For further information contact pavements@nzta.govt.nz
Published: 2022
This M01-A specification sets out the performance characteristics to be met by the binders used for asphalt manufacture. This specification is blind to the binder composition and so encompasses straight bitumen and polymer modified binders. The grade of binder is selected based on site climate conditions, heavy vehicle traffic volumes and speeds and relates to the performance in asphalt in terms of rutting and fatigue resistance.
Published: 2020
This specification (version 6) and notes (version 4) cover dense graded and stone mastic asphalt for roads and related applications. It covers areas including asphalt materials, asphalt mix design requirements, process control in manufacture and placement of asphalt, acceptance criteria for asphalt, quality systems, minimum process standards, plant requirements and sampling and testing frequencies.
Dense graded asphaltic concrete (M10)
Published: 2020
The M27 stone mastic asphalt specification (version 1) and notes (version 1) cover stone mastic asphalt used as a pavement surfacing layer for roads and related applications. The areas covered by the specification include stone mastic asphalt materials, stone mastic asphalt mix design requirements, minimum quality requirements for stone mastic asphalt at production, process control in manufacture and placement of stone mastic asphalt, acceptance criterial for stone mastic asphalt placed in a pavement, quality systems, minimum process standards, plant requirements and sampling and testing frequencies.
Published: 2012
This specification and guidance notes set out the performance requirements for: single coat reseals using sealing chip with an average dimension greater than 5.5mm; multilayer seals using sealing chips in the range of grade 2 to grade 6, as defined in Sealing chip M6 specification. This includes both wet and dry locking coats and texturising seals and void fills.
Note: Optional performance based specification.
Published: 2012
The NZ Transport Agency has released a pilot version of the P25 Specification for calcined bauxite. This is a performance-based specification for calcined bauxite applied with non-bituminous binder on an appropriate substrate. The expectation is that the surfacing (including the substrate) will have a life of 6 to 8 years with zero or minimal maintenance. This specification applies where the substrate is provided by the principal or the contractor.
Pilot specification for calcined bauxite (P25)
Published: 2003
This specification and guidance notes set out requirements for improving the macrotexture (texture) of a pavement surface using high-pressure water or grooving treatments.
Improvement of macro-texture by use of high pressure water and grooving (P26)
This specification is currently under development.
Published: 1995
The specification and guidance notes for first coat seals applied upon the finished surface of compacted granular basecourse pavement. The value of adopting the prime and seal technique should not be overlooked, particularly for low traffic density roads or where there is a high proportion of clay type fines in the surface layer.
Note: Use is mandatory on state highways and recommended on other road controlling authority roads.
Published: 1995
The specification and guidance notes for resealing on an existing sealcoat or primed surface. The term resealing in this specification includes second coat and texturising seals. Also includes dry grit locking coats.
Published: 1975
The specification for asphaltic concrete paving construction. The asphaltic concrete paving material nominated for use shall comply with the requirements for the grade as defined in the current edition of M/10 Asphaltic concrete. A provision is made for Auckland in 1992. Note: Use is mandatory on state highways and recommended on other road controlling authority roads.
This has been replaced by Dense graded asphaltic concrete (M10).
Published: 2007
This specification and guidance notes describe the required properties of open graded porous asphalt for use as a surfacing course for road pavements. This mix type is intended to be used as a surfacing where there is a requirement for texture depth, noise reduction and/or splash and spray suppression.
Note: Use is mandatory on state highways and recommended on other road controlling authority roads.
Open graded porous asphalt (P11)
Published: 2006
This memo provides information for using the attached New Zealand Supplement to the AAPA National Asphalt Specification.
This has been replaced by Dense graded asphaltic concrete (M10).
Published: 2022
This specification and notes set out the requirements for bitumen used for pavements in New Zealand.
The areas covered by the specification include:
The updates to the specification amend the requirements for bitumens imported in New Zealand. The approval process and physical characteristics requirements are the same as the previous version of the specification.
Published: 2024
This specification has been developed and published in support of the move to the use of bitumen emulsions for chip sealing. M02 provides a means for emulsions to be specified in resurfacing contracts.
The areas covered by the specification include:
Published: 2019
This specification sets out the material requirements for five size grades of sealing chip for use on state highways and other heavily trafficked roadways.
Note: Use is mandatory on state highways and recommended on other road controlling authority roads.
Published: 1975
The sealing chips shall comply with the requirements defined in the current edition of the specification for Sealing chips M6, and for supply only contracts, shall be of the size designated in the specific contract requirements of this specification.
Pre-coating sealing chips (M11)
Published: 1989
This specification and accompanying notes describe the procedure by which the contractor shall obtain approval for the nominated adhesion agent and dosage rate with each source of sealing chips that is intended for use on sealing work, except where emulsified asphalt binder (emulsified bituminous binder) is to be used.
Published: 2022
The M32 specification for high modulus asphalt (EME 2) (version 1) and notes (version 1) cover EME 2 high modulus asphalt for roads, industrial pavements and related applications.
High modulus asphalt (EME 2) (M32)
Published: 1985
This specification and guidance notes are to be appended to Resealing P4 (P/4) and shall apply where natural rubber latex is to be added to the bituminous binder for resealing purposes. The requirements of this specification extend and modify P4 and shall take precedence over the requirements of P4 where there is conflict.
Rubber latex in reseal binders (P5)
Published: 2009
Provides advice on the use of bitumen test results, both bitumen quality control records and verification testing.
Bitumen testing (TM6003): M01 Bitumen testing
Published: 2011
The procedure for assessing bitumens for acceptance by the penetration test shows the calculations used to set the acceptance limits shown in table 1 of M1 notes:2010. For use in cases where a bitumen meeting the penetration specification has been retested after delivery of a cargo or production batch from the manufacturer and found to be outside the NZ Transport Agency M1:2010 specification limits.
Procedure for assessing bitumens for acceptance by the penetration test (TM6004)
Published: 1981
This test procedure covers the determination of the average texture depth of a paved surface using sand to give the volume of voids. The method is suitable for the measurement of surfaces with average texture depths greater than 0.45mm (less than 350mm sand circle diameter).
Texture by the sand circle method measurements (T3)
Published: 1987
This test method covers the procedure for sampling and for determination of percentage fines, average least dimension (ALD), average greatest dimension (AGD), distribution of least dimensions and incidence of broken faces in grades 1 - 4 stone sealing chips.
Size, shape and grading of grades 1-4 sealing chips (T5)
Published: 2003
This method is a procedure for calculating the lighting kerosene content of cutback bitumen. This method applies to cutback bitumens manufactured from bitumen, automotive gas oil (AGO) and kerosene complying with the Roading bitumens M1 specification, including up to 1.5pph of adhesion agent. Materials containing rheology modifiers, such as polymer modified bitumen, cannot be analysed using this procedure.
Kerosene content estimation (T9)
Published: 2003
This method describes the use of the standpipe permeameter to assess the permeability of compacted hot mix asphalt pavement surfacings. This test measures the rate of ingress of water into the surface using a falling-head permeameter. This test provides the rate of ingress of water into a compacted bituminous surface.
Permeability of hot mix asphalt (T11)
Published: 2011
Test method to assess the long-term field durability (resistance to oxidative hardening) of NZ Transport Agency M1 penetration grade bitumens.
Durability test method for bitumen (T13)
Published: 2009
Provides advice on the use of bitumen test results, both bitumen quality control records and verification testing.
Bitumen testing (TM6003): M1 Bitumen testing
Published: 2020
This test method determines the binder content of an asphalt mix. It can be used by testing laboratories to determine the compliance of asphalt mixes to specified quality targets.
Quantitative extraction of bitumen from asphalt mixes (T22)
Published: 2024
The T30 laboratory test method is used to detect the presence of adhesion agent chemicals in cutback bitumen used as a binder for chip sealing. The use of adhesion agents is mandatory and the colour indicator test is used as a quality control tool to confirm that the agents have been added to the cutback bitumen binder.
Colour indicator test for the presence of adhesion agent in chip seal binders (T30)
