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MINUTES OF SPECIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING


MINUTES OF SPECIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING


March 13, 2003



Members Present:
John Adam, Director
Statewide Operations Bureau

Tom Reis, Chair
Specifications Section

Roger Bierbaum
Office of Contracts

Jim Berger
Office of Materials

Doug McDonald
District 1-Marshalltown RCE Office

Keith Norris
District 2-Materials Office

Gary Novey
Office of Bridges and Structures


Members Not Present:
Steve Gent
Office of Traffic and Safety

Larry Jesse
Office of Local Systems

Mike Kennerly
Office of Design

Bruce Kuehl
District 6-Construction Office

John Smythe
Office of Construction


From FHWA:
Max Grogg

Andy Wilson

Others Present:
Donna Buchwald, Secretary
Specifications Section

LeRoy Bergman
Office of Local Systems

Dave Berryhill
Office of Design

Mark Bortle
Office of Construction

Todd Hanson
Office of Materials

Harold Smith
CTRE

Wayne Sunday
Office of Construction

Kurtis Younkin
Office of Traffic & Safety


Tom Reis, Specifications Engineer, opened the meeting. The following items were discussed in
accordance with the March 7, 2003, agenda:
Specification Committee Minutes, March 13, 2003, Page 2 of 21

1. Article 2301.13, D, 2, Ready Mix Concrete

The Office of Materials requested a change to Article 2301.13, D, 2 to clarify the correct mixing time for
Ready Mix Concrete.

Submitted by: Jim Berger/Todd Hanson
Office: Materials
Item 1
Submittal Date: February 21, 2003
Proposed Effective Date: October 2003
Article No.: 2301.13, D, 2, b and c
Title:
SS No.:
Other:
Change (Redline/Strikeout):
b. Proportioned at a central plant, and only partially mixed in a stationary mixer for transportation and finish
mixing in a transit mixer.

c. b. Proportioned and then mixed in a transit mixer prior to or during transit.

Reason for Revision: This specification causes confusion in the field as to what mix time to enforce. We
need a consistent mixing time to produce batch to batch consistency and we dont have enough people to
monitor mixing at 2 different locations. It should be either a 60 second mix time (batch plant) or 70 to 90
revolutions (transit). Contractors have tried to use this to their advantage to cut the 60 second mix time,
but has not been allowed by the District Materials Office. It would be best if removed.
County or City Input Needed (X one)
Yes
No X
Comments:
Industry Input Needed (X one)
Yes
No X
Industry Notified:
Yes
No
Industry Concurrence:
Yes
No
Comments:
SPECIFICATION SECTION USE ONLY
Specification Section Recommended Language:
2301.13, D, 2, b

Delete entire article:
b. Proportioned at a central plant, and only partially mixed in a stationary mixer for transportation
and finish mixing in a transit mixer.

2301.13, D, 2, c

Re-letter the article:
c. b. Proportioned and then mixed in a transit mixer prior to or during transit.
Comments:
SPECIFICATION COMMITTEE ACTION
Final Approved Text: Specification Section recommended language.
Comments: None.
Deferred:
Not Approved:
Approved Date: 3-13-03
Effective Date: 10-21-03 Specification Committee Minutes, March 13, 2003, Page 3 of 21


2. Article 2528.02, Signs


The Office of Construction requested a change to Article 2528.02 that will allow the use of square metal
tubing to be used for sign posts.

Submitted by: John Smythe / Mark Bortle
Office: Construction
Item 2
Submittal Date:
Proposed Effective Date: October 2003 GSS
Article No.: 2528.02, 3
Title: Signs
SS No.:
Other:
Change (Redline/Strikeout):
Mounting devices shall not be so substantial as to be a hazard to vehicles. Posts mounted in existing soil
shall meet the following requirements:
1. Wood sign supports meeting the materials requirements of Article 4164.04
2. U-shaped rail steel posts not exceeding 3.0 pounds per foot (0.3 m).
3. 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 inch square 12 gauge perforated square steel tubing.

Reason for Revision: To allow for additional temporary work zone sign post mounting alternates. Post
mounted signs using the new alternate will have less potential to be twisted during high wind loads.
County or City Input Needed (X one)
Yes
No X
Comments:
Industry Input Needed (X one)
Yes
No X
Industry Notified:
Yes
No
Industry Concurrence:
Yes
No
Comments: Specification change requested from traffic control contractors
SPECIFICATION SECTION USE ONLY
Specification Section Recommended Language:
Add as new article:
3. 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 inch (60 mm or 65 mm) square 12 gauge perforated square steel tubing.

Comments:
SPECIFICATION COMMITTEE ACTION
Final Approved Text: Specification Section recommended language.
Comments: The Specifications Section asked if this could be extended to include permanent signs since
Maintenance personnel have been replacing damaged wood signs posts with perforated square steel
tubing for several years through the Office of Purchasing.

The Office of Construction would like the traffic control contractors to be able to use these posts as soon
as possible and are concerned that review of all the post specifications may slow this process.

The Specifications Section and the Office of Traffic and Safety are supportive of using perforated square
steel tubing for all signs. The use of the steel tubing system reduces labor for installation and
maintenance, and this would be a proactive move on the Departments part considering our reduced
forces. The Specification Section explained their understanding of the perforated square steel tubing
industry, in that the tubing itself may be purchased through several manufactures and suppliers, but the Specification Committee Minutes, March 13, 2003, Page 4 of 21


appurtenances, like the anchor assemblies and connectors, are proprietary. There are several traffic
control signs that are the Departments responsibility to maintain during the winter and the proprietary
appurtenances is a concern in their maintenance. The Office of Construction stated that in these cases
the Office of Maintenance would replace any damaged tubing with a wood post.

The FHWA would be open to considering a Public Interest Finding on a proprietary system especially if the
Department requests its implementation on a statewide basis.

The Specification Committee approved the change in the traffic control signs. They also approved the
Office of Construction immediately distributing a letter to the industry approving the use of perforated
square steel tubing on traffic control signs. The Specifications Section will contract the Office of Traffic
and Safety director for further research in to the use of perforated square steel tubing for permanent
signing applications.
Deferred:
Not Approved:
Approved Date: 3-13-03
Effective Date: immediately
by letter, with inclusion in the
10-21-03 General
Supplemental Specification.
Specification Committee Minutes, March 13, 2003, Page 5 of 21


3. Article 2528.03, A, Barricades

The Office of Construction requested a change to Article 2528.03 to improve clarity of the specifications
and avoid conflicts with the Standard Road Plans.

Submitted by: John Smythe / Mark Bortle
Office: Construction
Item 3
Submittal Date:
Proposed Effective Date: Oct. 2003 GSS
Article No.: 2528.03, A
Title: Barricades
SS No.:
Other:
Change (Redline/Strikeout): Rewrite entire article.
2528.03 CHANNELIZING DEVICES.
Channelizing Devises Devices shall be of the type shown in the contract documents and shall utilize
reflective sheeting meeting the requirements of Article 4186.03.
A. Barricades
Type II Barricades shall be used for all pavement surfaces on Interstate and multilane roadways
which includes travel lanes, intersections, ramps, acceleration and deceleration lanes, crossovers,
and shoulders. At locations other than on Interstate and multilane divided roadways, Type I
barricades may be used. At any location Type II barricades may be substituted for Type I
barricades. Type I and Type II barricades shall have a minimum length of rail of 2 feet (0.6 m).
When Type I or Type II Barricades are furnished as one of the options for channelizing devices in
lieu of vertical panels, 42 inch channelizers, cones, or drums, a 2 foot (0.6 m) minimum length
barricade may be used.
Type III barricades shall be used where specifically required. They shall have a minimum length of
rail of 4 feet (1.2 m). When used as a shoulder barricade, the minimum barricade is acceptable.
Unless otherwise shown in the contract documents, other Type III barricades shall have a
minimum effective length o