FHWA

Hot Mix Asphalt Pavement Guidelines

Project Information:

Project Description:

Contract No:

Series (50, 60, 70,

80):

Nominal Layer Thickness

(mm):

Item Number:

PIN:

In company with:

Date of Inspection:

Inspection Made By:

Time of Day:

Contractor:

Contract Amount:

Time Elapsed

(%):

Work completed

(%):

This guideline was prepared utilizing the below references. The

checks included in the guidelines are considered to be the major

items and can be supplemented as deemed necessary by the

inspecting party. The Area Engineer is provided the flexibility of

using the guideline in its entirety or portions depending on the job

conditions and/or time limitations.

NOTE: The vast majority of paving done on __DOT projects today

utilize performance related specifications. Under performance

related specifications, the contractor is responsible for compacting

the pavement within a specified density range (Series 50, 60, and

70). Because the contractor is responsible for compacting the

pavement, then the contractor should have the authority to dictate

factors such as mix temperature (165 °C is the maximum), rolling

trains, patterns, or passes.

References:

1. Standard Construction Specifications

2. Current Quality Assurance Program for Hot Mix Asphalt and

Concrete Pavements

3. Applicable Special Provisions

4. Hot-Mix Bituminous Paving Manual, Federal Highway

Administration

5. Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook, US Army Corps of Engineers

6. Hot Mix Asphalt Construction, Participant Manual for NHI Course

13132

HMA Materials

Materials mixed at any HMA plant must have prior State approval.

Course and fine aggregate sources must be approved by the

Regional Materials Engineer. The Superpave Mix Design must

satisfy the requirements of Section XXX and the mixture design

procedure as written in Materials Method X.X and be submitted to

the Regional Materials Engineer. The State DOT website has a list

of all approved material sources/suppliers.

a. Has the Superpave Mix Design/Job Mix Formula (JMF) been

submitted and approved by the Regional Materials

Engineer? Ask for a copy.

YES NO

Part I : Paving Operation - Field Portion

Pre-paving Meeting- Prior to the start of the paving operation, a

pre-paving meeting should be held approximately one week before

paving operations commence and key personnel (placement,

inspection and supply). The contractor should present the paving

'plan' discussing surface preparation, paving and compaction

widths/sequences, temperatures, compaction, equipment pre-check

arrangements, etc. Such meetings shall be documented in the

Engineer's Diary. Was a pre-paving meeting held? YES NO

I. Weather and Seasonal Limitations (specification

reference)

Do not place HMA plant mix on any wet surface or when the

surface temperature is less than specified in Table XXX,

Temperature and Seasonal Requirements, or when weather

conditions will prevent proper handling or finishing of the

HMA mixtures.

a. Is the minimum surface temperature being observed based

on the course thickness in Table XXX(applies to all surface

course paving whether it is on the mainline or shoulders)?

YES NO

TABLE 402-2

TEMPERATURE AND SEASONAL REQUIREMENTS

Nominal Compacted Lift

Thickness

Surface Temperature Minimum

(Note 1)

Seasonal

Limits

>=100 mm

5 °C (40 °F)

None

>= 50 mm but < 100 mm

8 °C (47 °F)

Notes 2 & 3)

< 50 mm

10 °C (50 °F)

(Notes 2 & 3)

2. Measure all temperatures on the surface where the mixture

is to be placed and the controlling temperature will be the

average three temperature readings taken at locations ±8

meters apart.

3. Place Top Course only during the period of April 1stup to

and including the third Saturday of November in the

counties of ...

4. Place Top Course only during the period of May 1st up to

and including the third Saturday of October in all counties

except as noted in Note 2

(Above table provides lift thickness and applicable

temperature criteria)

An approved warranty is the only mechanism, which allows

the contractor to place top course HMA outside the

weather, seasonal and temperature requirements of the

specifications.

II. Construction Equipment

HMA Pavers (Spec reference)

HMA Paver Manufacturer: Model Number:

. Is the HMA Paver self-powered? YES NO

a. Is it capable of lane width placement? YES NO

b. Is the screed heated at the beginning of the paving

operation or after periods of extended shutdown to

avoid sticking? YES NO

c. Is the automatic transverse slope control approved?

YES NO

d. Is the automatic longitudinal grade screed control

approved? YES NO

e. From what references do the controls operate (fixed

or moving)? Controls must be approved by the EIC.

______ FIXED (taut reference line at or near

pavement centerline or edge supported at approx. 8m

intervals)

______ MOVING (floating beam, ski, or other suitable

type at least 9m in length)

f. Are auger and tunnel extensions mounted on the

paver when the screed is extended more than 0.3 m

for fixed paving widths wider than 3.6m?

YES NO NA

g. If the paving width is greater than 5.2 m, are the

references on both sides of the pavement?

YES NO NA

h. Was the paver examined and approved? Items to be

examined include the screed (for warping), vibrators,

heaters, grade control mechanism, etc. YES NO

Hauling Equipment (Section 402-3.03)

i. Is the truck bed clean and free of foreign debris (dirt,

gravel, etc.)? YES NO

j. Is the HMA covered with waterproof cover during

transportation? YES NO

k. When hauling beds are lubricated, are approved

release agents being used? YES NO

Release

Agent:_____________________________________

Rollers (Spec reference)

Roller:

Type:

Manufacturer:

Model #:

1 - Breakdown

2 - Intermediate

3 - Finish

Are the rollers examined and approved? YES NO

L. Vibratory Roller

a. Is the vibratory roller model on the State's

current Approved List for Hot Mix Asphalt

Vibratory Compaction Equipment?

YES NO NA

b. Vibratory Rollers shall met the following

requirements when not on the 'approved list':

Nominal Amplitude

1.25 mm maximum

Vibration Frequency

1500 vpm minimum

Drum Width

(dual vibrating drums)

1.3 m minimum

(single vibrating drum)

2.1 m minimum

c. Does the vibratory roller meet these

requirements? YES NO NA

d. All vibratory rollers shall be equipped with a

speedometer that accurately indicates roller

speed in either 1km/hr or 15 m/min increments

(maximum). Does the roller have an

acceptable speedometer? YES NO NA

e. Does the vibratory roller have a Materials

Bureau approved speed control device, which

prevents speed in excess of 4 km/hr or 67

m/min when the roller is in vibratory mode?

YES NO NA

M. Static Steel-Wheel Roller

The static steel-wheel roller shall be self-propelled

and be either:

a. 9 to 11 metric ton tandem three axle type

b. 7 to 9 metric ton tandem two axle type

Check the rating plate on equipment or equipment

'specification sheet' provided by contractor. Does the

roller meet these requirements? YES NO

N. Pneumatic Rubber-Tire Roller

Pneumatic rubber-tire rollers shall be self-propelled

and consist of two axles on which multiple pneumatic-

tired wheels are mounted in such a manner that the

rear wheels shall not follow in the tracks of the

forward wheels and would be spaced to give

essentially uniform coverage on each pass. An

approved release agent shall be applied to the tire to

prevent picking of material. Pneumatic rollers shall

meet the following requirements unless otherwise

approved:

Maximum Wheel Load

2,600 kg

Tire Compression on Pavement

550 ±35 kPa

Maximum Axle Load

10,160 kg

Does the pneumatic roller meet these requirements?

YES NO NA

III. Conditioning of Existing Surface (Spec reference)

. Is the condition of the subgrade, base, or bituminous

surface satisfactory for HMA placement? (ex. clean,

dry, etc.) YES NO

a. Is the tack or prime coat specified (Spec reference)?

YES NO

b. The tack coat shall be uniformly applied to a prepared

clean surface of all contact surfaces including all

pavement layers, pavement edges, curbing, gutters,

manholes and other structures. The tack coat shall

not be applied to wet pavement surfaces or when the

surface temperature is elow the temperature

requirements in Table XXX. The application rate shall

be approved by the Engineer and be between 0.14 to

0.32 L/m

What is the tack coat application rate?

_____________

Does the tack coat application meet the above

requirements? YES NO

c. Does the tack coat precede the asphalt paving such

that the tack is not damaged? YES NO

d. Are the depressions and wheel path ruts filled prior to

the paving of the truing and leveling course?

YES NO

IV. Spreading and Finishing (Spec reference)

. Paving over a tack coat should not commence until

the emulsion has broken (goes from brown to black)

or is tacky when touched. Was this requirement met

before paving commenced? YES NO

a. Does the delivery tickets contain the correct

information: the contract number, item number, job

mix formula, tonnage, date, and time? YES NO

b. When placed, what is the temperature of the mix?

________

The temperature should be within 10 °C of the

temperature specified by the contractor.

c. Is the truck delivery of the plant material frequent

enough to prevent idling of the pavement operation

resulting in rollers standing on a fresh mat?

YES NO

d. When trucks are dumping into the hopper, are wheels

in contact with rollers? YES NO

Is any excess bumping observed? YES NO

e. Is the paver running at a constant speed to match the

delivery of asphalt? YES NO

If not, the paver should stop and start smoothly and

quickly.

f. Is a constant head of material kept in front of the

screed and in the hopper? YES NO

Is any excess material dropped in front of the paver?

YES NO

g. Is the paver equipped with automatic grade/slope

controls? YES NO

Normally automatic controls are required unless

existing grades at roadway intersections or a drainage

structure must be met or if paving shoulders,

temporary detours, behind curbs, or in other areas

where its use is impractical as determined by the

Engineer.

h. Are the following being checked and at what frequency?

 depth checks observed frequency

________________ YES NO

 mat temperature observed

frequency_________________ YES NO

 cross slope observed

frequency_________________ YES NO

i. Is the loose mat checked, any irregularities adjusted,

and all unsatisfactory material removed and replaced

prior to the beginning of rolling? YES NO

V. Compaction (Spec reference)

. Is the proper compaction method associated to

specific items being placed being utilized**?

YES NO

____ 50 Series (A) - Performance based target

density (PBTD), requires daily coring

____ 60 Series (B) - PBTD - specifies core samples

and nuclear density gauge

____ 70 Series (C) - PBTD - nuclear gauge with initial

calibration, low volume jobs

____ 80 Series (D) - Method specified dependent on

pavemen course (ranges are 4-6 passes vibratory

and 2-4 passes static)

**Refer to Section XXX for detailed requirements and

options for each compaction method.

a. Is there a specified rolling pattern for this job?

YES NO

If yes, what is it and is it being implemented on site?

YES NO

b. Initially roll all courses with the roller traveling parallel

to the centerline of the pavement beginning at each

edge and working towards the center. Is this method

being followed? YES NO

c. Are the banked curves rolled starting at the low side

edge and working toward the super-elevated edge?

YES NO NA

d. Are the rollers moving at a constant, slow speed with

the drive wheels nearest the paver? YES NO

e. Are the roller wheels being kept moist (use of fuel oil

is prohibited)? YES NO

f. If the roller displaces any material, is the material

replaced and grade restored to original grade?

YES NO NA

g. There shall be no visible defects, such as shallow

ruts, ridges, roller marks, cracking, tearing,

segregation, or any other irregularities in the

pavement when the rolling operation is complete. Are

there any visible defects? YES NO

If yes, what are they?

______________________________________

VI. Joints (Spec reference)

. The pavement of successful courses will be such that

all joints are offset no more than 150mm from the joint

of the lower pavement course, unless approved by

the Engineer. Is this requirement met?

YES NO NA

a. Is the transverse joint compacted in static mode with

the roller parallel to the joint and perpendicular to

traffic? YES NO NA

b. On the top course, is the longitudinal joint on the lane

line? YES NO NA

c. An exposed joint in excess of 30 meters must be a

tapered edge joint. If left overnight, warning signs

must be placed at a maximum spacing of 300 meters

to alert drivers.

VII. Surface Tolerance (Spec reference)

. Construct the pavement surface to a 6mm tolerance.

Has the State determined a need to check the surface

tolerance utilizing a 5 meter straight edge or string

line placed parallel to the centerline of the pavement

and with a 3 meter straight edge or string line placed

transversely to the centerline of the pavement on any

portion of the pavement? YES NO

a. Are any irregularities exceeding the 6mm tolerance

limits corrected? YES NO

VIII. Thickness Tolerance (Spec reference)

A depth tolerance not to exceed 6mm from the nominal

thickness required (per plan) for the course specified under

one pay item will not be acceptable where the required

nominal thickness is 100 mm or less. A tolerance not to

exceed 13 mm from the nominal thickness required for the

course or courses specified under one pay item will be

acceptable where the required nominal thickness is over 100

mm. The total thickness of all HMA mixture courses will not

vary from the total nominal thickness indicated on the plans

by more than 6 mm where the total nominal thickness is 100

mm or less; or by more than 13mm where the total nominal

thickness is over 100mm but not more than 200 mm; and by

not more than 16 mm where the total nominal thickness is

more than 200 mm. When the HMA mixture is placed on

newly constructed subbase material, an additional tolerance

of plus 6 mm will be allowed both in the nominal thickness of

the course placed directly on the subbase and the total

pavement thickness.

. Are depth checks being taken? YES NO

Nominal Thickness (per plan): ____________

Depth Check Readings: (after compaction) _________

_________ _________ ________

IX. Pavement Density Samples (Spec reference) &

Compaction Testing (Spec reference)

Test Section

The contractor will pave a test section for Series 50, 60, and

70 paving.

What is the date and location of placement of the test

section associated with the paving operation?

Date:______________

Location:_________________________

. What were the results?

a. What was the loose-lift and after compaction layer

thickness?

Loose-Lift Thickness _________ After Compaction

Thickness___________

b. Was the test section the same depth, at least 50 m

long and used the same equipment as the paving

operation? YES NO

c. How was the pavement density determined?

______ Coring ______Nuclear Gauge

d. If the nuclear gauge is used, was the density

measured after each roller pass? YES NO

Core Testing

e. Is coring required for this lift? (see proposal)

YES NO

f. Has the project staff randomly defined four 150 mm

diameter Coring locations per lot? YES NO

g. Have these locations been withheld until the

compaction operation is complete? YES NO

h. How did the project staff determine the random

locations?

______Material Bureau computer program "Random"

______Random # table from XX(spec reference)

i. Have the cores been wrapped in a red security seal

immediately after drilling in the presence of a state

inspector? Has form BXXX been completed, put into a

waterproof envelope and placed with the core in a

polyethylene bag? YES NO

j. Has the contractor elected to test the cores under

Materials Procedure (Spec Reference) YES NO

k. Were 4 loose mix samples taken on each paving day

(in accordance with AASHTO T 168-97)? YES NO

l. Check the Quality Adjustment Factors (QAF) for the

placed asphalt pavement. Is the pavement of

adequate quality? YES NO

Nuclear Gauge (if applies)

m. What is the project target density (PTD) from the test

section? ____________________

n. Is a qualified technician conducting the compaction

testing? YES NO

o. Is the required density being obtained prior to the mat

temperature reaching 79 °C? YES NO

p. Are random locations determined at 50m intervals?

YES NO

q. Are any two consecutive readings (four

measurements) <PTD*0.96? YES NO

r. Is the 10 test moving average >PTD*0.98?

YES NO

PART II: PAVING OPERATION - OFFICE PORTION

This section pertains to the review of the office records for the

paving operation. This section can be completed at a follow up visit

once the test results are obtained (typically 7-10 days) for the

paving operation reviewed in Part I or office records for a previous

date of paving for this project can be reviewed.

This review is for:

____ the paving operation reviewed in Part I

____ a previous paving operation dated ________________.

(randomly selected)

Description:____________________________________________

___________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________________

Check the inspector's daily reports (IDR,s), pavement delivery

tickets, core results and pay estimate for proper documentation of

materials used, pay items involved, and required field tests and

results (eg. temperatures of base and mix, yield and depth checks,

application rate of prime or tack).

Dates sampled

_____________________________________________________

______________________

IDR's

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

Pavement delivery tickets

_____________________________________________________

_____________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

Pay Estimate

_____________________________________________________

_______________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

Other Comments:

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

Overall Quality of Project Paving to Date (Describe quality payment

adjustments, deficiencies, etc.):

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

PART III - CONCLUDING REMARKS

1.a. From your roadway review, do the plans and specifications

appear adequate to obtain the desired product?

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

___________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

b. Based on discussions with the State personnel, are there any

suggestions for changes in the procedures or requirements that

might better improve the process?

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

2. Hold a closeout conference and discuss all findings and how, if

any, corrective actions will be performed?

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

3. Summarize findings that are not procedural/project related and

will need to be pursued beyond the individual project. This would

include items related to standard plans, specifications, construction

directives, materials procedures and the like.

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

__________________________________

_____________________________________________________

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