• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
It is illegal to use 60/70 and 80/100 paving bitumen in roads !!!
Prof. Prithvi Singh KandhalJaipur18 March 2009Do you know it is illegal to use 60/70 and 80/100 paving bitumens?
It is very unfortunate that many of our engineers still do not know that it is illegal andunethical to specify, produce, and use penetration graded paving bitumens such as60/70 and 80/100.The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) revised IS:73 Specification for Paving bitumenin July 2006. The revised specification IS:73:2006 outlawed the old (more than 100year old) penetration grades such as 60/70 and 80/100 and adopted new viscositygrades (VG) such as VG-30 in lieu of 60/70 and VG-10 in lieu of 80/100. The Ministryof Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) issued Circular No. RW/NH-33041/3/2001-S&R (R)-Vol. III on 04/08/2008 to all the state PWDs, NHAI etc. reminding them toimplement the new bitumen viscosity grades as soon as possible. According to thecircular, we must substitute VG-30 in lieu of 60/70, substitute VG-10 in lieu of 80/100,and substitute VG-40 in lieu of 30/40 or 40/50 grades. Is that really hard to do? Justchanging the nomenclature in tender notices or project reports is not a rocket science!A panel discussion on “Implementation of IS:73:2006 Viscosity Graded PavingBitumen” was held during a National Workshop on “Advances in Bitumen Technologies” sponsored by the BIS and the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and some oilcompanies on 1 September 2008 in New Delhi. During the panel discussion Dr. D. K.Chaudhury, Deputy Director General of BIS stated that national standards areformulated by involving all stake holders (read oil companies and users) based onconsensus and after detailed discussions. Once an Indian standard is revised andgazetted, the earlier version (read penetration grades 60/70 and 80/100) has no legalsanctity. No organization (which includes specifiers, producers, and users) can claimthe conformance of products as per the old version.Shri G. Sharan, Additional Director General MORTH, chaired the panel discussion andagreed that once an Indian standard has been published/revised (in case of IS:73 itwas July 2006) that should automatically be implemented by all concerned parties.Speakers after speakers in the National Workshop underscored the urgency forimplementing the VG grades as soon as possible so that the performance of our roadscan be improved with better quality bitumen.
 
It is very unfortunate that some user agencies (government and consultants) are stillignorant and specifying penetration grades in their projects, which is illegal andunethical; some bitumen suppliers (oil companies) are still producing penetrationgrades which is illegal and unethical; and some user agencies (both government andcontractors) are still using penetration grades which is illegal and unethical.Specifying, producing, and using substandard penetration grades must stopimmediately in the interest of our country.The preceding comments are comparable to IS:14543 Specification for PackagedDrinking Water. If the packaged drinking water is manufactured conforming toIS:14543, it means its latest version IS:14543:2004 and not the old versionIS:14543:1996. Whereas substandard packaged drinking water may be injurious toyour health, substandard bitumen is injurious to our roads in terms of theirperformance.In case you are aware of any violators of IS:73 specifications, please inform me withdetails via e-mail so that the BIS can be informed and appropriate action institutedagainst those agencies (be it an oil company, government, consultant, contractor)through other means.If you would like to know more about viscosity grades (VG), please read the attachedpaper, “An Overview of the Viscosity Grading System Adopted in India for PavingBitumen”, which was published in the Indian Roads Congress, Indian Highways, April2007.If you are a progressive user agency (be it PWD, contractor, consultant, testinglaboratory or university) you must purchase the viscosity testing equipment as soon aspossible to monitor the grade and quality of the VG bitumen supplied by the oilcompanies. The second attachment will assist you in specifying and purchasing theequipment and training your technicians with test procedures illustrated with pictures.Let me know if additional assistance is needed.
Best regards,Prof. Prithvi Singh KandhalJaipurEmail: pkandhal@eng.auburn.edu
 
1
AN OVERVIEW OF THE VISCOSITY GRADING SYSTEM ADOPTED ININDIA FOR PAVING BITUMEN
ByProf. Prithvi Singh Kandhal*
[This paper was published in the Indian Roads Congress, “Indian Highways”, Volume 35, No. 4, April2007]
ABSTRACT
Viscosity graded system has recently been adopted in India for paving bitumen based onIS 73:2006 Paving Bitumen – Specification (Third Revision) issued in July 2006. Theviscosity grading system replaces a 100-year old penetration grading system. This systemspecifies paving bitumen by viscosity at 60 C rather than penetration at 25 C.The paper reviews the history of grading paving bitumen over the last 125 years. The progression of grading systems: grading by chewing, penetration grading, viscositygrading, and Superpave performance grading, has been discussed with their respectiveadvantages and disadvantages.The paper gives an overview of the newly adopted viscosity grading system to acquainthighway engineers, contractors, suppliers, and consultants with it to make the necessarychange over from penetration grades to viscosity grades in practice. The new viscositygraded (VG) bitumen specification has been compared with the old penetration graded bitumen specification. Selection criteria for VG grades based on climate and traffic has been recommended. Recommendations have also been made to implement the VG gradesas soon as possible to improve the consistency, quality, and durability of bituminous pavements in India. Information about the viscosity test such as testing equipment,testing procedure, and estimated cost of the equipment has been given.
1. INTRODUCTION
India has now adopted a viscosity grading system for paving bitumen. The Bureau of Indian Standards has issued IS 73:2006 Paving Bitumen – Specification (ThirdRevision)
4
in July 2006, which specifies paving bitumen by viscosity at 60 C rather thanthe old system
3
of grading paving bitumen by penetration at 25 C. The Ministry of RoadTransport and Highways (MORTH) is expected to revise its highway specificationsrelated to bituminous materials and pavements soon to reflect this significant change ingrades of paving bitumen. ______________________________________________________________________ *Associate Director Emeritus, US National Center for Asphalt Technology, KaranpuraHouse, 50 Raj Bhawan Road, Civil Lines, Jaipur (Email: pkandhal@eng.auburn.edu
 
)
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...