Two important Austroads Technical Specifications were released this week; ATS3465 Coloured Surface Treatment and ATS3466 High Friction Surface Treatment. As they’re adopted by each State and Territory, if they’re unchanged and actually enforced, the community should see a dramatic improvement in safety and value for money.
Justin Strunk, the National General Manager of OmniGrip Direct, said: “The industry has been waiting for the harmonisation of various specifications into one national specification, which confirms that CST and HFST are not a form of linemarking, but actually a value-add safety surface. As a leader in the field of safety surface treatments, OmniGrip Direct welcome the increase in testing standards that will lift the industry and present a huge benefit to all road users across the country.”
The two Specifications confirm the continuing ban on thermoplastic and paint products as binders. They also maintain the requirement for any product to be able to demonstrate that it can perform satisfactorily in heavy traffic for at least five years.
The new CST Specification includes that the aggregate is of nominal 3mm size. This will in turn lift standards, improve safety through increased road friction and increase longevity. OmniGrip Direct already uses nominal 3mm Australian recycled-glass as its aggregate, so it will be business-as-usual.
Any natural aggregate or manufactured aggregate must also be PSV or PAFV tested (as applicable in their State or Territory) for compliance, and the test updated every six months. The only exceptions are calcined bauxite and glass products, like OmniGrip Direct’s.
The specifications also mandate two rounds of testing for compliance: one between 14 and 28 days after installation, and another no later than two months before the end of the defect liability period (DLP). The contractor is responsible for any repairs during the DLP, as expected. In states like Victoria, where the DLP is longer, contractors will have to back their products financially for two years, as they will have to maintain and replace them if they fail the tests before handover.
The next step is for all states and territories to adopt the specifications. Justin added: “This has been a welcomed collaboration across the States and Territories. OmniGrip Direct look forward to the adoption of this specification and hope that standards are lifted, not softened to cater to low value alternatives as public safety, sustainability and whole of life costs should never be compromised.”
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