AUSTROADS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ATS 3465

Coloured Surface Treatment

Contents
1. Scope.................................................................................................................................................................. 1
2. Referenced Documents..................................................................................................................................... 2
3. Definitions........................................................................................................................................................... 2
4. Quality System Requirements.......................................................................................................................... 3
5. Design and Performance Requirements..........................................................................................................3
General................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Colour .................................................................................................................................................................. 4
6. Constituent Materials......................................................................................................................................... 5
General................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Approved Products............................................................................................................................................... 5
Binder .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Aggregate............................................................................................................................................................. 5
7. Construction....................................................................................................................................................... 6
General................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Road Surface Preparation.................................................................................................................................... 7
Application............................................................................................................................................................ 7
8. Clean Up.............................................................................................................................................................. 8
9. Conformance...................................................................................................................................................... 8
10. Maintenance and Repairs................................................................................................................................ 10
Annexure A: Summary of Hold Points, Witness Points and Records...........................................................12

1. Scope
1.1 Austroads Technical Specification ATS 3465 sets out the performance-based requirements for the
supply and application of Coloured Surface Treatment (CST) to the road pavement surface in
applications such as:
a) cycleways / bike lanes;
b) bus lanes;
c) symbols, bars, arrows and letters;
d) threshold treatments for school zones;
e) threshold treatments for wildlife conservation areas; and
f) township entry treatments.

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2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents are referenced in this Specification:

Australian / New Zealand Standards

AS 1141.40 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates Polished aggregate
friction value - Vertical road-wheel machine
AS 1141.41 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates Polished aggregate
friction value - Horizontal bed machine
AS 1141.42 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates Pendulum friction test
AS/NZS 1580.601.1 Paints and related materials - Methods of test, Method 601.1: Colour -
Visual comparison
AS 2700S Colour Standards for General Purposes - Swatches
AS 4663 Slip resistance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces

Austroads
AP-C87-15 Austroads Glossary of Terms
ATM-250 Modified Surface Texture Depth (Pestle Method)
ATM-055 Polished Stone Value
ATM-020 Random Selection of Sampling or Test Locations
ATS 3050 Supply of Recycled Crushed Glass Sand

3. Definitions
3.1 In addition to the definitions in AP-C87-15, the following definitions apply to this Specification.

Binder: Resin used to bond the aggregate to the existing road surface
(1)
Defect: Includes loss of aggregate, bleeding, fatty areas, flushing, loss of skid
resistance, delamination and a non-conformance with the requirements
of Clause 9.
Defect Liability Period: The period for which the Contractor is responsible for repair of Defects
(1)
in the CST.
Priming Material: A substance used to clean and prepare the existing road prior to the
application of binder. Priming materials may be used to improve the
adhesion of the binder to the existing road surface.
Principal’s Registration Any scheme for the prequalification, registration or approval of
Scheme: products, quarries, manufacturers and/or suppliers in operation in the
jurisdiction where the CST is to be placed.
Protective Sealer: A substance used to protect and seal the CST from fuel and oil spills.

Note:
1. These definitions apply for the purpose of this Specification only, notwithstanding any other definition in the
Contract documents

4. Quality System Requirements

4.1 The Contractor must prepare and implement a Quality Plan that includes the documentation in Table 4.1.

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 Table 4.1: Quality Plan

Claus Description of Document

e
5.4 Design details
6.1 Details of constituent materials
6.5 Evidence of satisfactory product performance (if a Principal’s Registration Scheme does not apply)
7.1 Procedures and / or the manufacturer's instructions for surface preparation, application and clean-
up.
10.1 Details of the proposed treatment to repair a Defect

HOLD POINT 1.
Process Held Commencement of the application of CST.
Submission Details The Quality Plan must be provided to the Principal at least 10 working days prior to
the commencement of work on site.

5. Design and Performance Requirements

General
5.1 The Contractor must design and apply a CST which meets the performance requirements of this
Specification until the expiry of the Defects Liability Period.

5.2 The Contractor is responsible for:

a) the design of the CST, including selection of the materials;
b) inspection of each site and making any adjustment necessary to the design to account for the
condition of the substrate;
c) road surface preparation, supply and application of the CST and clean up; and
d) repair of any Defects until the expiry of the Defect Liability Period.

5.3 Unless specified otherwise, CST must not be applied to open grade asphalt.

5.4 The Quality Plan must include details of the CST design, including:
a) the methodology for the inspection of each site and making any adjustment necessary to the
design to account for the design traffic loading and the condition and texture of the substrate;
and
b) if the system uses low viscosity binders (i.e. <3 Pa.s) the explicit coating rate of the top-coat
binder.

5.5 The design must take the following into consideration:

a) the condition and stability of the underlying materials;
b) the local environment including, rainfall, temperature, humidity, dew-point, wind profiles, and the
presence of water conditions;
c) existing surface texture and porosity;
d) geometry including cross fall and grade;
e) drainage including surface drainage; and
f) the construction methodology and traffic management.

5.6 In addition to meeting the requirements of Clause 9, the CST must be:
a) able to withstand the action of traffic (e.g. acceleration, braking, turning and scrubbing forces)
without damage;

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 b) resistant to fuel and oil spills;
c) resistant to fading caused by exposure to UV light and sunlight;
d) non-flammable after placement and curing;
e) free from offensive odours after placement and curing;
f) able to be swept using a mechanical broom and cleaned with high pressure water without
damage;
g) free from any environmental contaminants such as lead and other heavy metals; and
h) chemically stable when subjected to prolonged ultraviolet radiation exposure.

Colour
5.7 If the colour of the CST is not shown on the Drawings or other Contract document, the colour must
comply with Table 5.7.

Table 5.7: Default Colour Requirements

Nominal Colour Colour Defined by AS 2700S

Red Preferred Colour
(for Bus Lanes) R13 – Signal Red
Acceptable Alternatives
R14 – Waratah
R15 – Crimson
R 53 – Redgum
R54 – Raspberry
R 62– Venetian Red
Green Preferred Colour
(for Bicycle Lanes) G13 – Emerald Green
Acceptable Alternatives
G16 – Traffic Green
G23 – Shamrock
Blue B24 – Harbour Blue
Yellow Preferred colour
(for Pedestrian Crosswalks & Crossings) Y14 – Golden Yellow
Acceptable alternative
Y13 – Vivid Yellow
Y42 – Mustard
Terracotta R52 – Terracotta
(for Local Area Traffic Management and Calming)
White N14 – White
(for pavement markings and pedestrian crossings)

5.8 For a nominal colour (as listed in Table 5.7), the Contractor must use a single colour defined by AS
2700S for all of the Works. For example, swapping from R13 - Signal Red to R14 – Waratah is not
permitted within a given locality.

6. Constituent Materials

General
6.1 The Quality Plan must include the following:
a) Properties, manufacturer’s instructions, safety data sheets and other relevant details for the:
i) materials used for cleaning the existing pavement surface (where required for removal of
surface contaminants): type and source;

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 ii) priming material (for concrete pavement): type and source
iii) binder: type and source;
iv) pigment materials; and
v) aggregate type, source, target particle size distribution and production tolerances, together
with test results evidencing compliance with this Specification, including the friction rating;
b) Evidence of registration (where applicable under Clause 6.4) of the materials or evidence of
satisfactory previous performance (if applicable under Clause 6.5).

6.2 The materials used in the CST must be the same as those nominated in the Quality Plan.
Substitution of materials is not permitted (refer Clause 7.8).

6.3 All test certificates must be prepared by a laboratory which is accredited for the test method to meet
the requirements of AS ISO/IEC 17025 by National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) or
International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ). Certificates must not be more than 6 months old
when submitted to the Principal.

Approved Products
6.4 Where a Principal’s Registration Scheme is in place for the supply of CST material, the material must
be a registered product which has been approved in accordance with that scheme.

6.5 If a Principal’s Registration Scheme is not in place for the supply of CST material, the Quality Plan
must include evidence of satisfactory performance of the proposed CST in a heavy urban traffic
environment, including records of the texture, skid resistance and colour of the CST for a period of at
least 5 years.

Binder
6.6 The Contractor must ensure that the binder will achieve the performance requirements of this
Specification. The use of paint or thermoplastic binders is not acceptable under this Specification.

Aggregate
6.7 The aggregate must be clean, hard, angular, durable, free from dirt, clay and organic matter, of
angular and uniform shape and uniform quality. Unless specified otherwise in the Contract
documents, the aggregate must comply with this Clause 6.

6.8 The aggregate must be pigmented to colour match the final product if it is not encapsulated in binder
as part of the treatment.

6.9 Unless specified otherwise in the Contract documents, the aggregate must be a one-sized aggregate
of nominal size 3 mm. The aggregate must have a minimum 95% passing 3.35 mm sieve and a
maximum 5% passing 1.18 mm sieve.

6.10 The aggregate must comprise of one of the following:

a) calcined bauxite;
b) recycled crushed glass (excluding glass beads);
c) natural sand;
d) a crushed aggregate sourced from a quarry where the source rock complies with Clause 6.12; or
e) a manufactured aggregate or product in accordance with Clause 6.13.

6.11 Any recycled glass must be manufactured and tested for contaminants in accordance with the
requirements in ATS 3050.

6.12 The source rock used for any crushed aggregate must comply with the Polished Aggregate Friction
Value (PAFV) or the Polished Stone Value (PSV) specified in Table 6.12. Testing of calcined bauxite,
recycled glass or natural sand for friction rating is not required.

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 Table 6.12: Friction Rating

Property Test Method Minimum Test Frequency (1) Acceptance

Criteria
PAFV (2) Either: 1 per 6 months of production ≥ 55
- AS 1141.40 and AS 1141.42; or
- AS 1141.41 and AS 1141.42
PSV ATM-055 1 per 6 months of production ≥ 55

Notes:
1. Unless the Principal approves a reduced frequency of testing.

6.13 The Contractor may submit a proposal to use manufactured products such as melter slag as
aggregate. Any such proposal must include evidence that the material meets the requirements of this
Specification, including the information required under Clause 6.5.

7. Construction

General
7.1 The Quality Plan must include procedures and / or the manufacturer's instructions for:
a) surface preparation, including removal of loose and foreign materials;
b) supply and application of the priming material (if applicable);
c) binder mix quantities and tolerances on mixing components;
d) mixing of binder (and components);
e) pot life of binder, i.e. maximum time between mixing and application of binder;
f) the method of measuring the pavement surface temperature;
g) application of the binder, including limitations on placement temperatures;
h) curing;
i) use of accelerants to reduce the curing time of the binder (if applicable);
j) supply and application of protective sealers / additional layer of coloured binder (if
applicable);
k) placement of the aggregate, including control of the spread rate;
l) method to determine the actual binder application rate and the aggregate spread rate; and
m) clean up.

Road Surface Preparation

7.2 Unless specified otherwise, CST must not be applied to an asphalt surface until at least 4 months
have elapsed since the asphalt was placed.

7.3 Immediately prior to the application of the CST, the Contractor must clean and prepare the road
surface to ensure that all raised pavement markers, oil, grease, dirt and any foreign material is
removed from the road surface. The cleaning must be in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions to ensure that the CST adheres to the road surface.

7.4 Cleaning and preparation must not cause damage to the road surface or structural damage to the
pavement. If the pavement has been damaged by the removal of raised pavement markers, the
pavement must be repaired prior to the application of the CST. All cleaning agents used to remove
dirt, grime, fuel, oil and other materials from the existing surface and collected material must be
removed from the Site and disposed in accordance with the environmental management
requirements included in the Contract documents.

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7.5 Prior to the application of CST, the Contractor must inspect the site to confirm the suitability of the
road surface for the CST and prepare a report recording all relevant details of the inspection. The
report must identify any areas of an existing pavement that require repair prior to the application of
the CST. If requested by the Principal, the Contractor must permit the Principal to also attend the
inspection.

HOLD POINT 2.
Process Held Application of CST
Submission Details Report of the inspection must be submitted to the Principal at least 2 working days
prior to the commencement of the application of the CST. However, if the report
identifies that the existing pavement requires repair prior to the application of the
CST, the Hold Point is not released until the repair is complete.

7.6 Unless specified otherwise in the Contract documents:

a) the following must be masked to prevent the application of CST to the surface:
i) the outside of the boundaries of the Lot, including kerb and channel;
ii) existing road surface delineation;
i) lifting mechanisms and joins between the lid and frame of pits so that the CST does not
impede lifting and replacing lids;
ii) saw cuts that exist due to the installation of traffic detector loops (using tape less than 50 mm
wide);
iii) drainage grates and frames; and
iv) Service pits and valve covers less than 0.03 m²;
b) large pits and valve covers must not be masked so that the CST is applied to the surface:

Application
7.7 The Contractor must apply the CST to achieve:
a) an effective bond between the binder and the road surface;
b) an effective bond between the binder and aggregate, and
c) a visually uniform, coloured surface with edges that provide a neat and clean line onto the
adjacent surface.

WITNESS POINT 1.
Process Application of CST
Notification Period At least 1 working day (not less than 24 hours) before the commencement of the
application of the CST.

7.8 If the Contractor proposes to change the design from that approved by the Principal, the details of
the revised design must be submitted to the Principal and Hold Point 1 will reapply.

7.9 The following applies to the application of the CST:

a) the surface on which the CST is to be placed must be dry;
b) precipitation or dew formation must not be occurring or likely to commence during application;
and
c) the pavement temperature and weather conditions must be within the range specified in the
manufacturer’s instructions or applicable installation procedure.

7.10 The Contractor must measure and record air temperature, any adverse weather conditions (e.g.,
dust, strong wind) humidity, dew point and pavement temperature at the Site. The records must be
taken at the following times:
a) one hour before application of the binder, and
b) hourly thereafter until the binder is cured and the CST is ready for trafficking.

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7.11 A wet / dry bulb hygrometer must be used to measure the dew point and relative humidity.

7.12 Priming material (where applicable), binder and aggregate must be uniformly applied over the area to
be treated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The actual application rate of each
constituent material must be recorded and included in the construction lot record for each Lot.

7.13 The Contractor must take all necessary precautions to:

a) prevent unintended application onto adjacent surfaces; and
b) protect the newly placed CST from damage and/or contamination until it has developed sufficient
strength to carry vehicular traffic without damage.

7.14 The Contractor must record the weather conditions, location, width, area, application rates of binder,
priming material and aggregate immediately after completion of each Lot and submit a report of the
information to the Principal on the same day that the work is performed. The report must identify any
non-conforming work and the proposed corrective action.

8. Clean Up
8.1 All surplus material must be removed from the Site. Prior to opening the CST to traffic:
a) all masking tape must be removed, and
b) excess aggregate must be removed from the Site, including the roadway, kerb and channel,
driveways and any adjacent trafficked and un-trafficked areas.

8.2 Unless directed otherwise by the Principal, the Contractor must inspect the Site at 1 day, 3 days and
14 days after placement and remove any loose material which has been identified at the inspection.

9. Conformance
9.1 Unless specified otherwise in the Contract documents, from the time of placement until the end of the
Defects Liability Period, the CST must have a visually uniform appearance and comply with the
requirements in Table 9.1.

Table 9.1 Conformance Requirements

Property Test Method or Test Frequency Requirement

Inspection
Procedure
Slip Resistance AS 4663 5 tests from the first Minimum mean SRV per Lot ≥ 55 British
Value (SRV) (1) Appendix A (2) Lot. (3) Pendulum Number, with no individual
Testing must be result < 50.
completed in the
trafficked wheel
paths. (4)
Surface Texture ATM-250 (2) 5 tests from the first ≥ 0.6 mm
Depth Lot. (3)
Testing must be
completed in the
trafficked wheel
paths. (4)
Colour Refer Clause 9.3 One per Lot. The colour must be an approximate
match to the specified colour
Delamination Visual inspection One per Lot. Area of CST that has delaminated from
underlying road surface:
≤ 1% in any square metre, and
≤ 0.1% of the total area of work.
Stripping or Visual inspection One per Lot. Area of CST that has stripped (i.e. loss
Ravelling

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 Property Test Method or Test Frequency Requirement
Inspection
Procedure
of aggregate and/or binder):
≤ 1% in any square metre, and
≤ 0.1% of the total area of work.

Notes:
1. Testing must be performed in the direction of vehicle travel using Slider 55 (TRL rubber) with temperature
corrections applied to the SRV. The lane designation (inner wheelpath, outer wheelpath or between the
wheelpaths) must be reported for each test location.
2. Random stratified sampling in accordance with ATM-020 must be used to determine the longitudinal location
of the test. However, the Principal may direct additional testing at any location prior to the expiry of the
Defects Liability Period.
3. Additional testing of subsequent Lots is required where a non-conformance is recorded, or lots are not
visually consistent with the first lot, unless directed otherwise by the Principal.
4. Additional tests may be specified in the Contract documents where cycleways / bike lanes or other
pedestrian areas are treated.

9.2 Testing of each property specified in Table 9.1 must be carried out twice, at the following times:
a) Test 1 to be undertaken between 14 and 28 days after placement.
b) Test 2 to be undertaken no sooner than 2 months before the end of the Defects Liability Period.

9.3 The colour is to be assessed by a visual inspection carried out during daylight. The surface must be
clean. If necessary, the surface must be lightly sprayed with water from a hand-held spray bottle so
that the area being assessed is wet and then lightly wiped with a hand-held cloth. If requested by the
Principal, the inspection must be a joint inspection. If the Principal does not agree with the
Contractor’s assessment of the colour, the CST must be sampled and assessed in accordance with
AS/NZS 1580.601.1. The colour is deemed to be conforming if rating 3 “approximate match” or better
is achieved.

9.4 The Principal may waive the requirement for testing of the surface texture following a visual
inspection of the CST.

9.5 A Lot must comply with the following:

a) the Lot must be a single batch or area of like work which has been constructed under essentially
uniform conditions and is essentially homogeneous with respect to material and appearance; and
b) the maximum area of the Lot is the lesser of the day’s production and 500 m2.

9.6 Discrete portions of a Lot which do not comply with Clause 8.4 must be excluded from the Lot and
either treated as a separate Lot or rectified. Where the areas excluded from a Lot exceed 20% of the
total lot area, the whole of the Lot is non-conforming and must rectified.

9.7 Within 5 working days of completing the testing, the Contractor must submit a report to the Principal,
which at a minimum includes the following information for each Lot:
a) date, commencement time and completion time;
b) location and dimensions;
c) weather conditions (refer Clause 7.10);
d) actual application rate of each constituent material (refer Clause 7.12); and
e) test records (including records of the inspections) demonstrating compliance with Table 9.1.

10. Maintenance and Repairs

10.1 The Quality Plan must include details of the proposed treatment to repair a Defect in the CST.

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10.2 From the time of completion of the CST until the expiry of the Defect Liability Period, the Contractor
must:
a) carry out any work necessary to protect and maintain the surface; and
b) repair any Defect so that the surface complies with the requirements of this Specification.

10.3 Where a Defect is repaired, the new CST must extend to the full width of the originally treated area
and the other edges of the repair must be perpendicular to the lane lines.

10.4 The Contractor is not responsible for Defects caused by:

a) settlement or failure of the existing pavement (unless the pavement was constructed by the
Contractor); and
b) damage (including gouging and fire damage) caused by traffic incidents.

10.5 The Contractor must undertake the repair within 28 days of becoming aware of a Defect. If the
Defect is likely to create a hazardous situation for road users or the Principal advises that the repair
is urgent, the repair must commence within 24 hours of the Contractor becoming aware of the
Defect.

10.6 The following areas are excluded from this Clause 10:
a) all service pits and valve covers with a surface area < 0.03 m2;
b) traffic detector loops; and
c) pedestrian crossings – the white pavement markings and designated travel path of pedestrians.

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 ATS 3465 Coloured Surface Treatment

10.7 If the Contractor has repaired defective work, the Contractor must submit a report to the Principal
within one month (or such other time directed by the Principal), which at a minimum includes the
following information for each Defect:
a) the date the Contractor became aware of the Defect;
b) the date the Defect was rectified;
c) the method of rectification;
d) the dimensions of the new CST; and
e) a photographic record of the completed repair.

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 ATS 3465 Coloured Surface Treatment

Annexure A: Summary of Hold Points, Witness Points and Records

The following is a summary of the Witness Points / Hold Points that apply to this Specification and the
Records that the Contractor must submit to the Principal to demonstrate compliance with this Specification.

Clause Hold Point Witness Point Record

4.1 Commencement of the Quality Plan
application of CST
7.5 Application of CST Record of Site inspection
7.7 1. Application of CST
9.7 Report for each Lot
10.7 Report of Defect repairs

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 ATS 3465 Coloured Surface Treatment

Amendment Record
Amendment Clauses amended Action Date
no.
- New specification New November 2023

Key

Format Change in format

Substitution Old clause removed and replaced with new clause
New Insertion of new clause
Removed Old clauses removed

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