55255890 hot mix asphalt construction certification and accreditation programs

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S T P 3 7 8

H o t M i x A spha l t Con str u c t i on

Cer ti f i cati on an d A ccr ed i t a t i on

P rog rams

Sco t t Shu ler and James S . M oul throp ed i tors

A S T M S t o c k : S T P 1 37 8

A S T M

1 00 B a r r H a r b o r D r i v e

W e s t C o n s h o h o c k e n , P A 1 9 4 2 8 -2 9 5 9


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L i b r a r y o f C o n g r e s s C a t a l o g i n g - i n - P u b l i c a t io n D a t a

H o t m i x a s p h a l t c o n s t r u c t i o n : c e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d a c c r e d i t a t i o n p r o g r a m s

/ S c o t t S h u l e r a n d J a m e s S . M o u l t h r o p , e d i to r s .

p . cm. -- (STP : 1378 )

I S B N 0 - 8 0 3 1 - 2 6 1 9 - 0

1 . P a v e m e n t s , A s p h a l t . 2 . I n d u s t ri a l t e c h n i c i a n s - - C e r t i fi c a t i o n -

- U n i t e d S t a t e s . I. S h u le r , S c o t t . II. M o u l t h r o p , J a m e s S . , 1 9 3 9

81. S e r i e s : A S T M S p e c ia l t e c h n i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n : 1 3 7 8 .

T E 2 7 0 . H 6 8 1 9 9 9

6 2 5 . 8 ' 5 - - d c 2 1 9 9 - 3 8 8 8 0

C I P

Copyr ight 9 1999 AMER ICAN S OCIETY FO R TESTING AN D MATERIALS, West Conshohocken,

PA. All r ights reserved. This m aterial m ay no t be reproduced o r copied, in wh ole or in part, in any

printed, mechanical, electronic, f i lm, or othe r distribution and storage m edia, without the w ritten

con sen t of the publisher.

P h o t o c o p y R ig h t s

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Co pyr ig ht Clearance C enter , 222 Rosew ood Dr ive, Danvers, M A 01923; Tel : 508-750-8400;

online: h t tp : / /www.copy r igh t . com/ .

P e e r R e v i e w P o l ic y

Each pa per published in th is vo lum e was e valuated by two p eer rev iewers and at least one editor.

Th e authors addressed all of the reviewers' comments to the satisfaction of both the technical

editor(s) and the ASTM Com mittee on Publications.

To make technical information av aila ble as quickly a s possible, the peer-reviewed p apers in this

publ ication w ere prepared "cam era-rea dy" as submitted b y the authors.

Th e quality o f the papers in this p ublication reflects not only the obviou s efforts of the authors and

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1999


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oreword

This publ ica t ion H ot Mix As ph alt Construction: Certification a nd Accreditation Programs

conta ins papers presen ted a t the sym pos ium of the same nam e he ld in Nashvi l le Tennessee

on D e c e m be r 8 1998 . T he s ym pos i um w a s spons o re d by A S T M C om m i tt e e D - 4 on Roa d a nd

Pav ing Mater ia ls . Scot t Shuler Lafarge Den ver Co lorado and Jam es S . M oul throp Ko ch

Mate r i a ls Com pany Austin Texas pres ided as sym pos ium Co-C ha i rmen and a re the ed i tors

of the resul t ing pub l ica t ion.


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ontents

O v e r v i e w

vii

N e w E n g l a n d T r a n s p o r t a t i o n T e c h n i c i a n C e r t i fi c a ti o n P r o g r a m ( N E T T C P ) :

A

R e g i o n a l A p p r o a c h - - L E O

C. STEVENS THOMAS PETERSON

AND CHRISTOPHER BOWKER

A s p h a l t T e c h n i c i a n C e r ti fi ca t io n : T h e R o c k y M o u n t a i n W a y m M I C H A E L M

CASSIDY

AND SCOTT A. CONNER

T h e A A S H T O A c c r e d it a ti o n P r o g r a m : S e r v in g t h e H o t M i x A s p h a l t I n d u s t r y - -

R O B E R T A. LUTZ JAMES B. HEWSTON DAVID A. SAVAGE AND PETER A. SPELLERBERG

E x p e r i e n c e s w i t h B i t u m i n o u s P a v i n g T e c h n i c i a n T r a i n i n g a n d C e r t i fi c a ti o n i n

Pennsylvania--DONALD

W. CHRISTENSEN ANNE STONEX AND TIMOTHY RAMIREZ

A F i r s t- Y e a r S u m m a r y o f th e A r k a n s a s H o t M i x A s p h a l t T e c h n i c i a n C e r ti fi c a ti o n

er og ra m- -K EV iN D. HALL AND L. RAY PYLANT

C e r t i fi c a ti o n a n d A c c r e d i t a t io n P r o g r a m s : A C o n t r a c t o r s P e r s p e c t i v e - -

R A N D Y C. WEST AND TODD A. LYNN

B a s i c E l e m e n t s i n th e D e s i g n o f a C e r t if ic a t io n P r o g r a m f o r H o t M i x A s p h a l t

C o n s t r u c t i o n

Pe rsO nne l- -AH MED FAROUKI MICHAEL A. CLARK AND JOHN D. ANTRIM

L a k e L a n d C o l l e g e /I l li n o i s D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n : Q u a l i ty C o n t r o l / Q u a l i ty

A s s u r an c e T r a in i ng P r o g r a m - - D e v e l o p m e n t a n d I m p l e m e n t a t i o n --

D E B O R A H G. HUTFI AND LARRY HYMES

11

23

39

60

70

76

87

S o u t h C a r o l i n a s E x p e r i e n c e w i t h C e r t if ic a t io n a n d A c c r e d i t a t i o n - -

SERJI

N. AMIRKHANIAN 97


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verview

M a n y c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o c e s s e s a r e c o n t ro l l e d b y c o m p a r i n g a d e s i re d p r o d u c t , c o n c e i v e d d u r -

i n g d e s i g n , t o t h e p r o d u c t p r o d u c e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h e a s p h a l t p a v e m e n t c o n s t r u c t i o n

p r o c e s s i s o f t e n c o n t r o l le d i n t h is m a n n e r . C o n t r o l is o f t e n b a s e d o n t e s ti n g o f c o m p o n e n t s a n d

assem bl i es o f ma te r i a l s , t he con s t ruc t ion process , and the fi n i shed aspha l t pave m ent . Suc cess

o f t h e a s p h a l t p a v e m e n t c o n s t r u c t io n p r o j e c t is u s u a l ly ju d g e d b a s e d o n h o w w e l l te s t re s u lt s

p r o d u c e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a r e w i t h c r it e ri a c o n s i d e r e d r e p r e s e n ti n g t h e d e s i re d p r o d u c t

c o n c e i v e d d u r i n g d e s i g n .

S ince success o f an aspha l t pav ing pro j ec t i s j udged based on t e s t r e su l t s , i t i s l og i ca l t ha t

i nd iv idua l s c ond uc t ing these t e s t s be p ro v ide d wh a teve r tr a in ing i s nec essa ry t o as sure t he te s t s

a r e c o n d u c t e d p r o p e r ly . T h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h is c a n n o t b e o v e r e m p h a s i z e d . S i g n i f ic a n t s u m s o f

m o n e y d e p e n d o n t e s ts p r o p e r l y c o n d u c t e d . T h e s e s u m s o f m o n e y r e p r e s e n t n o t o n l y th e in i ti al

c o s t o f th e p r o j e c t , i n c l u d i n g p a y m e n t s t o t h e c o n t r a c t o r a n d s u b c o n t r a c t o r s, b u t m o r e s ig n i fi -

can t ly , pe r fo rm anc e o f t he pave me nt . Th ere fore , i f te s t r e su l ts do n o t re f l ec t accura t e ly t rue

v a l u e s o f c ri te r ia r e p r e s e n t in g p a v e m e n t b e h a v i o r , p e r f o r m a n c e o f th e p a v e m e n t m a y b e i n

j e o p a r d y .

T h e r e a r e a t l e a s t t h r e e i m p o r t a n t c o m p o n e n t s t o c o n s i d e r w h e n d e v e l o p i n g a p r o c e s s t o

cont ro l pavement cons t ruc t ion . F i r s t , t e s t s , which de t e rmine compl i ance wi th spec i f i ca t i ons ,

m u s t b e s t a n d a rd i z e d . I n a s p h a lt p a v e m e n t c o n s t r u c t i o n i n th e U . S . , t h e p r o c e s s o f d e v e l o p i n g

a n d s t a n d a r d i z in g t h e s e te s ts i s a n o n g o i n g p ro c e s s w i t h in b o d i e s s u c h a s A S T M a n d A A S H T O .

S e c o n d , a p p a r a t u s n e c e s s a r y t o c o n d u c t t h e te s ts m u s t b e e v a l u a t e d to d e t e r m i n e c o m p e t e n c y .

T h i r d , t h e c a p a b i l i ty o f p e r s o n n e l c o n d u c t i n g t h e t e s ts m u s t b e ju d g e d .

S t at is ti c al q u a l i t y c o n t r o l a n d q u a l i ty a s s u r a n c e Q C / Q A ) p r o g r a m s i n h o t m i x a s p h a lt p a v e -

m e n t c o n s t r u c t i o n h a v e b e c o m e a s i g n i fi c a n t c o n t r i b u t o r to m o r e c o n s i s t e n t a n d h i g h e r q u a l it y

p r o d u c t s . T h e r e s u l t h as b e e n a s t e a d y i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f a s p h a lt p a v e m e n t s .

T h e s u c c e s s o f a n y Q C / Q A p r o g r a m i s d i r e c tl y re l a te d t o t h e q u a l i ty o f t h e d a t a g e n e r a te d b y

t e c h n i c i a n s c o n d u c t i n g t h e t e s t s . A l t h o u g h s t a n d a r d t e s t p r o c e d u r e s p u b l i s h e d b y A S T M a n d

other bod ies a r e used , d i f f e r ences i n t e s t r e su l t s can s t i l l occur be tween the QC and QA l abo-

ra to r i es . Reduc ing the po t en t i a l fo r t hese d i f f e r ences i s impor t an t so t ha t an accura t e es t ima te

for t he t rue va lue o f each t e s t r e su l t can b e de t e rmined . H avin g conf ide nce i n these t e s t r e su l ts

i s i m p o r t a n t f o r c o n t r o l li n g t h e m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o c e s s . C e r t if ic a t io n a n d a c c r e d i t a ti o n p r o g r a m s

f o r b o t h a s p h a l t te c h n i c i a n s a n d l a b o r a t o ri e s h a v e b e e n a n d a r e c o n t i n u i n g t o b e d e v e l o p e d t o

i m p r o v e t h e c o n s i s t e n c y a n d q u a l i t y o f l a b o r a t o r y t e s t r e s u l t s o n a s p h a l t p a v i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n

pro j ec t s . Success fu l p rograms accompl i sh t h i s goa l and prov ide add i t i ona l benef i t s i n t he fo rm

o f i m p r o v e d c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e o w n e r a n d c o n t r a c t o r . T h e r e s u l t i s i m p r o v e d p a v i n g

q u a l i ty l e a d in g t o i n c r e a s e d p e r f o r m a n c e i n tu r n p r o d u c i n g c o s t s a v i n g s o v e r th e p a v e m e n t l if e

c y c l e .

Many s t a t es , munic ipa l i t i e s , and o the r o rgan iza t ions r espons ib l e fo r a spha l t pav ing have

a d o p t e d v a r i o u s f o r m s o f c e r t if i c at io n p r o g r a m s f o r a s p h a l t t e c h n ic i a n s a n d l a b o r a to r i es . M a n 3

m o r e o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t e n d t o e s ta b l is h s u c h p r o g r a m s i n t h e n e a r f u tu r e e i th e r b e c a u s e t h e n e e d

h a s b e e n c l e a r o r i n r e s p o n s e t o F H W A , w h i c h h a s m a n d a t e d c e r t i f i c a t i o n p r o g r a m s b y J u n e

29 , 2000 on f edera l a id p ro j ec t s a s desc r ibed in 23 CFR, Par t 637 .

urpose of Symposium

T h i s v o l u m e h a s b e e n a s s e m b l e d t o s h a r e th e e x p e r i e n c e s o f a n a s s o r t m e n t o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s

t h a t h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d o r b e g u n t o e s t a b l i s h p r o g r a m s f o r c e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d a c c r e d i t a t i o n f o r

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v

HOT MIX SPH LT CONSTRUCTION

technicians working in the asphalt pavement construction industry. This information should be

useful not only to those wishing to start new programs, but also to organizations with existing

programs desiring to make improvements.

Our intent was to assemble as wide a variety of certification and accreditation programs from

around the U.S. as possible. We hope those wishing to establish successful certification pro-

grams of their own can find helpful examples in the approaches presented.

ummary

It will become clear when reading this volume that a wide range of approaches has been

taken when developing technician certification and accreditation programs around the country.

A diverse group of organizations' experience has been compiled by the editors of this volume

including departments of transportation, a trade association, a college and several universities,

a paving contractor, and AASHTO. However, in spite of differences, much commonality can

be identified between programs.

Perhaps the most ambitious program presented is described in the paper New England

Transportation Technician Certification Program (NETTCP): A Regional Approach. This

program is a cooperative arrangement between six states that have agreed on the methods

utilized to certify technicians so that an individual may work in any of the participating states.

Training is an element in this program, which includes asphalt plant and laydown activities,

aggregates, soils and portland concrete. In addition to certification, the program also is devel-

oping standardized test procedures to be followed in each of the six participating states.

Asphalt Technician Certification: The Rocky Mountain Way describes a program devel-

oped as a partnership between the Colorado DOT and the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Asso-

ciation. This partnership used seed money provided by CDOT and full-time personnel and

dedicated laboratory space provided by CAPA, which operates and administers the program,

to develop a combined classroom instruction and practical laboratory program to allow tech-

nicians to demonstrate proficiency. Five levels of certification are available: A--Laydown,

B--Plant, C--Mixture Design, D--Profilograph, and under development, and E--Aggregates.

The AASHTO laboratory accreditation program is presented in the paper The AASHTO

Accreditation Program: Serving the Hot Mix Asphalt Industry. This paper summarizes the

program beginning in 1988, which has accredited over 200 asphalt laboratories. The program

requires that laboratories satisfy many quality systems and participate in the AASHTO Mate-

rials Reference Laboratory (AMRL) on-site assessment and proficiency sample program. The

paper describes improved repeatability and reproducibility for accredited laboratories compared

with the non-accredited.

Experiences With Bituminous Paving Technician Training and Certification in Pennsyl-

vania describes a program which combines classroom and laboratory training with certifica-

tion based on written exams. Three levels of asphalt plant technician are offered and one

laydown technician. The program is primarily designed to be instructional with three- to

four-day schedules for the various levels of certification. Although proficiency of technicians

is not demonstrated in the laboratory, the program managers believe the close supervision

provided during instruction is a good substitute. However, the paper states that practical pro-

ficiency demonstrations would be desirable if the scope of the program is expanded to

accommodate it.

Arkansas DOT developed their program with the University of Arkansas described in the

paper A First-Year Summary of the Arkansas Hot Mix Asphalt Technician Certification Pro-

gram. This program offers certification and training in aggregate technology, hot mix asphalt,

portland concrete and soils. Written examinations are combined with practical laboratory eval-

uations of technician skill in conducting the various tests. Instructors are university staff, which


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O V R V I W i x

h a s c r e a t e d s o m e d i f f ic u l ty i n s c h e d u l i n g t h e c o u r s e s s i n c e s u m m e r i s th e b e s t t im e f o r s t a f f t o

c o n d u c t c o u r s e s b u t t h e p o o r e s t t im e f o r p r o s p e c t i v e a t te n d e e s.

A v i e w o f te c h n i c i a n c e rt if i ca t io n b y a c o n t r a c t o r i s p r e s e n t e d i n th e p a p e r C e r t i f i c a t io n

a n d A c c r e d i t a t i o n P r o g r a m s : A C o n t r a c t o r ' s P e r s p e c t i v e . T h e f o c u s o f t h is p a p e r is t o i d e n t if y

s a li e n t f e a tu r e s o f s u c h p r o g r a m s s u c h a s w r i t te n e x a m i n a t i o n s , h a n d s - o n l a b o r a t o r y p r o f ic i e n c y

a n d l a b o r a t o r y a c c r e d it a ti o n . T h e m e s s a g e is t o ta k e a d v a n t a g e o f th e o p p o r t u n i t y to s t a n d a r d iz e

t h e t e c h n i c i a n c e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d l a b o r a t o r y a c c r e d i t a t i o n p r o c e s s e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y s o

tha t d i f f e r en t p rograms a re no t c r ea t ed i n each s t a t e .

T h e o n l y n a t i o n a l c e r t i f i c a t i o n p r o g r a m f o r a s p h a l t t e c h n i c i a n s w a s d e v e l o p e d s t a r t i n g i n

1 9 7 6 b y t h e N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e f o r C e r t i f i c a t i o n i n E n g i n e e r i n g T e c h n o l o g i e s ( N I C E T ) . T h e

p r o g r a m i s d e s c r i b e d in th e p a p e r B a s i c E l e m e n t s i n t h e D e s i g n o f a C e r t if ic a t io n P r o g r a m

f o r H o t M i x A s p h a l t C o n s t r u ct io n P e r s o n n e l . T h i s p ap e r de s c ri b es t h e N I C E T m o d e l f o r

c e r ti fi c a ti o n w h i c h i n c lu d e s f o u r e l e m e n t s : I ) a c c e p t a b l e c o m p l e t io n o f a w r i tt e n e x a m i n a t i o n .

2 ) v e r i fi c a ti o n o f p r a c t ic a l c o m p e t e n c y b y a d i r e c t su p e r v i so r , 3 ) s a t i s fy i n g t h e m i n i m u m w o r k

e x p e r i e n c e , a n d 4 ) s a t is f y i n g a p e r s o n a l r e c o m m e n d a t i o n r e q u i re m e n t . S o m e b e n e f it s o f t h is

p r o g r a m i n c l u d e t h i r d - p a r t y e v a l u a t i o n o f s t r e n g t h s a n d w e a k n e s s e s b a s e d o n a s t a n d a r d i z e d

w r i t te n e x a m i n a t i o n , a n d a r e l a ti v e l y r ap i d , e c o n o m i c a l p r o g r a m .

A c o m m u n i t y c o l l e g e in I l li n o i s i n p a r tn e r s h ip w i t h t w o a s p h a l t c o n c r e t e p r o d u c e r s p r o v i d e s

c e r ti fi c a ti o n f o r t e c h n i c ia n s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i th I ll in o i s D O T r e q u ir e m e n t s . T h e p a p e r L a k e

L a n d C o l l e g e / Il l in o i s D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a ti o n : Q u a l i ty C o n t r o l /Q u a l i t y A s s u r a n c e T r a i n -

i n g P r o g r a m - - D e v e l o p m e n t a n d Im p l e m e n t a t io n d e s c ri b es a p r o g r a m w h i c h i n c lu d e s c e rt i-

f i ca t ion i n aggrega t es , t h ree l eve l s o f ho t mix asph a l t, por t l and co ncre t e , Sup erpav e f i eld con t ro l .

and nuc l ea r dens i ty t e s t i ng . The program opera t es two l abora tor i es l oca t ed i n s t r a t eg i c a r eas o f

t h e s t a te t o m a k e i t m o r e c o n v e n i e n t f o r a t te n d e e s. C o u r s e l e n g t h v a r i e s f r o m t w o t o f i v e d a y s .

S o u t h C a r o l i n a ' s E x p e r i e n c e W i t h C e r t if ic a t io n a n d A c c r e d i t a t i o n i s a p a p e r th a t d e s c r ib e s

f i v e c e r t i f i c a t i o n s a v a i l a b l e r a n g i n g f r o m Q C / Q A l a b o r a t o r y a n d f i e l d p e r s o n n e l t o m i x t u r e

d e s i g n a n d l a b o r a t o r y m a n a g e r s . U n i v e r s i t y p e r s o n n e l a d m i n i s t e r t h e p r o g r a m b u t t e a m s c o n -

s i s ti ng o f un ive r s i t y , i ndus t ry , and D O T exp er t s t each c l as ses . Wr i t t en exa m s a re pa r t o f a ll

f iv e c o u r s e s a n d p r a c ti c a l d e m o n s t r a t io n s o f p r o f i c i e n c y a r e r e q u ir e d f o r tw o c o u r s e s . C o u r s e s

a r e l im i t e d t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 2 a tt e n d e e s a n d r a n g e f r o m t h re e t o f i v e d a y s i n l e n g th .

C l o s u r e

A s m o r e o w n e r s b e c o m e a w a r e o f t h e b e n ef it s o f q u a l it y c o n t r o l a n d q u a l it y a s s u r a n c e , th e

a d v a n t a g e s o f t e c h n i c i a n c e r t if i ca t io n a n d l a b o r a t o r y a c c r e d i ta t io n w i l l s im u l t a n e o u s l y b e c o m e

apparen t . T he in t en t ion o f t h i s vo lum e is t o p resen t an as so r tmen t o f ce r t if i ca ti on and acc red-

i ta t io n p r o g r a m s w h i c h m e a s u r e t h e a b i l it y o f p e r s o n n e l a n d t h e c o m p e t e n c y o f th e a p p a r a t u s

engaged in qua l i t y con t ro l and assurance t e s t i ng . I t i s t he ed i to r s ' hope in as sembl ing th i s

v o l u m e t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d h e r e w o u l d b e u s e f u l t o p r a c t i t i o n e r s w i s h i n g t o e s t a b l i s h

n e w p r o g r a m s o r i m p r o v e e x i s ti n g p r o g r a m s b y v i e w i n g th e e x p e r i e n c e o f o t h e rs .

Sc o t t Shu l e r

Lafarge

1400 W. 65th Ave., Denver, Colorado, 80221;

Symposium Co-Chairman and Editor

J am e s S M oul throp

Ko ch Materials Com pany

Austin, Texas, 78701;

Symposium Co-Chairman and Editor


9/113

Leo C. S tevens , l Tho m as Pe te r son , 2 and C hr i s topher B ow ker 3

New E ngland Transpo rtation Technician Certification Program (N ETT CP ):

A Regional Approach

Reference: Stevens , L. C. , Peterson, T. , and Bowker , C. , New England

Transportation Technician C ertification Program (NET TC P): A Regional

Approach,

Ho t Mix Asphal t Cons t ruc tion: Cer t if ica t ion a nd Accredi ta tion Programs

A S T M S T P 1 3 78 S. Shuler , and J . S . M oul throp , Eds . , A m erican S ocie ty for Tes t ing

and M ate ri a l s, Wes t Consh ohoc ken , PA , 1999 .

Abstract: The s ix New E ngland s t a te s have im pleme nted a t echnic ians ce r t i f ica t ion

program . W orking toge the r wi th the Federa l H igh wa y Adm ini s tra t ion FHW A), the

Federa l Av ia t ion Adm ini s tra t ion FAA ) , the h ighw ay indus try , academia , and pr iva te

consul t an ts th roughout Ne w En gland and N ew Y ork , a non-prof i t o rganiza t ion was

es tab l ished en t i tl ed the New England Transpor ta t ion Technic ian Cer t i f ica t ion P rogram

NE TTC P) . Th e in ten t o f the program i s to jo in t ly d eve lop t ra in ing and ce r t i fi ca tion

courses tha t a re suppor ted and recog nized by the N ew E ngland s t at e s. Tra in ing and

cer t if i ca tion courses hav e been d eve loped in a num ber o f technica l a reas , i nc lud ing h o t

m ix aspha l t p lan t and ho t m ix aspha l t pav ing , por tl and cem ent concre te and so i l s and

aggrega te . The bac kgroun d for th is e f for t i s the m ov em ent of the s t a te Depar tm ent o f

Transpor ta t ions DO Ts) toward Qua l i ty Cont ro l /Qua l i ty Acceptance QC /QA )

spec i f ica t ions wi th the ac t ive suppo r t o f the FH W A. In addi tion to the t ra in ing and

cer t if i ca tion courses deve loped , the re i s m ov em ent to s t andard ize the t e st me thod s

which a re used , i .e . Am er ican Assoc ia t ion of S ta te Hig hw ay and Transpor ta t ion

Off i c i a l s AA SH TO ) and/or AS TM , s t andard ize t e s t fo rm s and to reduce prob lem s wi th

tes t resul t di f ferences . The resul ts of these effor ts lead to a regional appro ach w herein

technic ians w i l l be reco gniz ed as qual i f ied in a l l s ix Ne w E ngland s ta tes. Future

end eavo rs include addi t ional pos i t ions a t the technic ian leve l and the poss ib le creat ion

of a s econd l eve l o f ce r ti f ica t ion tha t would be Q C/Q A technologi s ts w i th spec ia lt i e s in

hot m ix aspha l t, por t l and ceme nt concre te and so il s and aggrega te .

Keywords: cer t i f ica t ion, t ra ining, tech nic ians

Se l f Em ployed , 15 Duxbu ry Road , W el l es ley Hi l ls , M A 02481.

2 Execu t ive Di rec tor , Colorado Asph a l t Pavem ent Assoc ia tion , 6880 S . Yosem i te Ct.,

Su i te 110 , Eng lewood , CO 80112.

3 Execu t ive Di rec tor , NET TC P, P .O . Box 722 , M arshf i eld , MA 02050.

C o p y r i g h t 9 1 9 9 9 b y A S T M I n t e rn a t i o n a l

1

w w w . a s t m . o r g


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HOT MIX ASPHALT CONSTRUCTION

n t roduc t i on

Th e six N ew E nglan d States of Connecticut, M aine, M assachusetts, N ew H ampshire,

R ho de Island and Verm ont have implemen ted a technician certification program. W orkin g

togeth er w ith the Federal H ighw ay Administ rat ion (FHW A), the Federal Aviat ion

Adm inistration (F AA ) and industry throu gh ou t N ew England, a nonprofit organization has

bee n established named the Ne w En gland Transportation Technician Certification

Prog ram (NETTCP). The intent o f the prog ram is to joint ly develop t raining and

certification c ourse s that are supported by each o f the N ew En gland States and tha t are

com m only specif ied by each o f th em Training an d certi ficat ion courses have been

developed at the technician level for areas including ho t mix asphalt, soils/aggregate and

concrete. A t this time, certification b y N ET TC P is being required b y several N ew En glan d

States a nd is recognized b y all N ew England States.

Overv i ew

Th e NE TT CP is a nonprofit organization w ith by-laws and is incorporated in the

Com monw eal th o f Massachusett s. NE TTC P cons is ts o f a twe nty seven member Board o f

Directors com posed o f the s ix N ew Englan d States D epartment o f Transportat ion (DOT)

M aterials Engineers, representatives from FH W A and FA A , mem bers of the contracting

industry, materials suppliers, the private consultants a nd academ ia. A seven me mb er

executive com m ittee is form ed consisting o f the officers, tw o elected m embers at large and

the executive director.

There are fo ur com mittees, w hich deal w ith particular subject areas for certification.

The y are Hot M ix Asphalt (HM A) Plant Technician, HM A Paving Inspector, Soi ls and

A ggr ega te Technician, and C onc rete Technician. Other comm ittees presently active are

Quality Co ntrol/Q uality Acceptance (QC/QA ) Technologist , Standardization, an d

Reciprocity.

Objec t iv e s

The objectives o f NE TT CP are:

1. To increase the know ledge o f product ion and f ield technicians.

Th rou gh certification, minimum levels or benchm ark levels o f qualifications a re

established for bo th industry a nd ag enc y personnel. Hopefully, the number o f qualified

technicians ca n be increased a t the sam e time.

2. To redu ce the problems associated w ith test result differences.

There w ill always be disputes because o f test result differences. Ho we ver, w ith

cert if ied technicians tha t put b oth s ides on equal foot ing, the a rgum ents w on t be focused

on w ho d id it wron g or w ho s equipment is bad, but on other sources o f variabil ity ,

nam ely, the variability in the m aterial.

3. To eliminate the issue o f reciprocity o f having individual state certification

programs.

Th e regional o r mu lti-state approach to certification eliminates the issue o f reciprocity

and al lows contractors w ho cross s tate l ines the freed om o f not having to be recerti fied by


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STEVENS ET AL ON A REGIONAL APPROACH 3

di ffe ren t p rograms . T hi s is ve ry impo r tan t in New England w here a s ign if ican t num ber o f

con trac to rs and m ater ia l suppl iers do w or k in severa l s ta tes.

4 . To m ov e forward in s t andard iza t ion o f t e s t m e thods and t e s t p rocedures used b y

the s ix N ew England S ta te s .

Cur ren t ly , t he re i s a l ack o f un i formi ty th rougho ut N ew England in wh a t m a te ri a l t e s t

me tho ds a re used and the procedu res used to pe r form the va r ious Am er ican Assoc ia t ion

of S ta t e H ighw ay and Transpo r t a t ion Off ic ia ls (A AS HT O) t e s t s. T he con t rac tors and

mate r i a l suppli e rs tha t c ros s s t a te l ines w ould grea t ly benef i t by any im provem ent s o f

increased u ni formity in this area .

5 . To as s is t t he N ew England S ta t e s and indus try in mee t ing the requi rement s o f

Federa l Regula t ion 23 C FR Part 6 37, Co ns t ruct ion and Mater ia ls .

A s s t a t es m o v e t o w a r d t h e Q C/ Q A m e t h o d o f c o n s tr u c ti o n , th e r e n e e d s t o b e

guidelines on wh at is a qualified technician. Sett ing up standa rds and qualifications fo r

qualified technician s fi l l a n eed tha t is required.

Organizational Setup

A s p r e v i o u s ly m e n t i o n e d N E T T C P h a s a s e t o f b y - l a w s a n d i n a d d it io n p u b l is h e s a

Reg is t ra t ion, P ol ic ies and Proced ures M anu al [1] , the la test edi t ion wa s pr inted in

Oc to ber 1998 . Thi s m anua l l is ts t he me mb ersh ip of the Board o f D i rec tors , t he

Exec ut ive Com mi t t ee , and the four Cer t i f ica t ion Com mi t t ees . I t e s t ab li shes the

cer t i f ica t ion courses , cos ts , de ta i l s and requirements for each course and cer t i f ica t ion

covere d by NE TT CP . I t a l so l is ts t hose te s t me thods for which candida tes m us t exh ib i t

wr i t ten and pe r form ance prof i c i ency . The m anua l p r in t s the re fund po l i cy , t he

cance l l a tion p o l i cy , t he rece r ti f ica t ion po l i cy and dece r t i fi ca t ion p o l i cy a s app roved b y

the Bo ard o f D i rec tors . I t a lso has a p rocedure fo r comp la in t s and /or p ro tes ts .

M em bersh ip in NE TT CP i s ou t l ined in the by- l aws of the organ iza tion .

T h e d e v e l o p m e n t a nd i m p l e m e n t a ti o n o f th e N E T T C P h a s b e e n m a d e p o s s i bl e

through funding cont r ibu t ions f rom the FHW A, the FAA , the s ix New England s t at e s,

contrac tors , co nsul t ing fi rms , and indus t ry associa t ions . T he funding has a l lowed

N ET TC P to dev e lop courses , r et a in the s e rv ices o f consu l t an t s to dev e lop manua ls ,

cond uct pi lot courses , w ork on s tandardizat ion issues, deve lop and p r int cer ti fica tion,

po l ic i e s and procedu res manua l. The s ix N ew England s t a t e s and the FHW A h ave

col lec t ive ly com mi t t ed nea rly 240 ,000 to the init ia l deve lopm ent o f the program .

Indus t ry a s a who le has cont r ibu ted approxim ate ly 60 ,000. N ET TC P cont inues to s eek

indus try supp or t t h roug h sponsorsh ip and m embersh ip fees f rom indust ry . The pr imary use

o f these funds i s deve lopm ent cos t s a s the co urse fees a re exp ec ted to co ver the cos t o f

the cou rses .

ertification ourses

Ge nera l ly when a candida te reg i s t e rs fo r a course and examina t ion , he or she mus t

b e a h i g h s c h o o l g r a d u a te , p o s s e s s a G E D , o r r e c e i v e p r io r a p p r o v a l f r o m N E T T C P .

Pr ior approva l cons i st s o f examining the re sum e of the candida te and fo l lowing up on

re fe rences prov ided in the re sum e . In addi tion w ork exp er i ence (using the exam ple of


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HOT MIX ASPHALT CONSTRU CTION

H ot Mix Asph a l t P lan t Technic i an) m us t cons i s t o f the fo l lowing: a ) , work d i rec t ly

u n d e r a N E T T CP Ce r t if i ed H o t M i x A s p h a l t P l a nt T e c h n i c ia n f o r a m i n i m u m o f 3 0

work ing day s to demon s t ra t e exper i ence and prof i c i ency in the t e s t p rocedu res ou t l ined

in the course and fo l lowing the 30-d ay min imu m w ork exper i ence pe r iod , the candida te

m u s t b e s i g n e d o f f b y t w o N E T T CP Ce r t if ie d H o t M i x A s p h a l t P l a n t T e c h n ic i an s

ind ica ting tha t the requi red w ork ex per i ence has been succes s fu l ly com ple ted or b ) , a

candida te w i th two yea rs ve r i f i ab le re levant exper i ence can be s igned of f by two

N E T T CP Ce r t i fi e d H o t M i x A s p h a l t T e ch n i c ia n s o n c e t h e c a n d i d at e d e m o n s t ra t e s

prof i c i ency and k now ledge w i th the requi red t e s t p rocedures . T o be ce r t i f ied a candida te

m ust a t tend the cer t i f ica t ion course in i t s ent i re ty and successfu l ly pass the w ri t ten an d

labora tory examina t ion . The w r i tt en exam ina t ion cons i s ts o f 60 ques t ions, w hich can be

mul t ip l e cho ice , t rue o r fa ls e , o r ca lcu la tion . T he candida te mu s t ach ieve 70% to pas s .

The p e r form ance cons i s t s o f th ree te s t p rocedu res o f which the candida te m us t ach ieve a

min imu m o f 90% in each t e s t p rocedure . A checkl i s t i s p rov ided the exam iner to

pro vid e guidance in se tt ing tes t scores .

The Ho t Mix A spha l t P lan t Techn ic i an Cer t i f ica t ion C ourse i s des igned for those

ind iv idua l s re spons ib le fo r the s am pl ing and t e s ting of ho t m ix aspha l t a t t he produc t ion

fac i li t y . The prog ram i s a imed a t con t rac tor and suppl i e r qua li ty con t ro l t echnic i ans ,

consu l t an t t e s ting f i rms and D OT inspec tors re spons ib le fo r the qua l ity o f ho t m ix

aspha l t. Cur ren t ly the cos t fo r the course and exam ina t ion is 750 .00 for m em bers o f

N E T T CP a n d 9 7 5 .0 0 f o r n o n - m e m b e r s a n d co n s i st s o f a fo u r - d a y c l a s s ro o m a n d

labora tory course . There i s a one -day wr i t ten and l abora tory examina t ion . C las s s i ze i s

12 to 16 persons . T he out l ine of s tudy is show n in Ta ble 1. Re cer t i f ica t ion cos ts 350.00

f o r m e m b e r s o f N E T T CP a n d 4 9 5 .0 0 f o r n o n - m e m b e r s a n d c o n s is ts o f o n e - a n d - a - h a lf -

day c l a s s room and l abora tory courses wi th a wr i tt en and pe r form ance examina t ion .

The h i s to ry to da te i s t ha t the course s t ruc ture and t ra in ing manu a l fo r the HM A

Plant Technic ian was dev e loped in 1995 wi th the p ilo t p resen ta t ion g iven in Dec em ber

1995. In 1996, ten courses we re presented an d 139 technic ians cer t i f ied, in 1997, three

courses w ere presen ted and 47 t echnic ians ce r t i fi ed and in 1998 , four courses were

presen ted and 42 t echnic i ans ce r ti f ied . In Oc tobe r 1998 a rev i sed manua l w as ma de

ava i l ab le fo r the 1999 courses and the rece rt i fi ca t ion courses . The new man ua l w i ll

s t re s s Sup erpave p rocedures bu t s til l r e t a ins so me of the M arsha ll p rocedures .

The H ot Mix A spha l t Pav ing Inspe c tor Cer t if i ca t ion Co urse i s des igned fo r those

individuals respo nsible for the inspecting, sam pling and test ing of the ho t mix asphalt in

the f ie ld . Th e prog ram is a imed a t co ntrac tor and sup pl ier qual i ty con trol inspectors ,

consul tant tes t ing f i rms and D O T inspectors respons ible for the qual i ty assurance and

placement o f ho t mix aspha lt . Cur ren t ly the cos t fo r the course and examina t ion is 37 50 0

for m em bers and 495 .00 for non-m emb ers and cons is t s o f a two-and-a -ha l f -day

classro om cou rse and a tw o-h ou r wri t ten examination. Class s ize i s 25 to 35 persons . Th e

out l ine of s tudy is show n in Table 2. In addi tion to the bas ic prerequis i tes for taking the

course , candidates must a lso document current nuclear dens i ty gauge cer t i f ica t ion as

requi red b y the Nuc lea r Reg ula tory Com miss ion or approp r i a t e s ta t e nuc lear regu la tory

agency. Th e wri t ten exam inat ion cons is ts of 60 ques t ions , which c an be mul tiple choice ,

t rue o r fa lse , or ca lcula tion. Th e candidate m ust achieve 70% to pass .

The h i s to ry to da te i s tha t t he co urse s t ruc ture and t ra in ing manua l fo r the H M A

Paving Ins pec tor w as dev eloped in 1996 wi th the pi lot presenta t ion given in January 1997.


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S T E V E N S E T A L O N A R E G IO N A L PPRO CH

Table 1 - Outline Of Study l br Hot Mix Asphalt Plant Technician

5

A S T M /

A A S H T O

P r oc e dur e

Previous Tes t

Exper ience W ri tten W )

Re quired Physical P)

T 2

T 248

T 27

T l l

168

T164 o r

TP 53

T 30

TP 4

T 245

T 40

T 84

T 85

T 166

T 269

T 255

T 209

T 269

A S T M

D 3665

Sampling o f Agg rega tes

Redu cing Fie ld Samples o f Aggregates

to T es t ing S ize

H ot Bin Samples or Cold Feed Samples

Sieve Analysis o f Fine and Co arse

Aggrega te

Material Finer than the 75Bm No . 200)

Sieve by Washing

Sampling Bituminous Paving Mixtures

Quanti ta tive Centr ifuge Extract ion of

Ignition Oven

Mechanical Analysis o f Extracted

Aggrega te

Fabrication and Test ing o f Superpave

Paving Mixture Specimens

Mix, Asphalt, Air Tem perature

Resistance to Plastic Flow of

Bituminous Mixtures Using Marshall

Appara tus

Sampling Bituminous Materials

Consensus Ag grega te Tes ts

Specific G ravity and Abso rption o f Fine

Aggrega te

Specific Gravity and A bsorption o f

Coarse Agg rega te

Bulk Specific Gravity of Co m pacted

Bituminous Mixtures using Satura ted-

Surface Dry Specimens

Air Void /V M A /V .F A. Ca lcu la tions

Combined t to t B in Analysis

Tota l M ois ture Content o f Aggrega te

by Drying

Maximum Specific Gravity o f

Bi tuminous Paving M ixtures

Thickness o f Com pacted Paving

Specimens

P r epa r at ions o f C or e s f o r T M D

Random Sampling

Ye s W

Ye s W

Ye s W

Ye s W

W

Y e s W

Ye s W

Ye s W

Ye s W ,P

Ye s W

Y e s W , P N e w

certifications)

W

W

W

W

W ,P

W

W

W

W , P

W ,P

W

W


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HOT MIX ASPHALT CONSTR UCTION

This course uses The Aspha lt Ins t itu te Manual M S-22 , the NA PA Han dboo k, a s we l l a s

oth er selected material. In 1997, f ive cou rses we re presen ted and 154 technicians certified,

in 199 8, six cour ses we re pres ente d and 155 technicians certif ied.

Tab le 2 -

Outline O f Study For Hot M ix sphalt Paving Inspector

A A S H T O / P ro c e d u r e P r ev i o us T e s t

A S T M E xpe r i enc e W r i tt e n ( W )

Requi red Pe r formance (P )

A S T M

D 3665

T 168

Mater ia ls and HM A M ixture

Pro duc tion Facil it ies

Sur face P repa ra tion

M ixture De l ive ry and P lacement

Jo in t Cons t ruc t ion

Com pac t ing the Mat

Quali ty C ontrol , Quali ty Assurance

Rand om Sampling

es

Y e s

Yes

Yes

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

W

Field Sampling Ye s

Mat Troubleshoot ing

T 166 Bulk Spec i f ic Gravi ty of Co mp ac ted Yes

Bi tuminous M ixtures Using Sa tura ted

Sur face Dry Sp ec imens

T 209 M aximum Spec if ic Gravi ty o f W

Bituminous Paving M ixtures

T 269 T h ickne ss o f Com pa c ted P a v ing W

Specimens

A S T M D e ns ity o f B i tuminous Conc r e t e in Y e s W

D 2950 P la c e by N uc le a r M e thods

W

W

W

Th e Soils and Agg regate Technic ian Cer t i f ica t ion Co urse is designed for tho se

individuals responsible for the sampling and testing o f soils and ag greg ates us ed in base,

subbase and ro adw ay embankment construct ion. Th e program is a imed a t co ntrac tor and

supplier quality co ntro l technicians, cons ultant testing firms and DO T inspe ctors

responsible fo r the quality assura nce and place m ent o f select agg rega te and soil materials.

Cu rrent ly the cost for the cou rse and examination is 475.00 for mem bers and 650.00 for

non-m em bers and consis ts of a two -and-a-half -day c lassroom and labora to ry course .

Th ere is a one -half-da y w ritten and lab ora tory examination. C lass size is 12 to 16 persons.

The o utl ine of s tudy is show n as T able 3. In addit ion to the basic prerequisites for taking

the co urse , candidates m ost a lso docu m ent current nuclear densi ty gau ge cer t i f ica tion as

requi red by the Nuc lea r Regula tory Commission or appropr ia te s ta te nuc lea r r egula tory

agency. Th e w ritten examination consists o f 70 questions, which can be multiple choice,

t rue o r fa lse , or ca lcula tion. Th e candidate must ach ieve a minimum score o f 70% to pass .


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STEVENS ET AL ON A REGIONAL APPROACH 7

The pe r formance te s t cons ist s of th ree te s t p rocedu res of which the candida te needs to

achieve a minimum o f 90 in each te s t p rocedure .

Table 3 - Outline o f Study o r Soils and ggregate Technician

AA S HT O P r oc e dur e P r e v ious Te s t W r i t te n ( W )

/ AS TM Exper ience Per formance (P)

Required

T 2 Sampling Ag gregates

AS T M R a ndom S ampling

D 3665

T 248 Redu cing Field Sample o f Ag gregates

to T es t ing S ize

T 27 Sieve Analysis for Fine and Coa rse

Aggrega te

T 11 M aterial Finer than 751.tm (No . 200 )

Sieve by Washing

T 104 Soundness o f Agg rega te - Sodium or

M agnesium Sulfa te

T 96 Res is tance to Abras ion/LA W ear Tes t

T 88 Particle Size Analysis o f Soils

T 84 Specific Grav ity & Ab sorption o f Fine

Aggrega tes

T 85 Specific Grav ity & Ab sorption o f

Coarse Aggrega te

T 255 M ois ture in Aggrega te by Drying

T 217 M ois ture in Aggrega te by Gas

P r e ssu r e Me thod

T 99 & M ois ture Dens i ty Re la tion o f Soil s Yes

T 180 (Either On e)

T 191 Dens i ty o f Soil by Sand-Cone M ethod Yes

T 238 Den sity o f Soils and Soil Ag gregate in Yes

P la ce by Nuc le a r Me thod

Correc t ion for S tone in Comp ac t ion

Tes ts

Liquid Lim it of Soils

Plastic Limit & Plasticity In dex o f

Soils

Identification o f Soils by Visual

P r oc e dur e

T 224

T 89

T 90

A S T M

D 2488

Y e s W

W

Ye s W ,P

Ye s W ,P

Ye s W ,P

W

W

W

W

Y e s W

W , P

W

W

W

W

W

W , P

Th e history to date is that the c ou rse structure and tra ining manual for the Soils and

Ag gregate T echnic ian was develo ped in 1996 with the pi lot presenta t ion given in

Decem ber 1996. I t should be noted tha t the Ne w Je rsey DO T par tic ipa ted in deve loping


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HOT MIX ASPHALT CONSTRUCTION

t h is c o u r s e a n d m a n u a l I n 1 9 9 7 , f o u r c o u r s e s w e r e p r e s e n t e d a n d 5 8 t e c h n ic i a n s ce r ti fi e d

and i n 1998 , s i x cour ses were p resen t ed and 67 t echn i c i ans ce r t i f i ed

T h e C o n c r e t e T e c h n i c i a n C e r t i fi c a t io n C o u r s e i s d e s i g n e d f o r t h o s e i n d i v id u a l s

r e s p o n s i b l e f o r s a m p l i n g a n d t e s t i n g o f p o r t l a n d c e m e n t c o n c r e t e a n d r e l a t e d m a t e r i a ls a t

e i t h e r th e p l a n t o r i n t h e f ie l d. T h e p r o g r a m i s a i m e d a t c o n t r a c t o r a n d s u p p l ie r q u a l i ty

c o n t r o l i n s p e c t o r s , c o n s u l t a n t t e st i n g f i rm s a n d D O T i n s p e c t o r s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e

q u a l i t y a s s u r a n c e o f p o r t l a n d c e m e n t c o n c r e t e . C u r r e n t l y t h e c o s t f o r th e c o u r s e a n d

e x a m i n a t i o n is 1 4 0 . 0 0 f o r m e m b e r s an d 2 2 5 . 0 0 f o r n o n - m e m b e r s an d c o n s i st s o f a

o n e - d a y c l a s s r o o m c o u r s e a n d a o n e - h o u r w r i tt e n e x a m i n a t i o n . C l a s s s iz e is 2 5 t o 3 5

p e r s o n s . T h e o u t l i n e o f s t u d y i s s h o w n i n T a b l e 4 . I n a d d i t io n t o th e b a s i c p r e r e q u i si t e s

f o r t a k i n g t h e c o u r s e , c a n d i d a t e s a l s o m u s t d o c u m e n t c u r r e n t A C I G r a d e I F ie l d

C e r t i fi c a t io n . T h e w r i tt e n e x a m i n a t i o n c o n s i s t s o f 5 0 q u e s t i o n s , w h i c h c a n b e m u l t i p le

c h o i c e , tr u e o r f a ls e , o r c a l c u l a ti o n . T h e c a n d i d a t e m u s t a c h i e v e a m i n i m u m m a r k o f

7 0 % t o p as s .

Tab l e 4 - utline o[ Study or

~mcrete

Techuiciuu

A A S H T O P r o c e d u r e P r ev i ou s T e st

/ A S T M E x p e r ie n c e W r i t te n ( W )

R e q u i r e d P e r f o r m a n c e ( P )

T 2 S a m p l in g A g g r e g a t e s Y e s W

A S T M R a n d o m S a m p li ng W

D 3 6 6 5

T 2 4 8 R e d u c i n g F ie ld S a m p l e o f A g g r e g a t e s Y e s W

to Tes t i ng S i ze

S i e v e A n a l y s i s f o r F i n e a n d C o a r s e Y e s

A g g r e g a t e

M o i s tu r e in A g g r e g a t e b y D r y i n g Y e s

A g g r e g a t e B l en d in g

C e m e n t , P o z z o l a n s & A d m i x tu r e s

C o n c r e t e P l a n t I n s p e c t io n s

B a t c h W e i g h t A d j u s tm e n t

P r o p e r t i e s o f C o n c r e t e F ie ld T e s t s

T 2 7 W

T 255

W

W

W

W

W

W

T h e h i s t o ry t o d a t e i s th a t t h e c o u r s e s t r u c tu r e a n d t ra i n in g m a n u a l f o r t h e C o n c r e t e

T e c h n i c i a n w a s d e v e l o p e d i n 1 9 9 7 w i t h th e p i lo t p r e s e n t a t io n g i v e n in D e c e m b e r 1 99 7 . I n

1998 , t h ree cour ses were p resen t ed and 83 t echn i c i ans ce r t i f i ed

Q C / Q A Q u a l i t y A s s u r a n c e

W i t h t h e t re n d t o w a r d s m o r e p r o je c t s b e i n g b id a s Q C / Q A c o n t r ac t s b y m a n y

s t a t e s , a n d w i t h g u i d a n c e f r o m t h e F H W A , N E T T C P h a s u n d e r t a k e n t h i s t a s k w i t h t h e

o u t l o o k a s to h o w i t c a n a i d t he N e w E n g l a n d s ta te s i n th e a d o p t i o n o f Q C / Q A

s p e c i f ic a t i o n s . U n d e r Q u a l i t y A s s u r a n c e , t h e C o n t r a c t o r i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r Q u a l i ty

C o n t r o l ( Q C ) a n d t h e s ta t e D O T i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r Q u a l i t y A c c e p t a n c e ( Q A ) . I f t h e s ta t e

d e s i re s , t e s ti n g b y t h e c o n t r a c t o r c o u l d b e a l s o u s e d f o r Q u a l i t y A c c e p t a n c e . T h e r e a l s o


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STEVENS ET AL ON A REGIONALAPPROACH 9

is I n d e p e n d e n t A s s u r a n c e T e s t i n g c o n d u c t e d b y t h e s ta te D O T . C o n t r a c t o rs w i l l b e

r e q u i r e d b y t h e s p e c i f i c a t io n s t o s u b m i t a Q u a l i ty C o n t r o l P l a n t o t h e s t at e D O T . I n t h i s

p l a n t h e c o n t r a c t o r m u s t s p e l l o u t w h o w i l l b e t h e q u a l i f i e d p e r s o n n e l r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e

qua l i t y con t ro l t e s t ing , t he q ua l i f i ed t e s t i ng f ac i l i t y tha t wi l l be used , t he P l an

A d m i n i s tr a t o r , a n d t h e q u a l i t y c o n t r o l s a m p l i n g a n d t e s t in g p r o g r a m h e w i ll b e u s in g .

T h e s t at e D O T , w h o w i ll b e d o i n g t h e q u a l i t y a c c e p t a n c e t e s ti n g , m u s t h a v e q u a l i f ie d

p e r s o n n e l t o p e r f o r m t h e i r a c c e p t a n c e t e s t in g , m u s t h a v e a q u a l i f i e d l a b o r a t o r y a n d b e

r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p r o v i d i n g a p l a n f o r a c c e p t a n c e t e s ti n g . I n d e p e n d e n t a s s u r a n c e t e s ti n g i s

a c h e c k u p o n t h e t e ch n i c ia n s k n o w l e d g e o n h o w t o p e r fo r m t h e t e st i n a c c o r d a n c e w i th

A A S H T O a n d / o r A S T M t es t p r o c e d u r e s a n d if t h e e q u i p m e n t b e in g u s e d m e e t s

A A S H T O a n d / o r A S T M t es t p r o c e d u re s . C u r r e n t Q C / Q A s p e c i fi c a ti o n s in s o m e o f t h e

N e w E n g l a n d s t a t es r e q u i re t h a t t h e q u a l i fi e d t e c h n i c ia n s b e N E T T C P c e r t if i ed .

C o u r s e s a n d e x a m i n a t i o n s a r e h e l d i n v a r i o u s l o c a t i o n s t h r o u g h o u t N e w E n g l a n d .

T h o s e c o u r s e s , w h i c h d o n o t h a v e a p r o f ic i e n c y c o m p o n e n t s u c h a s th e H o t M i x A s p h a l t

P a v e m e n t I n s p e c t o r P r o g r a m , t y p i c a l l y w i l l b e h e l d i n a h o t e l o r o t h e r fa c i l it y w i t h a

m e e t i n g r o o m c a p a b l e o f h o l d i n g f if t y p e r so n s . T h o s e p r o g r a m s w i t h a p r o f ic i e n c y

c o m p o n e n t w i ll b e h e ld a t a m a t e r i a ls s u p p l ie r s p l a n t l a b o r a t o r y o r a D O T l a b o r a t o r y

w i th a m e e t in g r o o m n e a r b y .

Developmental Program

N E T T C P b e g a n l o o k i n g t o t h e f u tu r e w i th a D e v e l o p m e n t a l P r o g r a m d a t e d

O c t o b e r 1 9 9 7. T h is p r o g r a m l o o k e d i n to w h e r e w e a r e g o i n g o n c e t h e b a s ic t e c h n i c ia n

c e r t if i c a ti o n p r o g r a m s m a t u r e d a n d a r e s e l f -s u s t a in i n g . T h e p l a n e n v i s i o n e d a th r e e - ti e r

sys t e m o f ce r t i fy in g t echn ic i ans , t echn olog i s t s and p lt t, l adm in i s t r a to r s . Le ve l I -

c o n s i s t s o f th e t e c h n i c i a n g r o u p a n d t h e i n s p e c t o r g r o u p . T h e t e c h n i c i a n g r o u p i s

c e n t e r e d p r i m a r i l y o n s a m p l i n g , te s t in g a n d b a s i c i n s p e c t io n . T h e s e c o u r s e s r e q u i re d a s

a p re r e qu i si te a c o m b i n a t i o n o f e d u c a t io n a n d t e st in g e x p e r i e n c e a s p e r N E T T C P p o l i c y

( A C I C e r ti fi c a ti o n r e q u i re d f o r C o n c r e t e T e c h n i c ia n ) . T h e s e i n c lu d e d t h e H M A P l a n t

T e c h n i c i a n , S o i l s A g g r e g a t e T e c h n i c i a n , C o n c r e t e T e c h n i c i a n , a n d u n d e r s e r io u s

d i s c u s si o n p r e s e n tl y i s a H M A b i n d e r te c h n ic i an . T h e i n s p e c t o r g r o u p in c l u d es H M A

P a v i n g I n s p e c t o r , C o n c r e t e I n s p e c t o r ( u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t ) , a n d S o i l s A g g r e g a t e

I n s p e c t o r (t o b e d e v e l o p e d l a t er ). O t h e r e f f o r ts m a y i n c l u d e a p a i n t te c h n i c i a n c a t e g o r y .

T h e s e w i l l r e q u i r e a s a c o u r s e - r e q u is i te e d u c a t i o n a n d i n s p e c t i o n e x p e r i e n c e a s p e r

N E T T C P p o l i c y m a n u a l. L e v e l I I - t he Q C / Q A T e c h n o l o g i s t l ev e l is c e n t er e d p r i m a r il y

o n u n d e r s t a n d i n g Q C / Q A p h i l o s o p h y , c a l c u la t io n s o f P e rc e n t W i th i n L i m i t s ( P W L ) , e tc .

a n d c o n s i s t s o f t h r e e m o d u l e s . T h e f ir s t m o d u l e s a r e : M o d u l e I Q u a l i ty A s s u r a n c e

S p e c i fi c a ti o n s ( Q C / Q A ) - A n O v e r v i e w , M o d u l e I I Q u a l i ty C o n t r o l an d M o d u l e I I I

S t a t is t i ca l Con cep t s . L eve l I I I - P l an A dm ini s t r a to r i s sti ll i n the fu tu re .

Other ctivities

N E T T C P h a s t w o o t h e r a c t iv i ti e s, t h e f ir s t i s s t a n d a r d t e st m e t h o d s , a n d t h e s e c o n d

is s t a n d a r d t e st r e p o rt s . A s u r v e y w a s t a k e n o f t h e s ix N e w E n g l a n d S t a t e s t o d e t e r m i n e

w h i c h t e st m e t h o d w a s u s e d , A A S H T O , A S T M , o r o th e r . B a s i c a ll y , m o s t te s ts w e r e

A A S H T O , s o m e w i t h v a ri at io n , s o m e w e r e A S T M a n d s o m e w e r e s t at e -w r i tt e n

p r o c e d u r es . T h e b i g g e s t a r e a o f d i f fe r e n c e w a s f o r p o rt la n d c e m e n t c o n c r e te , s o m e


18/113

1 HOT MIX ASPHALT CONSTRU CTION

s ta te s u s ed A S T M a n d s o m e u s e d A A S H T O . T h e te s ti n g p r o c e d u r e s c o m m i t t e e i s

s l o w l y w o r k i n g o n g e t t in g t h e s ta t e s t o a g r e e t o u s e t h e s a m e p r o c e d u r e s s u c h a s

A A S H T O . T h e i n i ti a l e f f o r t s a r e w i th a g g r e g a t e t e s t p r o c e d u r e s .

T h e s t a n d a r d t e s t r e p o r t c o m m i t t e e h a s c o m p l e t e d i n it ia l e f f o r ts t o c r e a te a s t a n d a r d

t e st f o r m f o r te s ts r e q u i r e d u n d e r c e r ti f ic a t io n . A c o n t r a c t h a s b e e n a w a r d e d t o a f ir m t o

p r o v i d e a f i n is h e d p r o d u c t i n M i c r o s o f t E x c e l . A n o t h e r a c ti v i ty is a c o m m i t t e e w o r k i n g

w i t h N e w Y o r k S t a te o n r e c i p r o c i t y w i th r e g a r d s t o H M A P l a n t T e c h n i c i a n . T h i s is a

t i m e - c o n s u m i n g e f f o r t, w h i c h i s p r o b a b l y r e f l e c te d i n o t h e r s e c t io n s o f t h e c o u n t r y .

e f e r e n c e

[ 1 N e w E n g l a n d T r a n s p o r t a t i o n T e c h n i c i a n s C e r t if i c a ti o n P r o g r a m , P r o c e d u r e s ,

P o l ic i e s a n d R e g i s tr a ti o n P r o g r a m , N E T T C P , P .O . B o x

722

M a r s h f i e l d , M A 0 2 0 5 0 ,

1998.


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M ichae l M. Cass idy ~ and Scot t A. C onn er2

Asph al t Techn ic ian Certi fication The Rocky Mo unta in W ay

Reference

Cass idy , M. M. , and Conner , S . A. , A sp ha l t

Tech nic ian Cert i f icat ion

T h e R o c k y M o u n t a in W a y , H ot Mix Asphalt Construction: Certification a nd

Accreditation Programs A ST M STP 1378 S. Shuler, and J. S. M ou lthro p, Eds.,

Am er ican Soc ie ty for Tes t ing and Mater ia ls , W est Conshoho cken , PA, 1999.

Abstrac t Th e Aspha l t Techn ic ian Cer t i fica tion Program in C olorado i s one of fou r

p r og r a ms o f f e r e d by the R oc ky M oun ta in A spha lt E duc a t ion C e n te r l oc a te d in

Eng lewoo d, Colorado . Es tab l ished in 1996, the Labora tory for Cer t if ica tion o f Aspha l t

Techn ic ians (LabCA T) i s opera ted by the Colorado Aspha l t Pavem ent Asso c ia t ion in a

pa r tne r sh ip e f for t wi th the Co lorado Depar tment o f Transpor ta t ion (CD OT ) and the

Federa l Highw ay Adminis t rat ion . Th e LabCA T was deve loped to inc rease the

prof ic ien cy o f te s t ing technic ians and respond to the Federa l r equi rements o f having

qua l i f ied technic ians pe r forming sampl ing and te s t ing on Federa l -Aid Pro jec ts . Th e

objec t ive o f the L abC AT is to ce r t i fy technic ians d i rec t ly involved w i th ident i fy ing the

proper t ie s of the f ina l a spha lt p roduc t in any Q ua l i ty Cont ro l /Qua l i ty Assurance

( QC /QA ) p r og ra m.

Fou r ce r t i f ica t ion leve ls have been es tab l i shed for Aspha l t C ons t ruc t ion

Techn ic ians based o n m ate ria l tes t s on typ ica l paving pro jec ts . Th e ce r t i f ica t ion i s

va l id for a th ree -yea r pe r iod . Th e ce r t if ica tion leve ls are: L eve l A-Layd ow n; Lev e l

AB -La ydo wn and Aspha l t P lan t M ate ria ls Cont ro l; Leve l C-M ixture Volum etr ic s and

H vee m S tabi l i ty ; and Lev e l D-Sm oothness . A new leve l o f ce r t i fica t ion i s cur ren t ly

und er deve lopm ent . T i t led Lev e l E-Ag grega te Technic ian Cer t i f ica t ion , th i s leve l

wi l l have the same s t ruc ture a s the ex is t ing program leve ls bu t wi l l be based on the

Superpav e aggrega te te s t ing pro tocols .

As o f No vem ber 1998, 419 Aspha l t Co ns t ruc tion Technic ians have a t tended one

or m ore o f the ce r t i fica t ion leve ls a t the L abCA T. In i tia lly , the ce r t i f ica t ions w ere

based u pon the s tandard wr i t ten Colorado Dep ar tment of Transpor ta tion Procedures

(CP or C P-Labo ra tory) . In an t ic ipa t ion of r eg iona l r ec iproc i ty in a spha l t technic ian

ce r t i fica t ion and ce r t i f ica tion o f C i ty and Co unty pe r sonne l , in 1998 the prog ram was

mo d i f i e d to c e r t if y t e chn ic ia ns ba se d upon the AA S HT O Standard Specifications fo r

Transportation M aterials a nd Methods o f Sampling a nd Testing with approp r ia te

r e f e re nc e s to t he C D OT

Field M aterials Manual

a n d t h e C D O T

Laboratory M anual o f

Test Procedures.

K ey w or ds : h o t m ix aspha lt , a spha lt t echnic ian ce r t if ica tion , ce r t i fica t ion programs

Labo ra tory M anager , Rock y Mo unta in Aspha l t Educa t ion Center , Englewood , CO.

2 Assistan t Lab M anager , Rock y M ounta in Aspha l t Edu ca t ion Cente r , Englew ood, CO.

C o p y r i g h t9 1 9 9 9 b y A S T M I n t e rn a t i o n a l

11

w w w . a s t m . o r g


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2 HOT MIX ASPHALT CONSTRUCTION

n t r o d u c t i o n

Th e Aspha l t Tech nic ian Cer ti f ica t ion Program in Co lorado is one o f four

p r og r a ms o f f e r e d by the R oc ky Moun ta in Asphal t Educ at ion C e n te r R M AEC ) loc a te d

in En glewo od, Colorado . Opera ted as a separa te en ti ty , the L abora tory for Cer t i fica t ion

o f Aspha l t T echnic ians LabC AT ) was es tab li shed in 1996 to inc rease the prof ic ien cy

o f the aspha l t t echnic ians , improv e the re liab i li ty o f Qua l i ty Cont ro l and Qu a l i ty

Assurance QC /QA ) te s ting and inc rease the qua l i ty of aspha lt paving m ate ria ls

purchased by owner -agenc ies . Th e objec t ive of the ce rt i fica tion program is to ce r t i fy

those ind iv idua ls d i rec t ly re spons ib le for ident i fy ing the proper t ie s o f the f inal a spha lt

p r oduc t i n a ny QC /QA p r og ra m a nd the re f o r e t he qual it y le ve l. The L a bC A T p r og r a m

is a pa r tne rsh ip be tween the Colorado Depar tment of Transpor ta t ion CD OT ) , the

Colorad o Aspha l t Pavem ent Assoc ia t ion CAP A) , and the Federa l High way

Admin i s t r a t i on F HW A) .

The Rock y M ounta in Aspha l t Educa t ion Cente r RM AE C) inc ludes a fu l ly-

equip ped asphalt material test ing laboratory and is an A A SH TO accredited faci li ty .

O v e r v i e w

Th e proposa l for the C olorado Aspha l t Con s t ruc t ion Technic ian Cer t i f ica t ion

was the resu l t o f a jo in t e f for t be tween CA PA, CD OT and FHW A. Pr inc ip le contac ts

were Scot t Shule r , the CAP A Exec ut ive Direc tor ; Dennis Do nne l ly the CD OT Resea rch

Enginee r ; and Do yt Bol l ing , the Regiona l Pavement /M ate ria ls Enginee r , FH W A

Region 8 . Th e proposa l was submit ted to the Colorado Transpor ta t ion Com m iss ion in

Aug us t o f 1994 for approva l and a cont rac t be tween CD OT and CA PA was f ina l ized in

July 1995.

Fou r ce r t i f ica t ion leve ls were es tab l i shed for Aspha l t C ons t ruc t ion Technic ians

based on typ ica l te s t s requi red for Qua l i ty Cont ro l and Q ua l i ty Assurance program s and

are listed in Table 1.

Tab le 1 - Lab C T Levels of Certification

Level Cer t i f ica t ion

A

A B

C

D

L a y d o w n

Laydo wn and A spha l t P lan t M ate ria ls Co nt ro l

Volum etr ic s and S tab i li ty

Smoothness

The Aspha l t C ons t ruc t ion Tech nic ian Cer t if ica tion Programs a re s tand-a lone

cer t i f ica tions, but are a lways offe red sequentia l ly so individuals hav e the opp or tunity to

bec om e cer t i f ied in one or a l l of the program s. A ll cer t if ica t ions are based on the


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CASSIDY AND CONNER ON ASPHALT TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION 3

A m e r i c a n A s s oc ia t ion o f S t a t e H i ghw a y a nd T r a ns po r ta t ion O f f i ci a ls

Standard

Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing,

w i t h t h e C D O T Field Materials Manual a n d th e C D O T Laboratory Manual of Test

Procedures

re fe renced and incorpora ted in to the cou rse inst ruct ion , whe re approp r ia te .

Management Structure

T he CA P A ope r a te s t he L a bC A T i n a c oope r a t ive e ff o r t w i t h t he C D O T a nd t he

F H W A . T h e B o a r d o f D i r ec to r s o f th e R M A E C / L a b C A T i s c o m p o s e d o f th r e e

m e m be r s e a c h o f CD O T a nd CA P A , a nd one r e p r es e n t at ive o f t he F H W A . I n o rde r t o

broade n the sc ope and e f fec t iveness of the educa t iona l and ce r t if i ca tion program s

of f e r e d by t he RM A E C , t w o a dd it iona l m e m be r s w e r e a dde d t o t he Boa r d o f D i re c t o rs ,

a county representa t ive and a c i ty representa t ive .

Al l a spha l t t echnic ian ce r t i fi ca tions a re conduc ted a t the RM A EC /Lab CA T wh ich

em ploy s two fu l l - t ime ins t ruc tors , the Mana ger and Ass i s t an t M anag er of the R M AEC .

In addi t ion to the Board of Di rec tors, a t echnical g ro up has b een es tab l i shed to pro vide

input in to the requi remen ts and scope o f the ce r t i fi ca tion and ed uca t iona l p rogram s . The

t e chn i c al g r oup i s c om po s e d o f the R M A E C m a na ge r , t w o CD O T r e g iona l m a t e r ia l s

enginee rs , an FH W A represen ta tive , one coun ty represen ta tive , one cont rac tor

representa t ive , and two consul tant representa t ives .

The ormat

T he f o r m a t f o r t he A s pha l t T e c hn i c ia n Ce r ti fi c at ion P r og r a m i s c om po s e d o f t w o

par ts . The f i rs t pa r t i s a b r i e f c la s s room ses sion o f p resen ta tions on the bas ic pr inc ip les

of s ampl ing , sp l it ting and te s t ing procedures of Hot M ix Aspha l t HM A) m ate r ia l s and

the purpo se o f the tes ts . At the conclus ion o f the c lassro om sess ion, the par t ic ipants take

an open b ook , wr i t ten exam ina t ion . The second p a r t o f the program con s i s ts o f smal l

group dem ons t ra t ions of the sampl ing , sp li tt ing and t e s ting procedures by the Lab C A T

staff. During this port ion, the mo st cr it ica l aspects of each proc edu re are expla ine d to

the a t tendees . Af te r the dem ons t ra t ions , each pa r t ic ipan t is requi red to dem ons t ra te

prof i c i ency , in a c losed-b ook ses s ion , in each of the requi red procedures for ce r t i f ica t ion

to the Lab CA T Proc tor . To be com e ce r ti f ied , each pa r t i c ipan t m us t success fu l ly pas s the

wr i tt en ex am s ) and a l l o f the prof i c i ency dem ons t ra t ions requi red for ce r ti f ica t ion .

The Programs

Level A - Laydown

T e c hn i c i ans r e spons i b le fo r s a m p l i ng H o t M i x A s pha l t H M A ) a nd H M A

aggrega tes , and conduc t ing com pac t ion t e st s o f H M A c oncre te a t the l aydow n s i t e a re

requi red to hav e th is ce r t if i ca t ion . The p rof i c i ency requi rements for the L eve l A-

Lay dow n C er t if i ca tion a re l is t ed in Table 2 .


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4

HOT MIX SPH LT CONSTRUC TION

Table 2 - Prof ic iency Requirements fo r Leve l A

Procedure AASHTO CDOT

Practice for Stratified Random Sampling of Materials

Practice for Sampling Bituminous Paving Mixtures

Practice for Sampling Aggregates

Test Method for Reducing Field Samples of Hot-Mix

Bituminous Pavements to Testing Size

Test Method for Density and Percent Relative Compaction

of In-Place Bituminous Pavement by the Nuclear Method

Compaction Test Section Coring and Core Correlations

CP - 75

T 168 CP - 41

T 2 CP - 30

T 248 CP - 55

CP - 81

L e v e l AB L ay dow n and Aspha l t P lan t M a te r ia l s C on tro l

Technicians responsible for sampling HMA and HMA aggregates conducting

compaction tests and material process control at the HMA plant are required to have

this certification. The proficiency requirements for the Level AB-Laydown and Asphalt

Plant Materials Control Certification are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 -

Pro f ic i enc y R e qu ire me n ts f o r L e v e l AB

Procedure AASHTO CDOT

Stratified Random Sampling of Materials

Sampling Bituminous Paving Mixtures

Sampling Aggregates

Reducing Samples of HMA to Testing Size

Coring and Handling

Compaction Test Section

Nuclear versus Core Correlations

Reducing Samples of Aggregates to Testing Size

Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates

CP - 75

T 168 CP -41

T 2 CP - 30

T 248 CP - 55

T 248 CP - 32

T27 CP-31A

Table 3 cont inued


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C S SIDY ND CONNER ON SPH LT TECHNICI N CERTIFIC TION

T a b l e 3 - P r o f ic i en c y R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r L e v e l A B C o n t i n u e d

1 5

P ro c ed u re A A S H T O C D O T

T 11 C P - 3 1 B

a t e r ia l s F i n e r T h a n 7 5 - m ( N o . 2 0 0 ) S i e v e i n

M i n e ra l A g g r e g a te s b y W a s h i n g

T e s t M e t h o d f o r A s p h a l t C e m e n t C o n t e n t o f A s p h a lt

C o n c r e t e M i x t u re s b y t h e N u c l e a r M e t h o d

B u l k S p e c i fi c G r a v i ty o f C o m p a c t e d B i t u m i n o u s

M i x t u r e s U s i n g S a t u ra t e d S u r f a c e - D r y S p e c i m e n s

T h e o r e t i ca l M a x i m u m S p e c i fi c G r a v i t y a n d D e n s i t y

o f B i tu m i n o u s P a v i n g M i xt u re s

C o n t r o l C h a r t F a b r i c a t i o n

T 2 8 7 C P - 8 5

T 166 C P - 44

T 209 CP - 51

L e v e l C V o l u m e t r i c s a n d S t a b i l it y

T e c h n i c i a n s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d e te r m i n i n g m i x t u r e v o l u m e t r i c a n d H v e e m s ta b i li ty

c h a r a c te r is t ic s f o r H M A p r o d u c e d a t t h e H M A p l an t a r e r e q u ir e d t o h a v e t hi s

c e r ti fi c at io n . T h e p r o f i c i e n c y r e q u ir e m e n t s f o r L e v e l C - V o l u m e t r ic s a n d H v e e m

S t a b i l i ty C e r t i f ic a t i o n a r e g i v e n i n T a b l e 4 .

T a b l e 4 - P r o f i c i e n c y R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r L e v e l C

P ro c ed u re A A S H T O C D O T

S t ra t if ie d R a n d o m S a m p l i n g o f M a t e r ia l s

S a m p l i n g B i t u m i n o u s P a v i n g M i x t u r e s

S a m p l in g A g g r e g a t e s

R e d u c i n g S a m p l e s o f H M A t o T e s ti n g S iz e

R e d u c i n g S a m p l e s o f A g g r e g a t e s to T e s ti n g S i z e

A s p h a l t C o n t e n t b y N u c l e a r M e t h o d

B u l k S p e c if ic G r a v i t y o f C o m p a c t e d S p e c im e n s

T h e o r e ti c al M a x i m u m S p e ci fi c G r a v it y o f l i M A

C o n t r o l C h a r t F a b r i c a t io n

C P - 7 5

T 168 C P - 41

T 2 C P - 3 0

T 2 4 8 C P - 5 5

T 2 4 8 C P - 3 2

T 2 8 7 C P - 8 5

T 1 6 6 C P - 4 4

T 2 0 9 C P - 5 1

T a b l e 4 c o n t i n u e d


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16

H O T M I X S P H L T C O N S T R U C T I O N

Tab le 4 - Proficiency Requirements fo r Level C Continued

P r oc ed u re A A S H T O C D O T

T 246 CP - L 5106es t Method for Res i s t ance to Defo rmat ion and

Cohe s i on o f B i t um i nous M i x t u re s by M e a ns o f H v e e m

A ppa r a t u s

M e t hod f o r P r e pa ri ng a nd D e t e rm i n i ng t he D e ns i ty o f

H o t M i x A s p h a l t ( H M A ) S p e c im e n s b y M e a n s o f th e

S H R P G y r a t o r y C o m p a c ti o n

P r a c ti c e f o r V o l um e t r i c A na l ys is o f Co m pa c t e d H o t

M i x A s p h a l t (H M A )

TP 4 CP - L5115

PP 19 CP 48

Level D Smoothness

Techn ic ians respons ib le for mea sur ing sm oothness us ing the Ca l i forn ia ro ll ing

prof i lograp h a re requi red to have th i s ce r ti f ica t ion by a t tending the pro gram or by

pu r c ha s i ng t he v i de o ta pe ve rs i on p r oduc e d by CA P A . T he p r o f i c ie nc y r e qu i r e m e n t f o r

the Leve l D-Sm oothn ess Cer t i f ica t ion i s shown in Tab le 5 .

Table 5 - P rof i c i ency Req ui remen t for Leve l D

P ro ce d ur e A A S H T O C D O T

Ope ra t ion o f Mu l t i-Wh ee l P rof i lograph CP - 70

and Ev aluat ion o f Profiles , 0.1 inch (2.5

r a m ) ( F o r H o t B i t um i nous P a ve m e n t s )

perations

All ce r t if i ca tions t ake p lace a t the L abora tory for Cer t i f ica t ion of A spha l t

Technic ians (L abC AT ) c las s room and l abora tory loca ted a t 6880 South Yosem i te Cour t,

Su i te 110 , Englew ood, C olorado . The L abC AT conta ins a c la s s room, wi th sea t ing for

up to 24 a t t endees , and a fu l ly -equipped H M A tes ting fac i li ty . The fac i li ty cons is t s o f

seven l abora tory a reas where the t e s t ing dem ons t ra t ions and prof i c i ency demo ns t ra t ions

a re pe r formed . M any of the requi red t e s t s have m ul t ip le s t a tions in d i f fe ren t l abs .

Program Length

The l ength of the program depends on the des i red l eve l ( s) o f ce r t if i ca t ion . The

Leve l A Cer t i f ica t ion i s com ple ted in one day . The Leve l AB Cer t i f ica t ion is usua l ly

com ple ted in two days . The L eve l C Cer t i f ica t ion , o r Leve l AB C Cer t i f i ca tion is

typ ica l ly com ple ted wi th in th ree days . The Leve l D Cer t i fi ca tion i s a 89 - day course .


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CASSIDY AND CONN ER ON ASPHALT TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION 7

Program Materials

C l a s s r o o m t r a i n i n g m a t e r i a l c o n s i s t s o f i n s t r u c ti o n a i d s d e v e l o p e d b y t h e

L a b C A T a n d a g r e ed u p o n b y th e p r o g r am s p o n s o r i n g ag e n c ie s ( C D O T a n d C A P A ) .

S t an d a r d w r i tt en C o l o r a d o D e p a r tm e n t o f T r a n sp o r ta t io n C P o r C P L , o r A A S H T O

l a b o r a t o r y s a m p l i n g , s p l i tt i n g a n d t e s ti n g p r o c e d u r e s t o b e e v a l u a t e d w i l l b e p r o v i d e d t o

e a c h p a r t i c ip a n t . I n a d d i ti o n , l it e ra t u re p u b l i s h e d b y t h e A s p h a l t I n s ti tu t e , th e N a t i o n a l

A s p h a l t P a v e m e n t A s s o c i a ti o n , F e d e ra l H i g h w a y A d m i n i st r a ti o n a n d o t h e rs a r e u s e d to

s u p p l e m e n t t h e t ra i n in g a i ds d e v e l o p e d b y t h e L a b C A T .

Re Certification

E a c h c e r t i f ic a t i o n i s v a l i d f o r t h r e e y e a r s. I f a t t e n d e e s t a k e d i f f e re n t l e v e l s o f

ce r t i f i ca t i on a t separa t e t imes , t he exp i r a t i on da t es o f t he l eve l s wi l l be d i f f e r en t .

A s p h a l t C o n s t r u c t i o n T e c h n i c i a n s h a v e t o a t t e n d t h e c e r t i f i c a t i o n p r o g r a m e v e r y t h r e e

yea r s t o su s t a in t he i r ce r t i f i ed s t a tus.

Attendance

T h e t o ta l n u m b e r o f A s p h a l t C o n s t ru c t i o n T e c h n i c ia n s w h o a t t e n d e d t h e

C e r t i f i c a t io n P r o g r a m s i n c e 1 9 9 6 is g i v e n i n T a b l e 6 . t t m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t a

t e c h n i c i a n c o u l d a t t e n d o n e o r m o r e l e v e ls o f ce r t if i c at io n . T h a t is , a t e c h n i c i a n w h o

a t te n d e d t h e L e v e l A - L a y d o w n is c o u n t e d t h e s a m e a s a te c h n i c ia n w h o a t te n d e d

L e v e l A B C D - L a y d o w n , P l a n t M a t e r i a l s C o n t r o l , V o l u m e t r i c s a n d S t a b i l i t y , a n d

S m o o t h n e s s . T h e t e c h n ic i a n w h o a t t en d e d t h e L e v e l A B C D C e r t if ic a t io n h a d t o p a ss

f o u r w r i tt e n e x a m s , a n d d e m o n s t r a t e p r o f i c i e n c y i n f if te e n p r o c e d u r e s , w h i l e th e L e v e l

A t e c h n i c i a n h a d t o p a s s o n e e x a m a n d d e m o n s t r a t e d p r o f i c i e n c y i n e ig h t p r o c e d u r e s .

T a b l e 6 -

Number and Percent Passing of Attendees to the Programs

1 9 9 6 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 T o t a l

( t o N ov . ) ( t o da t e )

A t t ende es , 191 137 91 419

Pas sed a t In i t ia l At t em pt , 163 73 62 298

Perc en t Pass ed a t In i t ia l At t em pt , % 85 53 74 71

Pa ss ing a t F i r s t Re t es t , 17 50 16 83

P e r c e n t P a s s e d a t F i r st R e t e s t, % 9 0 9 6 8 9 9 3

A s c a n b e s e e n f r o m T a b l e 6 , t h e p e r c e n t p a s s i n g f r o m 1 9 9 6 t o 1 9 9 7 s h o w s a d e c r e a s e ,

w i t h a r e b o u n d i n t h e p e r c e n t p a s s i n g i n 1 9 9 8 . T h e r e a r e tw o r e a s o n s t o e x p l a in t h i s.

F i rs t , t h e k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e i n it ia l a t t e n d e e s t o t h e c e r t if i c a ti o n


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8 HOT MIX ASPHALT CONSTRUCTION

pr og r a m w e r e p r onounc e d . W he n t he s e c ond ye a r be ga n , the r e w a s a no t i c e a b le l a ck o f

kno wled ge and exp er i ence in the pa r ti c ipan t s a t temp t ing to pas s the ce r t i f ica t ion

prog ram . Th e d i f fe rence in t e s t ing exp er i ence is a m a jor fac tor for the inc rease in the

fa i lure ra te , and that leads to the second reaso n the percent pass ing de crease d in 1997.

W hen the ce r t if i ca t ion prog ram began in 1996 , the l abora tory prof i c i enc y

dem ons t ra t ions were an ope n bo ok prof i c i ency te st. The t echnic ian could look up

cer t a in pa r t s o f the s am pl ing , sp li t ti ng and t e s t ing procedures , i f neces sa ry . Th e

La bC A T s ta f f reasoned tha t when pe r form ing l abora tory t e st ing , i f a ce rt a in

tem pera ture or d ry ing t im e could no t be remem bered , the t echnic ians w ere t aught to

look i t up in the procedures manua l . In J anuary 1997 , the technic ians s eek ing to

be co m e ce r t if i ed began to read the procedures d i rec t ly f rom the l abora tory t e s t ing

ma nua l to the P roc tor when desc r ib ing how to pe r form a te st. I t was a t t h is po in t tha t

t echnic ians were requi red to be ab le to pas s the prof i c i ency demon s t ra tions in a c losed

bo ok e nv i r onm e n t . S i nce m a n y o f t he pa r ti c ipa n t s d i d no t s e e m to ha ve the e xpe r ie nc e

to pe r form the t e s t s in th is manner , t he pe rcen t fa il ing inc reased . As the w ord sp read

tha t the t echnic ians s eek ing ce r t i fi ca tion needed to kn ow how to cor rec t ly pe r fo rm the

prof i c i e ncy t e s t ing w i thout looking in the procedures m anua l , t he t ra in ing for these

ind iv idua l s inc reased be fore they were sen t to the LabC AT .

The n um ber of Cer t if i ed Aspha l t Cons t ruc t ion Technic ians , t he yea r o f

cer t i f ica t ion, and wh at level of cer t i f ica t ion wa s a t ta ined are given in Tab le 7.

Tab le 7 -

Num ber o f LabCA T Certified Technicians by Level and Year

Y e a r L e ve l L e ve l L e ve l L e ve l L e ve l T o t a l

A A B A B C A B C D A B D

1996 24 64 30 35 32 185

199 7 18 73 12 11 11 12 5

1998 11 33 11 13 5 73

To tal 53 170 53 59 48 383

Retests / Grading

Certification Requirements Each par t ic ipan t mu s t succe s s fu l ly pas s the wr i t t en

exam ina t ion(s ) and ea ch of the prof i c i ency dem ons t ra t ions in the l abora tory .

Par t i c ipan t s to the prog ram can reques t a re t e s t if : a ) the pa r t i c ipan t com ple ted the en t i re

pro gra m for the des i red l eve l o f ce rt i fi ca tion(s ); and b) rece ive d a fa i l ing score on the

wr i t t en exam ina t ion(s ) o r any o f the prof i c i ency demon s t ra tions .

Written Exam ination A pa s s ing g r a de r e qu i re s a m i n i m u m o f 80 pe r c e n t c o r r e c t

answ ers on each o f the wr i t ten exam ina t ions . Tes t s can be re t aken for s cores be lo w 80

percent , a m in im um o f two wee ks fo l lowing the f i r st f ai lu re .

Laboratory Proficiency Each

o f the l eve l s o f ce r t i fi ca t ion requi res prof i c i enc y


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CASSIDY AND CONNER ON ASPHALT TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION 9

d e m o n s t r a t io n s i n th e l a b o ra t o ry , i n a "c l o s e d b o o k " e n v i r o n m e n t . D e t a il e d

c h e c k s h e et s h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d f o r u s e a t t h e L a b C A T b a s e d o n c u r re n t A A S H T O

a n d C D O T s a m p l i n g , s p l it ti n g a n d t e s t in g p r o c e d u r e s f o r a s p h a l t m a t e r i a ls . A

c h e c k s h e e t i s u s e d f o r e a c h o f th e r e q u i r e d t e s ts f o r c e rt if i c a ti o n , w i t h q u e s t i o n s a s k e d

a n d c r i ti ca l s t ep s o f t h e p r o c e d u r e w e i g h te d b y i m p o r t a n c e to t h e t es t. T h e m a x i m u m

n u m b e r o f p o i n t s f o r t h e p r o f i c i e n c y t e s ti n g ra n g e s f r o m 1 00 to 2 5 0 p o i n ts . E a c h

p a r t i c ip a n t i s a l l o w e d t o m i s s 2 0 p o i n t s p e r p r o f i c i e n c y te s t. T e s t s c a n b e r e t a k e n f o r

p a r ti c ip a n t s w h o m i s s m o r e t h a n 2 0 p o i n ts o n a p r o f ic i e n c y d e m o n s t ra t io n , a m i n i m u m

o f t w o w e e k s f o l l o w i n g th e f i rs t f a il u re . W h e n t h e i n d i v i d u a l r e t u rn s t o b e r e te s t e d i n

t h e l a b o r a t o r y , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e r e q u i r e m e n t t o d e m o n s t r a t e p r o f i c i e n c y i n t h e t e st (s )

t h e i n d i v i d u a l f a i l ed , t h e y m u s t s u c c e s s f u l l y d e m o n s t r a t e p r o f i c i e n c y i n o n e t e s t t h a t

t h e y h a v e p r e v i o u s l y p a s

55255890 hot mix asphalt construction certification and accreditation programs

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