GENERAL OVERVIEW

Committee D04 on Road and Paving Materials was formed in 1903. D04 meets twice a year, usually in June and December, with about 100 members attending over three days of technical meetings. The Committee, with a membership of approximately 700, currently has 27 technical subcommittees that have jurisdiction over 200 standards published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 4.03. Information on this subcommittee structure and portfolio of approved standards and Work Items under development is available from the List of Subcommittees, Standards, and Work Items. These standards continue to play a preeminent role in all aspects of highway construction and maintenance, and in other transportation construction; many state departments of transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation, have adopted D04 standards in their regulations.

ACTIVITIES, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES

Standards Development

Committee D04 develops standards in many areas that contribute to the science of road building and help ensure quality road paving and construction materials:

• Bituminous mixtures: preparation of bituminous test specimens and test methods for measuring specific characteristics and properties of bituminous mixtures, and test methods for the measurement of density and specific gravity of compacted and uncompacted bituminous aggregates and for measuring the effects of water and other natural elements on surfaces;

• Asphalt: standard specifications and test methods for semi-solid liquid asphaltic materials and emulsified asphalts used in roadway construction;

• Aggregates: aggregate specifications and test methods that deal with bituminous pavements;

• Preformed and formed in-place sealants: sealants used in joints of road pavements and bridge structures;

• Bridges and structures: bridge deck protection systems such as waterproofing, elastomeric bearings, bridge deck delamination detection, and structural steel fabrication; and

• Highway traffic materials: highway traffic marking materials, and highway signing and directional materials, highway lighting and signal materials, highway safety devices, and other materials used to control or channel traffic.

Symposia and Special Technical Publications

Committee D04 is a frequent sponsor of symposia about the most advanced technologies related to road and paving materials. The papers are often published in a peer-reviewed Special Technical Publication (STP). To learn more about future symposia, please click here.

The following are STPs from the Committee:

• STP 1469, Performance Tests for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Including Fundamental and Empirical Procedures;

• STP 1433, Constructing Smooth Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Pavements;

• STP 1412, Aggregate Contribution to Hot Mix Asphalt Performance;

• STP 1378, Hot Mix Asphalt Construction: Certification and Accreditation Programs; and

• STP 1348, Flexible Pavement Rehabilitation and Maintenance.

For a list of publications sponsored by Committee D04, click here.

PARTICIPATING AS A MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE

AASTM International opens its doors to all technical experts with an interest in the standardization process. As a member of ASTM Committee D04, you will be exposed to the robust resources and member benefits included below that have helped make ASTM a worldwide standards development leader for more than a century:

• Network with industry professionals worldwide;

• Receive one free volume of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards (in print or CD);

• Use Internet-based Standards Development Forums and electronic balloting;

• Receive discounts on all ASTM publications;

• Keep up to date through a free subscription to ASTM’s bimonthly magazine, Standardization News, and a monthly electronic newsletter;

• Benefit from reduced fees for attendance at ASTM symposia and technical workshops;

• And more.

Becoming a member can be accomplished from the website by selecting Join ASTM. Benefits include complimentary standards, discounts on material, voting privileges, and access to the rapidly changing standards information that affects your technical community. ASTM membership is $75 (USD) a year. Members receive a volume of the published standards of the Committee.

Members can participate from anywhere because of ASTM’s customized web-based systems. The best way to contribute as a member is to (1) participate in task group activities that are of interest (both virtually and in person), and (2) vote on ballots and provide feedback and recommendations. To participate in standards activities, start by identifying Work Items of interest by reviewing the List of Subcommittees, Standards, and Work Items. Contact task group leaders for those areas of interest by reviewing the Work Item summary pages and securing contact information available through the on-line roster in the member area. To make the most of your voting and participation overall, be sure to stipulate which specific subcommittees you wish to participate in when you join. You will then receive notices of ballots that open within these groups.

STAKEHOLDERS

ASTM policy requires that there be a balance of interests at the standards development table. The standards development process is open and enables all stakeholders from the industry a voice in the shaping of a standard. The only requirement is that the producers cannot outnumber the users. In Committee D04, stakeholder groups include highway engineers, technologists, geologists, chemists, material suppliers, equipment suppliers, construction contractors, government representatives, and academia.

RELATIONSHIP WITH INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND REGULATION

Committee D04 has strong participation from many U.S. state highway departments and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation. This participation ensures that standards will be developed with regulatory needs in mind. Consequently, many state departments of transportation and FHWA have adopted D04 standards in their regulations.