A Contractor’s Perspective on the PWL Challenge

This paper provides a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of using hot mix asphalt (HMA) specifications incorporating the percent within limits (PWL) methodology from a contractor’s perspective. Since the Federal regulations changed in 1995, requiring each State Highway Agency (SHA) to have in place an approved quality assurance (QA) program for materials used in Federal-Aid highway construction projects, many public agencies have transitioned from using method specifications to QA specifications. There are clearly some advantages, but unfortunately there are also several disadvantages associated with the use of the PWL methodology. There are basically two categories of disadvantages. One category includes the specific disadvantages associated with QA specifications themselves and the other category deals with the implementation of quality assurance specifications. In addition to a general discussion of advantages and disadvantages, specific examples are provided of both types experienced by a relatively large national contractor. Fortunately, over the past few years, both owner/agency and material supplier/contractor groups have recognized many of the disadvantages and these have been more clearly identified, understood, and are being addressed. The paper concludes with a series of unanswered questions, which challenge the basic philosophy for using the current QA specifications.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02702932
• Authors:
  • Hand, Adam J T
• Conference:
  • 2006 Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists: From the Proceedings of the Technical Sessions
  • Location: Savannah Georgia, United States
  • Date: 2006-3-27 to 2006-3-29
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: CD-ROM; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 955-984
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists
  • Volume: 75
  • Publisher: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)
  • ISSN: 0270-2932
  • Serial URL: https://www.asphalttechnology.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=9169&pk_association_webpage=19109

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction projects; Contractors; Federal aid highways; Hot mix asphalt; Implementation; Paving; Quality assurance; Specifications
• Uncontrolled Terms: Advantages; Disadvantages; Percent within limits
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Research; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01041374
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 2007 1:29PM