brooms, shovels, metal bars with chisel -shaped ends, squeegees, and any other tools which may be req uired to accomplish the work .
c.Melting Kettle . The melting kettle shall be a double boiler, indirect -fired portable type. The space between the inner and outer shells shall be filled with a suitable heat transfer oil or substitute having a flash point of not less than 531°F . The kettle shall be equipped with a satisfactory means of agitating the joint sealer . This may be accomplished by continuous stirring with mechanically operated paddles or by a continuous circulating gear pump attached to the heatin g unit. The melting kettle shall be equipped with a thermostatic control calibrated between 200°F and 550°F . The kettle shall be mounted on rubber tires and be equipped with a metal shield beneath the firebox to protect the pavement.
d.Application Wand . The application wand shall apply a controlled flow of material via an insulated or heated hose . The nozzle shall distribute the material as called for on the Plans or this specification . The Contractor shall backflush the hose and applicator wand any time the application of sealant has been delayed for a period greater than 15 minutes. A pressure regulator shall be provided to regulate pressure at the nozzle . A bypass line into the holding tank is required for use when the nozzle is shut off.
4-93 (e) Router . Equipment for preparing cracks shall be a rotary -impact type cutter or a diamond -blade
crack saw which will provide a reservoir of the dimensions specified on the Plans.
f.Hot-Air Lance . Equipment for blowing clean and drying cracks and joints sh all be a propane gas and compressed air burner operating at a temperature of 3,000°F and at a velocity of 3,000 feet per second. 417.0 4 TEMPERATUR E LIMITATIONS . The ambient air temperature shall be in the range of 40°F to 104°F , inclusive, and the pavemen t temperature shall be in the range of 50°F to 140°F , inclusive . The relative humidity shall be less than 80%. The Contractor shall provide the Engineer with a sling psychrometer to measure the humidity. When it is in the public interest, the Engineer may adjust the specified temperature or humidity requirements. 417.0 5 PREPARATION .
a.General Requirements . Care shall be taken in the preparation of all cracks to receive sealant material . All cracks shall be clean, dry, and heated to ensure optimal bonding of the sealant material to the existing pavement.
b.Bituminous Crack Sealing . All routed cracks shall be filled with sealant on the same work day as directed by the Engineer. Cracks of 1/8 inch to 3/4 inch in width shall be shaped into a square cross -section of approximately 3/4 inch in width by 3/4 inch in depth using a router or crack saw . All cracks to be sealed shall be routed or saw -cut. All material removed from the cracks shall be immediately rem oved from the pavement . Cracks greater than 3/4 inch in width shall only be prepared and sealed at the direction of the Engineer. Following crack routing or saw -cutting, the entire pavement area shall be cleaned using a power broom or blower device . Specia l care must be exercised in urban areas to ensure that the pavement area is cleaned after the crack sealing operation and to minimize the creation of dust in the cleaning process. Immediately prior to the application of the sealer material , all cracks shal l be cleared of loose pavement, vegetation, sand, dust, and any other debris using the hot -air lance. The full length of the cracks shall be heated with the hot -air lance to improve bonding of the sealant and pavement . Care shall be taken not to burn or ch ar the pavement . Any charred pavement shall be cut out and removed and the crack prepared and resealed. Areas of high density cracking indicating a structural failure should not be prepared for sealing as directed by the Engineer.
4-94 (c) Bituminous Crack Sealing, “Blow and Go” Method . Bituminous crack sealing using the “blow and
go” method shall be performed in accordance with Subsection 417.05(b) , with the exception that no routing or saw -cutting will be required prior to cleaning and sea ling the crack . 417.0 6 PLACIN G OF SEALER . The joint sealer material shall be heated and applied at the temperature specified by the manufacturer and approved by the Engineer . Any material that has been heated above the manufacturer’s specification shall n ot be used . Material that is reheated or held at temperature for an extended period of time may be used as allowed by the manufacturer’s specification and approved by the Engineer. The Contractor shall provide the Engineer with a suitable device for verify ing the sealant temperature in the kettle and at the application site . The sealant application temperature shall not be lowered below the manufacturer’s recommended temperature to address pooling problems at the end of the rout . This problem shall be addre ssed by using sealant material with appropriate flow characteristics to prevent pooling . All routed cracks shall be fully filled with joint sealer material . A strike -off device may be used to facilitate placement of the material provided it has a maximum width of 1 -1/2 inches . The distance between the applicator and the strike -off device should be less than three feet, but in no case sh all it be greater than s ix feet. The joint sealer material shall be struck off such that only a thin film band 1/16 inch thick or less is left on the pavement . Optimally, the pavement aggregate should be visible through the thin film band . Any over application or spills shall be removed to the satisfaction of the Engineer . Any sealed areas with damaged or contaminated sealer or visible voids shall be removed, prepared, and resealed . Any filled areas that have sunk below the surface more than 1/16 inch shall be repaired by applying additional material . The sealant material shall be applied while the cracks or joints are still hot from the hot -air lance preparation . The time delay between the hot air lance treatment and the application of the sealant should be less than two minutes, but in no case greater than five minutes. Any loose material on the surface or in the crack that may contaminate the joint sealer or impede bonding of the sealant to the pavement is to be removed by hand tools prior to crack sealing . No crack sealing material shall be applied in a crack that is wet or where frost, snow, or ice is present. No vehicles or equipment should be allowed on the newly placed sealant material until it has cooled as specified by the manufacturer . If the pavemen t must be reopened to traffic prior to air cooling, the cooling process may be accelerated with water or other coolant as specified by the manufacturer and approved by the Engineer. As a last resort, sealant may be protected against tire pick -up by dusting with fine sand, mineral dust, or similar material as approved by the Engineer. Any procedure used to accelerate cooling time must be approved by the Engineer and follow the manufacturer’s application specification s.
4-95 417.0 7 METHO D OF MEASUREMENT . The qu antities of Bituminous Crack Sealing and Bituminous
Crack Sealing, “Blow and Go” Method to be measured for payment will be the number of pounds of joint sealer complete and in -place in the accepted work . 417.0 8 BASIS OF PAYMENT . The accepted quantities of Bituminous Crack Sealing and Bituminous Crack Sealing, “Blow and Go” Method will be paid for at the Contract unit price per pound . Payment shall be full compensation for handling and placing the sealant material , including the cleaning and preparation of cracks, the removal and disposal of all bituminous grindings, and for furnishing all labor, material s, tools, equipment , and incidentals necessary to complete the work . Costs for all material and labor for dusting or cooling shall not be paid for directly but shall be considered incidental to the applicable crack sealing pay item . Payment will be made under: Pay Item Pay Unit 417.10 00 Bituminous Crack Sealing ................................ ................................ ........ Pound 417.20 00 Bituminous Crack Sealing, “Blow and Go” Method ................................ Pound
4-96 Sectio N 418 – Asphalti C Approac H Material
418.0 1 DESCRIPTION . This work shall consist of furnishing and installing asphaltic approach material at the transition between bituminous concrete pavement and Portland cement concrete, steel , or other materials. 418.0 2 MATERIALS . Materials shall me et the requirements of the following subsection s: Asphalt ic Plug Joint Binder ................................ ................................ ....................... 707.1 5 418.0 3 INSTALLATION . Asphaltic approach material shall be installed at the locations and to the depth and configuration shown in the Plans and as directed by the Engineer. 418.0 4 METHO D OF MEASUREMENT . The quantity of Asphaltic Approach Material to be measured for payment will be the number of square feet used in the complete and accepted work. 418.0 5 BASIS OF PAYMENT . The accepted quantity of Asphaltic Approach Material will be paid for at the Contract unit price per square foot. Payment will be full compensation for detailing, furnishing, handling, transporting, and placing the material specified, including surface preparation, and for furnishing all labor, too ls, equipment, and incidentals necessary to complete the work. Tack, prime, or seal coats of bituminous material required for the installation of asphaltic approach material will not be paid for separately but will be considered incidental to the Contract unit price for Asphaltic Approach Material. Removal of any existing asphaltic, bituminous , or Portland cement concrete materials to allow for the installation of asphaltic approach material will not be paid for separately but will be considered incidental to the Contract unit price for Asphaltic Approach Material. Payment will be made under: Pay Item Pay Unit 418.10 00 Asphaltic Approach Material ................................ ................................ ....Square Foot
Source: Vermont Standard Specifications for Construction, 2024 Edition. Pages 410–413 of 1,380.