Publications

Britpave has been working closely with Highways England on the concrete pavements manual. It brings together the latest advice to provide comprehensive guidance on maintaining concrete pavements and sets out the commonly used investigation techniques and how these can be used to investigate both the condition of, and diagnose defects in, concrete pavements Pub. 2021

The Britpave Soil Stabilisation Task Group has published a new report outlining the benefits of using soil stabilisation for improving and strengthening subgrade and foundations for roads and heavily trafficked areas. It includes a number of case studies that prove taking a ‘ground-up’ approach by using soil stabilisation provides roads and other heavily trafficked areas that are stronger with better long-term performance at reduced cost and offering improved sustainability.

This document is for the use of Top Level Budget Holders (TLBHs) for application by the Project Sponsors and their Project Managers, Property Managers (PROM), Establishment Works Consultants (EWC), Works Service Managers (WSM) and other parties involved with airfield pavement works. Pub. 2018

Design and evaluation methods Explains why joints are required in an un-reinforced rigid concrete pavement and incorporates the results of questionnaires sent to a number of airfield operators. The guidance covers current practice and flags up issues of concern, providing information on the design, specification, construction, maintenance and performance of concrete joints. Pub. 2002

Design and evaluation methods The four major methods of designing airfield pavements are compared and assistance is given in the task of deciding which one to use, based on three criteria that covers construction practice; failure condition, evaluation of strength of existing pavements and their limitations. The UK designs from the PSA and BAA are discussed and their background is explained. Pub. 2002

Principles of design and assessment Provides a background to the basic principles of design and evaluation, including input throughout the whole life-cycle of a rigid airfield pavement. It covers structural behaviour, explains how a design thickness is obtained and includes information on modes of deterioration, pavement and sub-grade characteristics and aircraft loadings. Pub. 2003

Surface finish, regularity and texture Covers the principles governing the requirements and current specification for surface finish, regularity and texture of concrete airfield pavements. Problems with surface finish are illustrated and remedial measures discussed. The importance of texture is covered along with a range of methods of achieving it, both in fresh and hardened concrete. Pub. 2007

Rigid airfield pavements This guidance note provides advice to designers and constructors on the use of keys to provide load transfer at longitudinal joints in concrete airfield pavements. The guidance note describes the requirement for load transfer at joints, the potential advantages of using a keyed joint, historical practice and performance, design methods and construction practice. Pub. 2008

Rigid airfield pavements This guidance note provides the background to the materials used in the design and production of Pavement Quality Concrete. The document is aimed at clients, project managers and engineers involved in the design and construction of concrete airfield pavements and require an understanding of Pavement Quality Concrete. This document is not designed to be a detailed document but will identify key characteristics of airfield pavement concrete. Pub. 2013

A review of papers worldwide found that it is generally accepted that slab track offers a cost-effective alternative to ballasted track if the two systems are compared in terms of life-cycle costs. The study went on to provide a methodology for estimating the commercial case and the wider economic, social and environmental benefits of adopting slab track technology. Pub. 2003

Developed as a sequel to the Guided busway  design handbook, this sets out best practice for highway and busway schemes constructed in slip-formed, in-situ concrete. It gives advice on design aspects influenced by the construction techniques, concrete production and supply, surface textures and smoothness and interfaces with the construction process. Pub. 2006

This report identifies that, although it is generally accepted in the rail industry that slab track provides benefits in terms of safety when compared with traditional ballasted track, there was surprisingly little published information. Some important research papers are reviewed and the way forward in promoting the safety case for slab track is proposed. Pub. 2003

Describes concrete slab track, its benefits, systems, suitable applications and 5 reasons to choose slab track. Pub. 2011

The report found that existing European and infrastructure owner standards provided sufficient general guidance on concrete slab track but that these had been prepared within the context of ballasted track and did not address the characteristics of slab track. Aspects specific to slab track, such as design, transition zones, testing and commissioning and decommissioning, are not covered in available standards. Pub. 2004

Describes an evaluation of the life-cycle energy use impacts of ballasted track bed and two generic concrete slab track beds: cast-in sleeper and embedded track systems. The analysis took into consideration the manufacturing, construction, maintenance, dismantling and recycling of track bed components. It showed that concrete slab track beds are not associated with higher life-cycle energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission when compared with ballasted track bed. Pub. 2007

A free publication outlining the Whole Life (and other) Benefits of Concrete Slab Track Pub. 2016

Provides general design guidance on solutions for low noise and low vibration slab track Pub. 2016

Accounting for two out of three public transport journeys, the humble bus plays an important, and can play an even greater, role in improving local commuting, reducing congestion and carbon emissions and creating more liveable cities. Pub. 2017

This 2017 version of the Guided Busway Design Handbook updates two important chapters. Chapter 3: Geometrical Design of Guideway and Chapter 9: Construction. Pub. 2017

Covers the practicalities of concreting road pavements in ambient temperatures around and below the freezing point of water. It gives information on planning, concrete temperatures at mixing and placing, pre-concreting preparations, protection after laying and admixtures. Pub. 2012

The publication provides information on the truck lane solution and its benefits to the environment, reduced maintenance, buildability and application.

Reviews the results of a joint Highways Agency/Britpave project to examine the immediate trafficking of a range of cement bound materials. The report identifies those mixtures that can be trafficked early and those that require a curing period. Pub. 2005

New edition 2023. Prepared for all those concerned with hardstandings trafficked by heavy goods vehicles and forklift trucks, it explains the simple steps that can be taken to ensure their long-term performance. Covers design, site appraisal, sub-grade, sub-base, concrete mix and construction, thickness design, joints, surface characteristics and integrated design.

Addresses the practicalities of mix-in plant production and laying hydraulically bound mixtures (HBM) in ambient temperatures around and below the freezing point of water. Provides guidance and recommendations for the successful laying of HBM in low winter temperatures. Pub. 2015

The benefits of concrete motorway pavements have been known for some time and many stretches of concrete motorway have been maintenance free for decades, frequently exceeding their design lives. These technical guidelines explain the benefits of using concrete as part of an integrated design approach, with particular emphasis on the pavement layers, where new design guidance creates the opportunity for maximising whole-life value and minimising ongoing maintenance requirements. Pub. 2015

The guide examines a number of concrete pavement options that, although tested and proven overseas, have yet to gain widespread adoption in the UK despite their whole life cost, noise reduction, long-term performance and minimum maintenance benefits. The options discussed include Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements (CRCP), Exposed Aggregate Concrete Surface (EACS) Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC), Groove and Grind and Whitetopping. The guide also forwards a number of applications where concrete roads could provide roads that in the future earn their keep. Pub. 2018

This guide outlines the benefits of concrete motorway barriers. These benefits include superior vehicle containment to reduce the risk of crossover accidents, a performance life of at least 50 years with minimum maintenance, minimal land take, the use of recycled aggregates and full end-of-life recyclability plus a wide range of available barrier types. With such a range of benefits, it is little wonder the concrete central barriers are the default option for motorways and trunk roads where the average annual daily traffic level is 25,000 vehicles per day or more. Pub. 2020

Britpave, has published a new guide that provides an explanatory overview of horizontal slipform paving for infrastructure projects such as roads, rail tracks, busways, barriers and drainage. Horizontal slipforming is the on-site process of constructing continuous concrete elements. It involves concrete being poured into continuously moving plant. This is then vibrated and extruded from the specially designed attached formwork mould to produce the required profile. In particular, the new guide highlights how horizontal slipform paving offers a fast way to deliver a wide range of concrete construction and performance benefits including increased productivity, minimum maintenance and long-term performance. ‘An introduction to horizontal slipform paving: guidelines for best practice’ is available as a free download from: www.britpave.org.uk/publications Pub. 2020

The guide explains how the use of nuclear density gauges avoids the need to take cored samples from a newly laid concrete pavement for non-intrusive testing of concrete strength and in-situ density. The latest edition of the Specification for Highway Works has adopted strength compliance requirements based on cubes and specifies that, with the exception of the trial length, the density of a concrete pavement should be determined by non-destructive methods. It is for the contractor to propose a suitable non-destructive testing method for approval. The guide outlines the non-destructive testing approach for density and for the nuclear density gauge calibration the pavement concrete mix. It also provides a methodology for nuclear density gauge testing and a series of worked examples. Pub. 2020

This brochure outlines and underlines the wide range of environmental and economic reasons why the road ahead should be concrete. Pub. 2021

Roller Compacted Concrete. This guide describes the benefits, properties and application of RCC, provides recommendations on mix design and materials selection, and discusses applicable design methods, construction methodology and techniques. The guide was reviewed and updated in 2022 Pub. 2022

Britpave member Blue Phoenix and Aecom has undertaken site trials that underline not only the environmental benefits of Incinerator Bottom Ash Aggregate (IBAA) but also how the use 0/16mm IBAA can fully meet performance benefits of specifications CD225 and the MCHW Series 800. Pub. 2022

Gives guidance on the two-stage stabilisation of cohesive soils, such as clay, using lime followed by cement, pfa and/or ggbs to produce a strengthened sub-base or base. Covers specification, site investigation, mix design, construction and testing. Pub. 2004

Describes the European standard BS EN 14227 issued in November 2004 that covers hydraulically bound mixtures for road and other pavements. Explains how the new mixtures compare with those specified for use before that date and gives guidance on their selection and specification. Pub. 2005

Provides design and specification guidelines for clients, designers and contractors wishing to use hydraulically bound mixtures for heavy-duty paving in areas subject to wheel/axle loading in excess of that permitted on public roads. Also covers mixture design, construction and control testing and includes a useful glossary of terms. Pub. 2007

Provides design and specification guidelines for clients, designers and contractors wishing to use hydraulically bound mixtures for residential and commercial road pavements. Also covers mixture design, construction and control testing and includes a useful glossary of terms. Pub. 2007

Provides design and specification guidelines for clients, designers and contractors wishing to use hydraulically bound mixtures for parking areas and hardstandings. Also covers mixture design, construction and control testing and includes a useful glossary of terms. Pub. 2007

These guidelines for the stabilisation of sulfate bearing clays are based on current knowledge and experience. They aim to explain the mechanisms that cause sulfate heave, recommend methods for sampling and testing for sulfates and sulphides and describe measures to minimise the risk of sulfate-related disruption. This publication is an update of the original version, which was published in 2005. Pub. 2011

Cores were taken as part of a UK Highways Agency project that assessed the performance of treated soft rocks and cohesive soils for road pavement foundations. This paper compares the properties of these cores with the original & current specifications, and the construction results for the treated layers. Pub. 2017

This report reviews the test methods used to assess the potential for treated/stabilised soils to swell or disintegrate because of the presence of sulfates or sulphides in the soil. Pub. 2013

This document is an introductory and technical guide to mix-in-place soil improvement and stabilisation. It outlines industry best practice and provides technical information plus signposts to industry standards and further reading. Revised 2019. Pub. 2019

A range of project, product and site cases studies proving that implementation of industry best practice will deliver the environmental and cost benefits of soil stabilisation. Pub. 2020

Making the case for the use of soil stabilisation by highlighting the range of environmental and economic benefits. Pub. 2021

This report explains the environmental benefits of using soil stabilisation. Not least of which is the rehabilitation of brownfield land to reduce the pressure to build on greenfield sites, reduced use of virgin aggregates, reduced landfill, reduced lorry traffic. Pub. 2022

This case study examines the potential that soil stabilisation offers for residential developments on difficult sites. The Gifford Lea retirement village Tattenhall project is one of two firsts: the first documented use of lime to improve soils for a residential development and the first such project to receive a comprehensive industry warranty. Pub. 2022

This publication is one of two parts. Firstly, it outlines the benefits of soil stabilisation. Secondly, it provides a number of technical case studies from the HS2 project that demonstrate the potential of soil stabilisation to produce high performance materials for civil engineering use. Pub. 2023

2022 has seen heavy flooding and extreme heatwaves. Both are indicative of the impacts of climate change. Both have had detrimental impacts on UK transport networks. In this report, Britpave calls for transport infrastructure that can cope with extreme weather events. Pub. 2022