www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk


DECEMBER 2013


Restoring faith in high friction surfacing


Eurovia Specialist Treatments (EST), one of the leading installers of surface dressing and micro surfacing throughout the United Kingdom, achieved CE marking accreditation earlier this year and has continued to support improving standards within the sector


On 1 July 2013, as a direct result of a harmonised European standard, CE marking accreditation became a compulsory requirement for surface dressing and micro surfacing installers working on contracts within the UK.


This legal requirement provides assurances to clients that the product being installed is ‘fi t for purpose’ as it has not only undertaken a rigorous type approval installation test (TAIT), but the long-term performance of the product is also guaranteed.


Paul Goosey, Eurovia Specialist Treatment’s divisional director and senior vice chairman of the Road Surface Treatments Association, said: “It is a great achievement for us to gain this important accreditation for both surface dressing and micro surfacing. It clearly demonstrates the commitment that Eurovia place on quality and long-term durability. This certifi cation has been achieved through the dedication of our operational and technical teams working closely together to ensure that we deliver a quality service to all of our clients.”


This year, EST has applied over nine million square metres of accredited surface dressing and nearly two million square metres of micro surfacing across the length and breadth of the country. This resurgence in clients specifying preventative specialist surfacing looks set to increase in 2014.


Road safety is key


Although EST continues to see growth in these core techniques, there is one technique which has seen a signifi cant decrease. Industry-wide over the past four years, the volume of high friction surfacing applied throughout the country has signifi cantly fallen year-on- year. EST itself now lays a fi fth of the quantity it did just four years ago.


Goosey believes this is potentially putting road users and pedestrians at risk in safety critical sites, such as those beside pedestrian crossings and on sharp bends on high speed routes.


The reduction in high friction surfacing is in part due to the introduction of high PSV (polished stone value) thin surfacing


systems being applied as alternatives. Combined with the perceived high life-cost by clients mainly as a result of failings as installers continued to apply incorrect material out of season or in unsuitable locations, Goosey believes the industry should be reminded of the reasons for introducing the technique in the fi rst place.


SURFACE MAINTENANCE 35


High friction surfacing was fi rst applied as a road surfacing technique in 1968. It was introduced by the Greater London Council, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police, and the Transport and Road Research Laboratory (now TRL) at ‘black spots’ to reduce the braking distance of vehicles in wet conditions.


Eurovia Specialist Treatments uses a high-friction surfacing product called TrueGrip


The original system applied was a ‘two pack’ epoxy resin adhesive dressed with a road grade calcined bauxite that provided the desired high skid resistant surface.


This process became successful and was installed across London and later by local authorities up and down the country. From the 1970s through to the 1990s, this system became a recognised safety surfacing system that, when applied in the correct locations, signifi cantly reduced the number of fatal road traffi c incidents in accident black spots.


More recently, alternative high friction systems have been installed across the country. Although more commercially viable, in high traffi cked areas these systems have not provided the long-term durability compared to the original system and therefore the perception of the industry has suffered. In addition, local authorities are now using high PSV thin surfacing as an alternative where traditionally anti-skid was applied.


Goosey adds: “Within Eurovia, the continued safety of road users remains our highest priority and ensuring that we can deliver high performing durable products to all clients is at the forefront of our specialist treatments division.


“One thing those involved in highways need to be mindful of perhaps is the increasing demand on high PSV aggregate within our surfacing systems and the lack of natural resources available in the UK. Costs and demand for high PSV aggregates will continue to rise rapidly.”


TrueGrip, the high friction surfacing EST installs, is a high performance bitumen extended epoxy resin which is then coated with high grade bauxite aggregate.


EST is also able to offer a machine applied high friction surfacing that provides a fast, effective and effi cient application. The system, based on the original successful cold technique, combines the unique resin technology developed through partner Conren and the sophisticated computerised technology of a dedicated machine applicator.


This development ensures that a consistent quantity of resin is applied to each site, ensuring a quality product is delivered time after time and allowing extended guarantees in relation to the product.


Goosey notes: “One of the key benefi ts of high friction surfacing is the effi ciency at which it is applied which minimises disruption on busy networks. If applied in the correct conditions, at the correct time of year and on a substrate of excellent quality, high friction surfacing should perform, or even in some cases out-perform, alternative solutions.”


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