Circular No. 27/2014/TT-BGTVT on the management of quality of asphalt materials used in traffic construction projects

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the management of asphalt material quality used in

construction of transportation works

______________

Pursuant to Decree No. 107/2012/NĐ-CP dated December 20, 2012 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

Pursuant to Decree No. 15/2013/NĐ-CP dated February 6, 2013 of the Government on construction project quality management;

At the proposal of the Director of the Science and Technology Department,

The Minister of Transport issues this Circular to regulate the management of asphalt material quality used in the construction of transportation works.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the management of asphalt material quality used in the construction of transportation works.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals related to the supply and use of asphalt materials in the construction of transportation works, including:

1. Units supplying asphalt for transportation works;

2. Project owners, design contractors, supervisory contractors, and construction contractors of transportation works;

MECHANISMS AND POLICIES REGARDING THE PRICE OF AUCTION SERVICES FOR ASSETS THAT MUST BE SOLD THROUGH AUCTIONS AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

Asphalt (also known as bitumen) is the final product obtained from oil refining technology, consisting of high molecular weight hydrocarbon compounds such as: C_{For power plants invested under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, n is determined according to the operational period of the power plant stipulated in the BOT contract.}H_2n+2, C_{For power plants invested under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, n is determined according to the operational period of the power plant stipulated in the BOT contract.}H_2n, aromatic hydrocarbons (C_{For power plants invested under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, n is determined according to the operational period of the power plant stipulated in the BOT contract.}H_2n-6), and some heterocycles containing O, S, N; in its natural state, it has a thick, black consistency.

Chapter II

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

Article 4. Quality regulations for asphalt

1. Asphalt must be uniform, free of water, and not form bubbles when heated to 175°C. In addition to the naturally occurring compounds as specified in Article 3 of this Circular, asphalt shall not contain any additional chemical substances mixed in.

2. Based on the penetration index, asphalt is classified into grades: 20-30; 40-50; 60-70; 85-100; 120-150; and 200-300. The technical specifications of asphalt are set out in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Article 5. Sampling methods and testing procedures

1. Sampling method

Samples of asphalt to determine the technical specifications as provided in Appendix I attached to this Circular shall be taken according to the National Standard TCVN 7494:2005 (ASTM D 140) Bitumen - Sampling Method.

The technical requirements in this technical regulation are implemented according to the testing methods specified below:

Testing procedures corresponding to each technical specification of asphalt as provided in Appendices I and II attached to this Circular.

Chapter III

MANAGEMENT OF ASPHALT QUALITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSPORTATION WORKS

Article 6. Responsibilities of units supplying asphalt for transportation works

1. Regarding equipment and quality management system

a) Must comply with the quality management system according to the National Standard TCVN ISO 9001:2008.

b) Must have storage facilities, tanks (for tanked asphalt), transport vehicles, storage, preservation, and transportation procedures for asphalt.

2. Regarding storage and preservation of asphalt

a) For tanked asphalt: Must have storage tanks, heating systems, weighing systems, operational procedures, and quality control measures. Mixing different types of asphalt of the same grade but produced by different factories in the same tank is prohibited to ensure that the asphalt material quality meets the requirements set out in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

b) For drum-packed asphalt: Must have preservation measures to ensure environmental hygiene and prevent degradation of asphalt quality.

3. Regarding transportation

a) For tanked asphalt: Measures to control quality during transportation must be implemented. All outlets of the tank truck (top opening valve, bottom discharge valve, pump hose, and related equipment) must be sealed during transportation. Seals must be numbered, named with the unit's name, and clearly recorded on the delivery note, which must be cross-checked and opened by the direct user units.

b) For drum-packed asphalt: Drum-packed asphalt delivered to user units must ensure intact product labels, drums without holes or leaks.

4. Regarding product labeling

a) For tanked asphalt: The delivery note must clearly indicate the supplier, importer, asphalt grade, factory and country of production, import date.

b) For imported drum-packed asphalt: Must have product labels with complete information such as asphalt grade, importer, factory and country of production, import date, net weight, gross weight of the drum.

c) For hot-poured drum-packed asphalt produced in Vietnam: Must clearly indicate the packing unit, asphalt grade, importer, factory and country of production, import date, net weight, gross weight of the drum.

Article 7. Responsibilities of the Project Owner

1. Inspect the documentation of asphalt materials before their use in traffic works (certificates of origin, product quality, labeling).

2. Inspect equipment and quality management process documentation during the importation, storage, preservation, and transportation of asphalt materials supplied to traffic works by supplying units.

3. Inspect the test result certificates for asphalt to ensure compliance with technical regulations as stipulated in Appendix I and Appendix II issued together with this Circular.

Article 8. Responsibilities of the Design Contractor

Use only the specified type and grade of asphalt as provided in Appendix I issued together with this Circular in the design documents of construction projects for traffic works.

Article 9. Responsibilities of the Supervision Contractor

1. Inspect the documentation of asphalt materials before their use in the project (certificates of origin, product quality, labeling).

2. Directly inspect equipment and quality management process documentation during the importation, storage, preservation, and transportation of asphalt materials supplied to traffic works by supplying units.

3. Take samples of asphalt to test technical indicators ensuring compliance with technical regulations as stipulated in Appendix I issued together with this Circular before constructing concrete asphalt pavement, asphalt surfacing, asphalt infiltration, or other products using asphalt.

4. During the production of concrete asphalt mixtures, construction of asphalt surfacing, asphalt infiltration, or other products using asphalt materials, inspect the asphalt materials with the following technical indicators: Penetration, Softening Point, PI Penetration Index as stipulated in Appendix I issued together with this Circular.

Article 10. Responsibilities of the Construction Contractor for Traffic Works

1. Select asphalt materials for use in the project that meet the quality requirements and technical indicators as stipulated in Appendix I issued together with this Circular.

2. Regularly supervise and inspect the supply of asphalt (the supplier's commitments regarding grade, labeling, and transportation according to regulations must be reflected in the purchase and sale contract for asphalt materials).

3. Assign staff to ensure supervision and receipt of asphalt: inspect each seal of the tanker truck (for hot liquid asphalt), inspect labels and the integrity of drums (for drum asphalt) at the time of construction; limit the number of suppliers to two for a single project.

4. Retain all delivery samples daily on-site. Sampling must comply with regulations during the pumping of asphalt (for tanker asphalt) and during the unloading of asphalt from drums (for drum asphalt), and a confirmation record must be established and signed by all relevant parties on the asphalt sample. The retained asphalt samples must be stored and preserved for at least three months from the date of sampling for comparison, classification, and determination of the quality of asphalt supplied by different suppliers at specific times when there are issues with the quality of concrete asphalt pavement, asphalt surfacing, asphalt infiltration, or other products using asphalt.

5. Record in detail the receipt of asphalt materials and the production and construction of concrete asphalt pavement, asphalt surfacing, asphalt infiltration, or other products using asphalt, daily laying routes.

Article 11. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from September 15, 2014.

Article 12. Implementation organization.

1. The Director of the Ministry's Office, the Inspector General of the Ministry, the Heads of the Departments under the Ministry, the General Director of the Vietnam Highway Administration, the Directors of the Construction Management and Traffic Works Quality Control Department, the Heads of agencies and units under the Ministry of Transport, the Directors of Provincial and Central City Transport Departments, relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

2. The Science and Technology Department shall take the lead and coordinate with the Construction Management and Traffic Works Quality Control Department to guide and organize inspections on the implementation of this Circular.

3. In the course of implementation, if there are any difficulties, organizations and individuals shall report them to the Ministry of Transport for consideration and resolution./.