An Industry Perspective of the

AASHTO

National Transportation

Product Evaluation

ProgramJim Goddard

Chief Engineer

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

Traffic Safety

Information and test results on the traffic safety products evaluated

through NTPEP, such as: pavement marking materials, sign sheeting

materials, raised pavement markers and temporary traffic control

devices.

Construction

Information and test results on the construction materials evaluated

through NTPEP, such as: geotextiles, erosion control products, plastic

pipe, concrete curing compounds and admixtures.

Maintenance

Information and test results on the maintenance materials evaluated

through NTPEP, such as: structural steel coatings, rapid set concrete

patching materials and hot mix asphalt crack fillers.

Concrete Curing Compounds

Geosynthetic Soil Reinforcement

Geotextiles

Hot-Mix Asphalt Crack Sealant and PCC Joint sealants

Pavement Marking Materials

Polymer Modified Concrete Bridge Deck Overlays

Portable Changeable Message Signs & Flashing Arrow Panels

Raised Pavement Markers

Rapid Set Concrete Patching Materials

Reinforced Steel Bar (Rebar)

Rolled Erosion Control Products

Sign Sheeting Material

Snow-Plowable Raised Pavement Markers

Structural Steel Coatings

Temporary Traffic Control Devices

Thermoplastic Pipe

Truncated Domes

Why should or would a manufacturing

company participate in the AASHTO

NTPEP?

1. Broader acceptance;

2. Proven quality control/quality assurance;

3. Uniform testing program (not different

requirements for each State);

4. Level playing field for competitors.

What are the downsides to participation in

the AASHTO NTPEP?

1. The program is expensive;

2. There is not as broad acceptance of the

program and its reported data as there

should be (too few States);

3. Not used as a criteria for acceptance by

enough States.

What are the advantages of using the NTPEP for both the

States and Industry?

1. Cost Savings

a. No State can do all of the tests required in the

Thermoplastic Program within their own lab, and

setting up to do them would be cost prohibitive to the

State.

b. If multiple State DOTs accept NTPEP testing there is

a savings to Industry because they can avoid doing

different test programs for each State or agency.

2. Quality Assurance:

a. From an industry perspective, required participation in the NTPEP assures equal and fair competition.

b. It permits side-by-side comparison of manufacturers’ products; provides the States a good comparison of products and permits manufacturers to see how they are doing relative to the industry.

2. c. Some programs have adopted requirements

for submission and acceptance of the

manufacturer’s QA/QC plan, assuring

comparable programs for all competitors.

d. Because the NTPEP contracted lab(s) repeat

these tests many times, the repeatability of the

test results tend to be better than if multiple

labs are doing the tests, but only occasionally.

AASHTO Pipe Standards

AASHTO Standard Concrete Pipe Corrugated Metal

Pipe

Polyethylene Pipe PVC Pipe

Subcommittee on

Materials

AASHTO M 86

AASHTO M 170

AASHTO M 175

AASHTO M 176

AASHTO M 206

AASHTO M 207

AASHTO M 242

AASHTO M 36

AASHTO M 167

AASHTO M 190

AASHTO M 196

AASHTO M 197

AASHTO M 218

AASHTO M 219

AASHTO M 245

AASHTO M 246

AASHTO M 274

AASHTO M 289

AASHTO M 252

AASHTO M 294

AASHTO M 278

AASHTO M 304

Subcommittee on

Bridges and

Structures – Design

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Design

Specifications –

Section 12

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Design

Specifications –

Section 12

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Design

Specifications –

Section 12

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Design

Specifications –

Section 12

Subcommittee on

Bridges and

Structures –

Construction

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Construction

Specifications

Section 27

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Construction

Specifications

Section 26

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Construction

Specifications

Section 30

AASHTO LRFD

Bridge Construction

Specifications

Section 30

National

transportation

Product Evaluation

Program

None None NTPEP for

Thermoplastic Pipe

None

From a Thermoplastic Pipe Manufacturer’s Perspective

1. The current NTPEP product evaluations are more extensive than any State DOT can do “in-house”.

2. If 30 or more States were to use the NTPEP test results as the foundation for their Quality Assurance and product acceptance, the Program would be cost-effective for the manufacturers.

3. If 30 or more States required NTPEP participation as a prerequisite for selling/providing pipe to Department funded projects more manufacturers would participate.

4. In time, the AASHTO NTPEP should expand to include other pipe types.

5. The NTPEP should include plant quality audits when samples are taken for testing.

Current Thermoplastic Pipe Testing Requirements:

1. A total of 14 or more tests conducted per size

per inspection:

a. 6 tests are conducted on the resin going into

the extruder;

b. a minimum of 8 tests are conducted on the

manufactured pipe, with tests on the perforations

or the watertightness of the of the joint, if

required.

Joint Integrity

Tested according to ASTM D3212. Tested according to ASTM D3212.

Filled with water to 10.8 psi (25Filled with water to 10.8 psi (25’’ head)head)

Bell & Spigot with gasket per ASTM F477Bell & Spigot with gasket per ASTM F477

Current Thermoplastic NTPEP Status (6/06)

1. A total of 7 pipe manufacturers

participating in the program; (1/1/2007)

2. A total of 56 test reports currently posted

on the NTPEP website;(1/1/2007)

3. 10 different diameters included, through

60”.

Thermoplastic Pipe Report

Report Includes:

1. Manufacturer & Plant Location

2. Contact Personnel

3. Pipe Diameter & Type

4. Resin Tests:

a. Density

b. Melt Index

c. Flexural Modulus

d. Tensile Strength

e. ESCR

f. Thermal Stability (OITemp)

5. Pipe Tests

a. Inside Diameter

b. Wall Thickness

c. Pipe Stiffness

d. Flattening (Buckling % Deflection)

e. Pipe ESCR

f. Brittleness (Impact)

g. Carbon black %

h. Joint Tests

i. Workmanship

What is the future of the AASHTO NTPEP?

1. Growth in products included.

2. Growth in the number of manufacturers participating in each program.

3. Improvement of all programs (to include requiring QA/QC plans, plant audits, etc.).

4. Broader use of the program by non-DOT agencies, cities, & counties.

Questions