Tarmac driveway

[James1979]

I was on a site induction a couple of weeks ago. All the usual stuff for highway work. Head to toe hi vis. Boots gloves hard hat glasses. At all times.
Usually there is an understanding that glasses come off when on tar.
The health and safety bloke was adamant this wasn't ok tar is sticky and doesn't go flying around. What's more it instantly steams up your glasses making it impossible to see. His answer was work further away from it. Although failed to suggest exactly how to do this.

These blanket health and safety rules on site contribute absolutely nothing to safety. They stop people thinking for themselves, and are often cause more issues than they solve.

I have absolutely no problem wearing PPE when is appropriate. But I think the industry as a whole needs to shift there thoughts on PPE. The hse website states that hard hats must be worn when there is a risk of falling flying or moving objects. So if there is no overhead works and no machinery on site opperatives should have the choice to wear them. Likewise if there is no chance of dust or flying particles then glasses become redundant.

There are ‘glasses’ that either have mesh sides or mesh in place of lenses. They’re used by tunnellers I think amongst others, but I’ve seen road / Groundworks people use them when it rains

I don’t agree with blanket policies but it’s easy / lazy management of H&S. it also helps cover the lowest common denominator ie someone who just thick and is going to do something stupid

 

[qwakers]

Thanks for the input guys, I think I’m going to start on a smaller area first to get my hand in...

 

[Stupoty]

Caravan dwellers?

I had this very nice driving instructor many years ago, he was convinced all the random pot holes around the wales border area were caused by drive way laying caravan owners digging up and nicking little bits to do peoples driveways.

I kind of saw his point with some of them but it seemed like a lot of effort.



Stu

 

[Agrismith]

Thanks for the input guys, I think I’m going to start on a smaller area first to get my hand in...

To make it easier for yourself set the edgings higher than the finished surface level. Laying flat tarmac is a lot easier if you don't have to worry about coming in flush with the edgings.like wise avoid having manhole covers within the tarmac. Hire a Wacker plate from a proper plant hire firm. Not jewsons or Travis they stock belle which arnt good enough. You want bomag Wacker or Amman. You will need a hand tamper for the edgee these are expensive for what they are. Far cheaper to make. This is for the edges that a Wacker plate won't touch.
Buy a wooden spazle for the surface course and a tarmac rake for the base.
Get a 10 litre watering can to put the water on before compaction. If the Wacker plate or hand tamp get dry during use the tarmac will stick and ruin the tarmac.
Get a paint scraper to keep tools clean as you work. Covering the wheel barrow and rake/spazzle and shovel in diesel stops it sticking as badly. T99 is better and more environmentally friendly but is expensive.

When using the Wacker plate walk flat footed and try not to turn. Let it run forwards about 18inch and pull it back whilst lifting the back edge up.
With a Wacker plate it requires around 7 passes to reach compaction.
A ped roller take 4.
If you use a ped roller roll it without vibration on first.
Compact up hill where possible or the tarmac will run down hill with the compaction machinery.

If you are laying over tarmac or concrete cover it I'm taccoat or bitumen emulsion. And then lay a 25-30mm layer of your chosen surface course
If laying on type 1 then use 40-50mm of 20mm base and then 30mm of surface
If under heavy traffic then up this to 60mm base and 40mm surface.

Even a small patch needs 3 people especially if you are inexperienced.

All tools and materials are available from your local asphalt plant. I would recommend using Conway if possible they are the easiest to deal with especially for collection.

 

[qwakers]

This is what I was hoping, someone thats done it with knowledge to impart. this place never fails!

 

[8ob]

I reckon @Machinery restorations toes would curl if he read this thread

Bob

 

[sako243]

Don't know if it's the same with tarmac but when I've been rollering Type 1 and crusher run with a bomag roller I do half width passes (I.e. overlap by about 50% of the roller) and it produces a much better result.