eNews

Surface Dressing and Slurry-Micro Surfacing

The new Carbon Calculators developed by University of Nottingham with RSTA support, including Surface Dressing and Slurry-Micro Surfacing, are to be launched early 2013. The user guides for each calculator are currently being prepared and the RSTA will be appointing a Technical Manager in the near future to provide support post launch.

CE Marking comes into effect in July 2013 so all contactors and DLO’s who competitively price work should by now be undertaking their Type Approval Installation Trials (TAIT’s) and liaising with their chosen Notified Body to ensure they are well prepared and able to become CE marked in time. Anyone not CE marked by next July will become liable to criminal prosecution! The RSTA held a half day seminar on 17th July in Milton Keynes to inform and update members on CE Marking on what to expect and how to prepare.

The Code of Practice for Signing at Surface Dressing Sites is to be reviewed and updated by a joint working party comprising ADEPT and RSTA members this autumn. The latest version of Sector Scheme 13 document has been published by UKAS in June. LANTRA have launched a new free to use website enabling all registered contractors to upload their Sector Scheme 13 information. This replaces the old system whereby contractors had to pay LANTRA for their company details to be listed. All contractors will have to use this new facility because Certified Body auditors have been instructed by UKAS to check company details are registered on the new website before audits can go ahead.

Specialist Up-Skilling Programmes for operatives lasting 10 days and delivering an NVQ with CSkills grant funding has been successfully trialled and will become more widely available later in the year. For information on grant availability contact Clive Mitchell through the RSTA office.

High Friction Surfacing

The RSTA has become a member of HiTAC (Highway Technical Advisory Committee) which regulates the BBA HAPAS Product Certification Schemes. The Service Life document published with ADEPT last May is currently being up-dated and will re-consider the service life of High Friction Surfacing Systems.

The Code of Practice is under review and will re-consider client side responsibilities in enabling the contractor to provide a 5 year guarantee. Specialist Up-Skilling Programmes for operatives lasting 10 days and delivering an NVQ with CSkills grant funding has been successfully trialled and are now available for members.

A new Code of Practice for Signing at HFS sites is to be developed by RSTA and ADEPT. The BBA have announced that HAPAS certificates will be harmonised with Roads & Bridges certificates onto a three year review schedule. Currently HAPAS certificate holders are reviewed every five years. A meeting is taking place on 17th September with affected RSTA members and the BBA to review any implications.

Geosynthetics & Steel Meshes

Sector Scheme 13 has been re-issued to include Geosynthetics and Steel Meshes and will be published by UKAS in June. RSTA contractor members are currently training key people to become qualified NVQ Assessors to enable their workforce to become qualified in accordance with Sector Scheme 13.

BS434 Part 2: Code of Practice for Use of Cationic Emulsions on Roads and other Paved Areas is currently being re-written to include a much larger section on Geosynthetics and will cross-reference the Code of Practice published with ADEPT in January. All RSTA codes are available from
www.rsta-uk.org/publications.htm

Specialist Treatments

A new Crack & Joint Repair Sub-Committee formed earlier this year with the objective of producing a new industry Code of Practice. This also attracted some new members into the RSTA including Dantex Ltd and LMS Highways with others wanting to join. This new document was peer reviewed by ADEPT on 17th May and has been endorsed pending a few minor amendments.

• Other new codes are under preparation on ‘Fine Milling’ and Grouted Macadams and Asphalt Preservation.
• A new code on Thermal Road Repairs has just been endorsed by ADEPT pending some minor amendments.
• Fine milling has also been included within the scope of Sector Scheme 13.

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