Fibre Pave

Technical Specifications

1. Description

Fibre Pave is a proprietary road surfacing system whereby a combination of bitumen emulsion, aggregate and glass fibres are combined as a surface treatment which is ideal for sealing and arresting cracked or crazed surfaces - concrete or macadam on roads, footpaths, cycle tracks, towpaths, car parks and all landscaped areas

2. Suitable Surfaces

Hot Rolled Asphalt
Concrete - but remove the laitance on new concrete first.
Dense Bitumen Macadam - applied directly to the base course or wearing course. On new Dense Bitumen Macadam the surface may need to be blinded with bituminous sealing grit and a double layer of Fibre Pave required.
Worn surface dressings and slurry surfacing.
Unbound granular sub-bases - if the substrate is open, it should first be blinded with <3mm dust. This fills the voids and minimises emulsion seeping into the base. For a more detailed specification on the preparation of such surfaces prior to the application of Fibre Pave, please see the separate recommended specification.

3. Surface Preparation

The existing surface should be swept clean and free from any loose stones, dirt or foreign matter. Any areas significantly affected by oil contamination should be cleaned by an approved method.

Fibre Pave does not have any regulating properties, so the surface must be prepared up to the finished level and profile before the Fibre Pave surfacing can be undertaken.

If the surface to be treated contains significant defects and potholes, these areas may need to be patched with a suitable proprietary material prior to receiving Fibre Pave.

Because Fibre Pave is a waterproof matrix, any depressions in the finished surface may result in ponding or standing water.

Trims, edgings and landscape works should be constructed prior to the application of the Fibre Pave surfacing.

Precautions should be taken to prevent binder being sprayed on to kerbs, service covers and other adjacent street furniture by appropriate masking.

For new works, the surface must be prepared in accordance with the Department of Transport Specification for Highway Works, - Series 700 - “Road Pavements - General”.

4. Material Specification

4.1 Binder

The binder is specifically formulated, rapid breaking, bitumen emulsion manufactured to BS434, Part 1:1984. This is normally a 70% solids content emulsion, sprayed at 85ºC, ±5ºC, through two parallel spray bars.

For high traffic stresses a polymer modified bitumen emulsion is used. This binder provides enhanced elastomeric properties increasing retention of fibres and aggregate.

For footpaths a specially formulated emulsion binder has been developed and is spray-applied through a purpose-built mini sprayer or through a hand-lance. The use of this harder grade binder is more suitable for low stress areas.

4.1 Glass Fibre

The glass fibre is E Class to BS 3691:1990. The glass fibre rovings are supplied, internally wound, in coils or “chesses”. A roving comprises 40 strands, each strand containing many parallel, 13-micron filaments.

Typically, the rovings are cut in 60mm lengths, which are distributed uniformly across and between the two parallel sprays of bitumen emulsion. Glass fibre spread rates are up to 120g/sqm (with additional binder rates of spread), depending on site requirements.

4.2 Aggregate

The aggregate consists of crushed rock, metallurgical slag or crushed gravel, which is uniform in quality.

The choice of single sized chippings will depend on the site and traffic density. For carriageway sites, the normal parameters required by national standards for surface dressing aggregates will apply, e.g. dust content, flakiness index, polished stone value and abrasion value.

For the decorative surfaces, Recomac Surfacing Limited can recommend a range of naturally coloured aggregates.

5. Maintenance and repair

Should the system be damaged or become debonded from the substrate it may be repaired by cutting the damaged area back to firmly bonded material, cleaning the prepared area using compressed air or a propane torch, masking the perimeter and reinstating to the original specification. For small areas this may be carried out using hand-applied material. Spray-applied material may be used for repairing larger areas.

6. Application Technique

Fibre Pave is applied through specially designed equipment which simultaneously sprays two films of binder and sandwiches a layer of chopped glass fibre between the two films. The total binder application depends on the nominal aggregate size, the site category and the rate of spread of glass fibre. (See the Application Specification below for more details.)

The glass fibre is uniformly distributed across the width of the mat, designed to achieve maximum resistance to cracking. The rate of application of the glass fibre strands is also variable to meet the design requirements. (See below.)

Immediately after the application of the binder/glass fibre sandwich, a layer of aggregate is spread at a sufficient rate to give a uniform single stone thickness, (except with racked-in dressings where an inter-lock is required between the two chipping sizes. (See below).

Finally, the surface is thoroughly rolled and opened to traffic. If required, the surface will be swept by an approved method.

The process can be applied as a single, double or racked-in dressing.

Fibre Pave is applied by machine, through standard carriageway or footway equipment, or alternatively, if the site, or access to it, is restricted, Fibre Pave can be applied through a hand-lance.

7. Application Specification

Fibre Pave is a proprietary process, the exact application specification is prepared according to the specific requirements of the client and the site, and thus the details below should only be used as typical examples. Binder application rates are generally in accordance with Road Note 39, 3rd Edition plus 10%.

7.1 Carriageways

Lightly Trafficked Roads A single or double coat of Fibre Pave is recommended
Material Bitumen Emulsion Glass Fibre Aggregate	Type/Size K1-70 Emulsion 60mm length, up to 60g/sqm Nominal 6mm or 10mm

Heavily Trafficked Roads A single coat of Fibre Pave is recommended, however, if the road is severely cracked or crazed a double application is recommended - see section 9.2.
Material Bitumen Emulsion Glass Fibre Aggregate	Type/Size Polymer Modified Binder 660mm length, up to 60g/sqm Nominal 6mm, 10mm or 14mm
Alternatively, a racked-in dressing would be recommended as follows:
Material Bitumen Emulsion Glass Fibre Aggregate	Type/Size K1-70 Emulsion 60mm length, up to 60g/sqm A combination of 14mm, 10mm, 6mm and 3mm as Appropriate

7.2 Unbound, granular sub bases

A double dressing is always used, applied as follows:
Coat One:
Material Bitumen Emulsion Glass Fibre Aggregate	Type/Size K1-70 Emulsion 60mm length, up to 90g/sqm Nominal 10mm
Coat two:
Material Bitumen Emulsion Glass Fibre Aggregate	Type/Size K1-70 Emulsion As applicable Nominal 6mm

7.3 Footpaths

Footpaths vary widely in the structure and composition, from bitumen macadam, granular bases, cement concrete to paving stones and slabs. All such surfaces have been treated successfully with Fibre Pave. For macadam and concrete footways a single or double application would be applied as follows:
Material Bitumen Emulsion Glass Fibre Aggregate	Type/Size Polymer Modified Emulsion 30 mm or 60 mm, up 60g/sqm Nominal 6mm 0r 3-5mm
For unbound granular footways, the application will be as 9.2 above except that the final layer of aggregate will be in the size range 3 - 6 mm.

8.General Notes

The foundation must be structurally sound and suitable for the application of Fibre Pave. Although Fibre Pave has tensile strength, it has no structural or regulation properties and as such the surface to be treated should be finished to final levels, Fibre Pave does not work to tolerances.

Fibre Pave is a veneer coat. The thickness of Fibre Pave is related to the average least dimension of the largest aggregate used, and the degree of penetration of the aggregate into the existing surface.

The above specifications are given as a general guide, if in doubt please contact Recomac

9. After Care

Depending on the client's requirements, the finished surface can either be:

A SWEPT, BOUND FINISH
The new Fibre Pave surface can be swept within 24 hours of application, depending on the traffic levels. In some instances, the binder may be more visible with lighter coloured aggregates

or

A LOOSE "CRUNCHY" FINISH
It is recommended that the new surface be not swept after application and the only maintenance treatment required may be to re-distribute the loose aggregate if it is tending to collect in certain areas, for example in the haunches or in the centre of the road.

10. Maintenance

It is recommended that a cyclic maintenance plan be implemented to maximise the life expectancy and appearance of the Fibre Pave. For example, weed killing and further sweeping.

If further maintenance of the Fibre Pave is required due to contamination, reinstatement works or damage to the surface, please contact us for assistance.

Depending on the level of traffic - vehicle or pedestrian - Fibre Pave should last 5 - 15 years.