SABITA WHO’S WHO
State of the asphalt industry The Southern African Bitumen Association (Sabita) and its members are committed to best-in-class standards. IMIESA talks to Saied Solomons, CEO, Sabita, about technical developments, pavement and transportation trends. What are the key trends shaping the future of asphalt pavements? SS Asphalt has a history of providing value to road authorities, as well as users, and continued efforts are being made to further improve its durability. This entails better scientific understanding of the composite materials, as well as considering a mix design approach that balances the various modes of pavement distress, taking into consideration mix ageing, traffic, climate and location. The global trend in road construction – focusing on improved project execution at lower cost through utilising digital equipment enhanced with artificial intelligence – will no doubt find fertile ground locally as well. The advent of autonomous and electric vehicles brings with it its own exciting possibilities for accommodating the needs of this new type of mobility.
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IMIESA October 2020
While there are many futuristic scenarios being played out globally, we’ll have to sift through these and adopt what is most appropriate for our needs. Sustainability will continue to shape our thoughts and actions as an imperative for a better future.
Is greater emphasis being placed on reclaimed asphalt? Reclaimed asphalt is considered a valuable material source in the production of asphalt and is probably the material that is most recycled. To further this sustainability drive, much effort has gone into better understanding the optimal use of it in asphalt mixes. In 2009, Sabita funded the development of a technical guide to assist industry in its use. This document has since seen numerous revisions, with the latest 2019 version currently being reviewed to incorporate global best practice.
What are Sabita’s Technical Committees working on right now? A permanent agenda item is the review/update of Sabita’s technical manuals. Recent and current work saw updates to Manual 35/TRH 8: Design and use of asphalt in road pavements; Manual 36: Use of Reclaimed Asphalt in the production of asphalt; Manual 38: Health and safety in construction laboratories; TG 1: The Use Of Modified Bituminous Binder In Road Construction; TG 2: A Guideline for the Design and Construction of Bitumen Emulsion and Foamed Bitumen Stabilised Materials. To support the subcommittee focusing on material testing, the CSIR was commissioned to develop Manual 39: Laboratory testing protocols for binders and asphalt. Currently in the making is Manual 37/TMH 5: Sampling methods for road construction materials TG3: Asphalt Reinforcement Guideline and Manual 40: Design and construction of surfacing seals. Manual 40 details the latest in surface treatments, incorporates TRH3 as well as other Sabita manuals and spans over 500 pages.
The implementation of Performance Grade specifications for bitumen is also high on the agenda, with a dedicated subcommittee providing the necessary focus. Being a member of the relevant SABS committees enables alignment of the various SANS specifications with the latest technical know-how as per the Sabita guides. As but one example, SANS 1083, which currently only covers aggregates for concrete, will in future contain specifications for use in all areas of construction (including roads).
Are current road funding models working? In South Africa today, many people are paying more road use tax with the fuel levy than their comparative fair share of road
Saied Solomons, CEO, Sabita
