MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

SPECIFICATIONS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE WORKS

MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

SPECIFICATIONS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE WORKS

PREFACE TO THE FIFTH REVISION

This edition of the Specifications for Road and Bridge Works marks the Fifth Revision. In the last decad e and a half,
significant developments have taken place in the highways sector. The massive National Highways Development
Projects (NHDP) undertaken by the Government o f India is in progress involving execution of a large number of high
value road projects. These require adoption of latest international practices so as to achieve technical excellence
and the best quality. Concrete bridges have also undergone major changes with development of new structural
forms, new methods of computer based analysis and design and development of high strength materials, IRC: 1 1 2
for concrete bridges based on the limit state method has come into force. Over the past few years, many IRC codes
have also been completely revised necessitating extensive changes in the Ministry's specifications for road and
bridge works. Some of the important additions in this revision of Specifications for Road and Bridge Works cover
stone mastic asphalt, micro surfacing, sand asphalt base course, prefabricated vertical drains (PVD), natural geo
textiles, geo cells for use in base and sub base in pavement and slope protection, variable message sign boards, soil
nailing, cold applied retro-reflective paints, audible and vibratory pavement markings, solar powered road markers,
traffic control & safety devices in construction zone, traffic impact attenuators and advance traffic management
system. Some of the new areas covered in bridges include high performance concrete, H O P E sheathings, Pot-PTFE
bearings, jack down method of well sinking, dynamic testing of piles and mechanically woven wire crates for
gabions.
The Fifth Revision of the Specifications for Road and B ridge Works is the result of the
concerted efforts of the officers of the Roads Wing and other professionals who contributed to the drafting of this
document. I wish to express my gratitude to all of them and the Indian Roads Congress for undertaking the
assignment of bringing out this publication. Feedback and suggestion for further improvement would be welcome
from users of this edition.
(C. Kandasamy)
DG(RD) & SS
03-01 -2013
Section No. Section. Title/Clause No. Page No.

100 GENERAL
101 Introduction 1
102 Definitions 1
103 Materials and Test Standards 5
104 Sieve Designations 5
105 Scope of Work 6
106 Construction Equipment 10
107 Drawings 11
108 Site Information 11
109 Setting Out 11
110 Public Utilities 13
111 Precautions for Safeguarding the Environment 15
112 Arrangement for Traffic During Construction 19
113 General Rules for the Measurement of Works for Payment 22
114 Scope of Rates for Different Items of Work 24
115 Methodology and Sequence of Work 26
116 Crushed Stone Aggregates 28
117 Supply of Quarry Samples 28
118 Approval of Materials 28
119 Use of Surfaces by Traffic 28
120 Field Laboratory 29
121 Supply of Project Record 33
200 SITE CLEARANCE
201 Clearing and Grubbing 37
202 Dismantling Culverts, Bridges and Other Structures/Pavements 39
300 EARTHWORK, EROSION CONTROL AND DRAINAGE
301 Excavation for Roadway and Drains 45
302 Blasting Operations 53
303 Presplitting Rock Excavation Slopes 56
304 Excavation for Structures 59
305 Embankment Construction 63
306 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control 77
307 Turfing with Sods 79
308 Seeding and Mulching 82
309 Surface/Sub-Surface Drains 85
310 Preparation and Surface Treatment of Formation 89
311 Works to be Kept Free of Water 90
312 Water Courses a t Culverts 90
313 Rockfill Embankment 91
314 Ground Improvement for Weak Embankament Foundation Using
Geosynthetic Drains and Stone Columns 92
400 SUB-BASES, BASES (NON-BITUMINOUS) AND SHOULDERS
401 Granular Sub-Base 109
402 Lime Treated Soil for Improved Sub-Grade/Sub-Base 112
403 Cement Treated Soil and Cement-Fiyash Treated Sub Base/Base 116
404 Water Bound Macadam Sub-Base/Base 121
405 Crushed Cement Concrete Sub-Base 129
406 Wet Mix Macadam Sub-Base/Base 131
407 Crusher-Run Macadam Base 136
 408 Shoulders, Islands and Median 139
409 Cement Concrete Kerb and Kerb with Channel 142
410 Footpaths and Separators 143
500 BASES AND SURFACE COURSES (BITUMINOUS)
501 General Requirements for Bituminous Pavement Layers 149
502 Prime Coat Over Granular Base 166
503 Tack Coat 168
504 Bituminous Macadam 170
505 Dense Bituminous Macadam 174
506 Sand Asphalt Base Course 183
507 Bituminous Concrete 188 508 Close-Graded Premix
Surfacing/Mixed Seal Surfacing 192
509 Surface Dressing 194
510 Open-Graded Premix Surfacing 198
511 Seal Coat 205
512 Slurry Seal 207
513 Fog Spray 213
514 Micro-Surfacing 215
515 Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) 219
516 Mastic Asphalt 225
517 Crack Prevention Courses 231
518 Bituminous Cold Mix (Including Gravel Emulsion) 234
519 Recycling of Bituminous Pavement 242
520 Supply of Stone Aggregates for Pavement Courses 249
600 CONCRETE PAVEMENT
601 Dry Lean Cement Concrete Sub-Base 255
602 Cement Concrete Pavement 263
700 GEOSYNTHETICS
701 Geosynthetics for Road and Bridge Works 299
702 Geotextiles for Drainage, Separation and Erosion Control 302
703 Geogrid 307
704 Geocomposite Drains 309
705 Geocell for Slope Protection 312
706 Geosynthetic Mat 314
707 Natural Geotextile 316
708 Paving Fabrics/Glass Grids 318
800 TRAFFIC SIGNS, MARKINGS AND OTHER ROAD APPURTENANCES
801 Traffic Signs 325
802 Overhead Signs 335
803 Road Markings 338
804 Reflective Pavement Markers (Road Studs) and Solar Powered
Road Markers (Solar Studs) 353
805 Distance Indicator Posts 356
806 Road Delineators 357
807 Boundary Stones 357
808 Fencing 358
809 Tubular Steel Railing 359
810 Structural Steel Railing 359
811 Crash Barriers 360
812 Road Traffic Signals 364
 813 Traffic Control and Safety Devices in Construction Zone 366
814 Traffic Impact Attenuators 371
815 Semi Automatic Toll Collection System 372
816 Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) 381
900 QUALITY CONTROL FOR ROAD WORKS
901 General 415
902 Control of Alignment, Level and Surface Regularity 417
903 Quality Control Tests During Construction 421
1000 MATERIALS FOR STRUCTURES
1001 General 439
1002 Sources of Materials 439
1003 Bricks 439
1004 Stones and Blocks 440
1005 Cast Iron 440
1006 Cement 440
1007 Coarse Aggregates 442
1008 Fine Aggregates 443
1009 Steel 443
1010 Water 447
1011 Timber 449
1012 Concrete Admixtures 449
1013 Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Pipes 451
1014 Storage of Materials 451
1015 Tests and Standard of Acceptance 453
1100 PIPE FOUNDATIONS
1101 Description 457
1102 Subsurface Investigations 457
1103 Type of Piles 458
1104 Materials 458
1105 Test Piles 459
1106 Precast Concrete Piles 459
1107 Cast In Situ Concrete Piles 461
1108 Steel Piles 465
1109 Timber Piles 466
1110 Driving Equipment 466
1111 Driving 467
1112 Raker (Inclined) Piles 470
1113 Pile Tests 470
1114 Pile Cap 472
1115 Important Considerations, Inspection/Precautions for Different
Types of Piles 472
111 6 Tolerances 474
1117 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 475
1118 Measurements for Payment 475
1119 Rate 475
1200 WELL FOUNDATIONS
1201 Description 479
1202 General 479
1203 Setting Out and Preparations for Sinking 479
1204 Cutting Edge 480
1205 Well Curb 481
 1206 Floating Caissons 482
1207 Well Steining 483
1208 Well Sinking 483
1209 Bottom Plug 494
1210 Sand Filling 495
1211 Top Plug 495
1212 Well Cap 495
1213 Tolerances 495
1214 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 496
1215 Measurements for Payment 496
1216 Rate 497
1300 BRICK MASONRY
1301 Description 501
1302 Materials 501
1303 Personnel 501
1304 Cement Mortar 501
1305 Soaking of Bricks 502
1306 Joints 502
1307 Laying 502
1308 Jointing Old and New Work 503
1309 Curing 503
1310 Scaffolding 503
1311 Equipment 504
1312 Finishing of Surfaces 504
1313 Coping for Wing/Return/Parapet Wall 505
1314 Acceptance of Work 506
1315 Measurements for Payment 506
1316 Rate 506 •

1400 STONE AND CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY

1401 Description 509
1402 Materials 509
1403 Personnel 509
1404 Type of Masonry 509
1405 Construction 509
1406 Pointing 515
1407 Curing 515
1408 Scaffolding 515
1409 Weep Holes 515
1410 Jointing with Existing Structures 516
1411 Coping for Wing/Return/Parapet Walls 516
1412 Tests and Standard of Acceptance 516
1413 Measurements for Payment 516
1414 Rate 516
1500 FORMWORK
1501 Description 519
1502 Materials 519
1503 Design of Formwork 519
1504 Workmanship 519
1505 Lining of Formwork 521
1506 Precautions 521
1507 Preparation of Formwork Before Concreting 522
 1508 Removal of Formwork 522
1509 Re-Use of Formwork 523
1510 Specialized Formwork 523
1511 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 524
1512 Measurements for Payment 524
1513 Rate 524
1600 STEEL REINFORCEMENT
1601 Description 527
1602 General 527
1603 Protection of Reinforcement 527
1604 Bending of Reinforcement 527
1605 Placing of Reinforcement 528
1606 Bar Splices 529
1607 Testing and Acceptance 531
1608 Measurement for Payment 531
1609 Rate 532
1700 STRUCTURAL CONCRETE
1701 Description 535
1702 Materials 535
1703 Grades of Concrete 535
1704 Proportioning of Concrete 538
1705 Admixtures 543
1706 Size of Coarse Aggregates 544
1707 Equipment 545
1708 Batchinh, Mixing, Transporting, Placing and Compaction 546
1709 Construction Joints 550
1710 Concreting Under Water 551
1711 Concreting in Extreme Weather 552
1712 Protection and Curing 553
1713 Finishing 555
1714 Concrete with Blended Cements or Mineral Admixtures 555
1715 High Performance Concrete 556
1716 Tolerances 558
1717 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 558
1718 Measurements for Payment 562
1719 Rate 562
1800 PRESTRESSING
1801 Description 565
1802 General 565
1803 Materials 565
1804 Testing of Prestressing Steel and Anchorages 568
1805 Workmanship 568
1806 Supervision 572
1807 Tensioning Equipment 572
1808 Post Tensioning 573
1809 Grouting of Prestressed Tendons 574
1810 Pre-Tensioning 575
1811 Protection of Ends 579
1812 Safety Precautions During Tensioning 579
1813 Surface Preparation 579
1814 Transportation Storage and Handling of Precast Girders 580
 1815 Tolerances 581
1816 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 581
1817 Measurements for Payment 581
1818 Rate 582
1900 STRUCTURAL STEEL
1901 Description 585
1902 General 585
1903 Materials 585
1904 Fabrication 589
1905 Erection 605
1906 Painting 614
1907 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 618
1908 Measurements for Payment 619
1909 Rate 620
2000 BEARINGS
2001 Description 623
2002 General 623
2003 Steel Bearings 624
2004 Special Bearings 631
2005 Elastomeric Bearings 633
2006 Pot Bearings 648
2007 Inspection and Testing 659
2008 Test and Standards of Acceptance 659
2009 Measurements for Payment 659
2010 Rate 660
2100 OPEN FOUNDATIONS
2101 Description 663
2102 Materials 663
2103 General 663
2104 Workmanship 663
2105 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 666
2106 Tolerances 666
2107 Measurement for Payment 666
2108 Rate 666
2200 SUBSTRUCTURE
2201 Description 669
2202 Materials 669
2203 General 669
2204 Piers and Abutments 669
2205 Pier Cap and Abutment Cap 670
2206 Dirt Wall, Return Wall and Wing Wall 671
2207 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 671
2208 Tolerances in Concrete Elements 671
2209 Measurements for Payment 672
2210 Rate 672
2300 CONCRETE SUPERSTRUCTURE
2301 Description 675
2302 Materials 675
2303 General 675
2304 Reinforced Concrete Construction 675
2305 Prestressed Concrete Construction 676
 2306 Cast In-Place Voided Slabs 682
2307 Tolerances 682
2308 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 683
2309 Measurement for Payment 683
2310 Rate 684
2400 SURFACE AND SUB-SURFACE GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION
2401 Description 687
2402 Extent and Number of Bores 687
2403 Depth of Bores 688
2404 Detailed Investigation 688
2405 Detailed Investigation for Bridge Foundations Resting on Rock 689
2406 Boring 692
2407 Records of Boring and Trial Pits 692
2408 Methods of Sampling 694
2409 Procedure for Taking Samples 694
2410 Preservation, Handling and Labelling of Samples 696
2411 Tests for Investigation of Shallow Foundations of Bridges 697
2412 Tests for Investigation for Deep Foundations of Bridges 697
2413 Testing of Material for Foundations of Guide Bunds and High
Embankments 698
2414 Measurements for Payment 698
2415 Rate 700
2500 RIVER TRAIN ING WORK AND PROTECTION WORK
2501 Description 703
2502 Guide Bund 703
2503 Apron 704
2504 Pitching/Revetment on Slopes 709
2505 Rubble Stone/Cement Concrete Block Flooring Over Cement
Concrete Bedding 711
2506 Dry Rubble Flooring 712
2507 Curtain Wall and Flexible Apron 712
2508 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 713
2509 Measurements for Payment 713
2510 Rate 713
2600 EXPANSION JOINTS
2601 Description 723
2602 General 723
2603 Performance Requirements 724
2604 Filler Joints 725
2605 Reinforced Elastomeric Joint 726
2606 Single Strip/Box Seal Joint 728
2607 Modular Strip/Box Seal Expansion Joints 730
2608 Asphaltic Plug Joint 732
2609 Compression Seal Joint 734
2610 Installation of Expansion Joints 736
2611 744
2612 Testing and Acceptance Standards 744
261 3 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 748
2614 Measurements for Payment 748
261 5 Rate 748
2700 WEARING COAT AND APPURTENANCES
 2701 Description 751
2702 Wearing Coat 751
2703 Railings and Crash Barrier 752
2704 Approach Slab 754
2705 Drainage Spouts 754
2706 Weep Holes 755
2707 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 755
2708 Measurements for Payment 755
2709 Rate 756
2800 REPAIR OF STRUCTURES
2801 Description 759
2802 General 759
2803 Sealing of Cracks by Injection of Epoxy Resin 759
2804 Replacement of Spalled Concrete by Epoxy Mortar/Polymer Mortar 766
2805 Epoxy Bonding of New Concrete to Old Concrete 769
2806 Cement Grouting 769
2807 Guniting/Shotcreting 771
2808 Protective Surface Coating of Concrete by Acrylic
Elastomeric Coating 773
2809 Protective Surface Coating of Concrete by Patented Systems
of Coating 775
2810 Replacement of Bearings 776
2811 Repair and Replacement of Wearing Coat 776
2812 External Prestressing 777
2813 Tests and Standards of Acceptance 778
2814 Measurements for Payment 779
2815 Rate 779
2900 PIPE CULVERTS
2901 Scope 783
2902 Materials 783
2903 Excavation for Pipe 783
2904 Bedding for Pipe 784
2905 Laying of Pipe 784
2906 Jointing 785
2907 Backfilling 785
2908 Headwalls and Other Ancillary Works 786
2909 Opening to Traffic 786
2910 Measurement for Payment 786
2911 Rate 786
3000 MAINTENANCE OF ROAD
3001 General 789
3002 Restoration of Rain Cuts 789
3003 Maintenance of Earthen Shoulders 790
3004 Bituminous Work in Connection with Maintenance and Repair 791
3005 Maintenance of Cement Concrete Road 797
3100 REINFORCED EARTH
3101 Scope 801
3102 Design 801
3103 Reinforcing Element 801
3104 Earth Fill 804
3105 Facia Material 805
 3106 Construction Details 807
3107 Reinforced Soil Slopes 810
3108 System Responsibility, Performance Bond 811
3109 Measurement for Payment 812
3110 Rate 812
3200 SOIL NAILING
3201 Scope 821
3202 Nail Installation Methods 821
3203 Construction Materials 821
3204 Facing Types 822
3205 Construction Sequence 823
3206 Geotechnical Aspects 823
3207 Analysis of Failure Modes 824
3208 Initial Design Considerations 824
3209 Other Design Considerations 825
3210 Field Pullout Testing 826
3211 Measurement for Payment 827
3212 Rates 827
3213 References 829
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 List of IRC Publications Referred to in the Specifications 831
Appendix 2 List of Indian and Foreign Standards Referred to in the
Specifications 833
Appendix 3 Method of Sieving for Wet Soils to Determine the Degree of
Pulverisation 847
Appendix 4 Anti-Stripping Agents Used for Bituminous Materials and Mixes 848
Appendix 1 200/1-1 History of Sinking of Well 855
1 200/1-2 Plan of Well Nos. 856
1 200/2 Tilt and Shift in Well Nos 857
xiii
Contents
Appendix 1 500/1 Information to be Supplied by the Manufacturers of
Proprietary Systems 859
Appendix 1 700/1 Specification for Construction Joints 861
Appendix 1 8001 Tests on Sheathing Ducts 864
1 800/2 Prestressing Report 871
1 800/3 Specifications for Grouting of Post-Tensioned
Cables in Prestressed Concrete Bridges 873
1 800/4 Grouting Record 882
Appendix 2800