ASTM D3666-00

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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Designation: D 3666 – 00
Standard Specification for
Minimum Requirements for Agencies Testing and Inspecting
Road and Paving Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3666; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope D 5 Test Method for Penetration of Bituminous Materials
D 36 Test Method for Softening Point of Bitumen (Ring-
1.1 This specification covers the minimum requirements for
and-Ball Apparatus)
field and laboratory personnel, for establishing and maintaining
D 70 Test Method for Density of Semi-Solid Bituminous
a quality system, and establishes minimum qualifications for
Materials (Pycnometer Method)
agencies engaged in the testing and inspection of road and
D 92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
paving materials.
Open Cup
1.2 Criteria are provided for evaluating the capability of an
D 113 Test Method for Ductility of Bituminous Materials
agency to properly perform designated tests on road and paving
D 139 Test Method for Float Test for Bituminous Materials
materials, and for establishing guidelines pertaining to an
D 244 Test Methods for Emulsified Asphalts
agency’s organization, personnel, facilities, and quality system.
D 290 Practice for Bituminous Mixing Plant Inspection
This specification may be supplemented by more specific
D 1074 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Bitumi-
criteria, such as that in Specification E 329, and requirements
nous Mixtures
for particular projects.
D 1075 Test Method for Effect of Water on Compressive
1.3 This specification can be used as a basis to evaluate
Strength of Compacted Bituminous Mixtures
testing or inspection agencies, or both, and is intended for use
D 1559 Test Method for Resistance to Plastic Flow of
for the qualifying or accrediting, or both, of testing or
Bituminous Mixtures Using Marshall Apparatus
inspection agencies, public or private, engaged in the testing
D 1560 Test Methods for Resistance to Deformation and
and inspection of road and paving materials.
Cohesion of Bituminous Mixtures by Means of Hveem
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Apparatus
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D 1561 Practice for Preparation of Bituminous Mixture Test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Specimens by Means of California Kneading Compactor
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
D 1754 Test Method for Effects of Heat and Air on Asphal-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tic Materials (Thin-Film Oven Test)
2. Referenced Documents
D 1856 Test Method for Recovery of Asphalt from Solution
by Abson Method
2.1 The following referenced documents are those that are
D 2041 Test Method for Theoretical Maximum Specific
specifically mentioned in Specification D 3666. These refer-
Gravity and Density of Bituminous Paving Mixtures
enced documents are not meant to be all inclusive, as Speci-
D 2170 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Asphalts
fication D 3666 applies, as appropriate, to all test methods
(Bitumens)
under the jurisdiction of Committee D-4.
D 2171 Test Method for Viscosity of Asphalts by Vacuum
2.2 ASTM Standards:
Capillary Viscometer
C 29/C 29M Test Method for Unit Weight and Voids in
D 2872 Test Method for Effect of Heat and Air on a Moving
Aggregate
Film of Asphalt (Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test)
C 128 Test Method for Specific Gravity and Absorption of
D 3142 Test Method for Density of Liquid Asphalts (Hy-
Fine Aggregate
drometer Method)
C 138 Test Method for Unit Weight, Yield, and Air Content
D 3143 Test Method for Flash Point of Cutback Asphalt
(Gravimetric) of Concrete
with Tag Open-Cup Apparatus
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.95 on
Quality Control, Inspection, and Testing Agencies.
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 2000. Published October 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.03.
published as D 3666 – 78. Last previous edition D 3666 – 98. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.04.
2 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.01.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 3666
D 5506 Practice for Organizations Engaged in the Certifi- 6.1.2 Testing of aggregate for compliance with specification
cation of Personnel Testing and Inspecting Bituminous requirements,
Paving Materials 6.1.3 Preparation and evaluation of mix design in accor-
E 329 Specification for Agencies Engaged in the Testing dance with the proper method common to the geographical
and/or Inspection of Materials Used in Construction area in which it offers services or in accordance with the
appropriate ASTM or AASHTO standard procedure,
3. Terminology
6.1.4 Determination of percent binder and gradation of plant
3.1 Definitions: aggregates in plant mix, and
3.1.1 quality system—the organizational structure, respon- 6.1.5 Determination and verification of mix properties for
sibilities, procedures, activities, capabilities and resources that comparison with the mix design.
together aim to ensure that laboratory services satisfy data 6.2 Field Testing and Inspection—The field services of a
requirements. bituminous paving materials testing and inspection agency
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: shall include some or all of the following capabilities:
3.2.1 agency—the organization engaged to test or inspect 6.2.1 Investigation of aggregate at the source for compli-
bituminous materials as required by a specification or contract. ance with specification requirements,
3.2.2 quality system manual (QSM)—a set of documents 6.2.2 Inspection of proportioning and mixing at the plant or
describing an agency’s quality system. project site in accordance with Practice D 290 or user’s
3.2.3 user—the person or organization engaging the agency requirements.
to provide inspections or tests; or using this specification to 6.2.3 Inspection of handling, laying, and rolling operations
evaluate or accredit the agency. of the mixture at the site,
6.2.4 Determination of thickness of compacted mixture, and
4. Significance and Use
6.2.5 Determination of density and the percent compaction
4.1 This specification provides the basic minimum criteria of a bituminous pavement after construction.
for use in evaluating the qualifications of testing or inspection
NOTE 1—Since the requirements for construction control can vary
agencies, or both, for bituminous paving materials. The criteria
widely from project to project depending upon the nature of the mixture,
may be supplemented by more specific criteria and require-
location, and intended use of the bituminous mixture in the project, the
ments. An individual user can also use it to judge the capability of the agency for testing and inspection should be that necessary
to accomplish construction control of the user’s specific project or special
qualification of an agency.
requirements.
4.2 The intent of this specification is to provide a consensus
basis for evaluating a testing or inspection agency, or both,
7. Personnel Qualifications
with respect to that agency’s capability to objectively and
7.1 Management and Supervision—The testing and inspec-
competently provide the specific services needed by the user.
tion services of the agency shall be under the direction of a
4.3 This specification may be used as a basis for accredita-
person charged with scientific or engineering managerial re-
tion.
sponsibility. This person should be a registered engineer and a
5. Responsibilities and Duties full-time employee of the agency and shall have a minimum of
5 years experience in inspecting and testing of bituminous
5.1 The agency shall ensure that only inspections or tests for
materials and construction; however, in place of being a
which it is adequately equipped and staffed are performed.
registered engineer, a person with equivalent science-oriented
5.2 The agency shall ensure that personnel perform only
education and experience in having satisfactorily directed
inspections and tests for which they are adequately trained,
testing or inspection services, or both, of bituminous paving
qualified and certified in accordance with applicable specifica-
materials is acceptable. This person shall possess all applicable
tions.
professional licenses or certificates required by public law or
5.3 The agency shall ensure that all equipment is properly
requirements of the authority in one or more fields which the
maintained in good operating condition and is calibrated as
person directs. A NICET Level IV Certification in “Construc-
applicable.
tion Materials Testing—Subfield Asphalt” would be considered
5.4 The agency shall perform all testing and inspection in
an example of an acceptable certification of the experience of
accordance with appropriate standards and quality control
this individual.
criteria. Documents unique to the user shall be furnished to the
agency.
NOTE 2—The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Tech-
nologies (NICET) is a nationally recognized certification organization.
6. General Capabilities
7.2 Supervising Laboratory Technician—The supervising
6.1 Laboratory Testing—The laboratory testing services of
laboratory technician shall have at least 5 years experience
a bituminous paving materials testing agency shall include
performing tests on bituminous materials. This person shall be
some or all of the following capabilities:
able to demonstrate, either by oral or written examination, or
6.1.1 Testing of bituminous materials and mixtures in the
both, the ability to perform the tests normally required in the
laboratory,
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, 1420 King
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02. Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2715.
D 3666
manner stipulated under ASTM or other governing procedures quality system implementation activities are being conducted
and shall be capable of evaluating the test results in terms of by agency staff in the manner specified in the agency’s quality
specification compliance. This person shall possess an appro- system manual. This individual(s) shall have direct access to
priate certification from a national or state organization (Note top management (Note 4).
3). A NICET Level III Certification in “Construction Materials
NOTE 4—This individual(s) may have other responsibilities (for ex-
Testing—Subfield Asphalt” would satisfy this requirement.
ample, laboratory manager).
7.3 Supervising Field or Plant Technician or Inspector—
NOTE 5—Inspection and testing procedures may reference published
This person shall have at least 5 years experience in inspecting standards.
the kind of work involved in the bituminous construction
8.1.3 Equipment Calibration and Verification—The agency
project. This person shall be able to demonstrate either by oral
shall calibrate or verify all significant testing equipment
or written examination, or both, the ability to perform correctly
associated with tests covered by the scope of this standard
the required duties. This person shall possess an appropriate
which the agency performs. As a minimum, the equipment
certification from a national or state organization (Note 3). A
listed in Table 1 shall be included if it is associated with tests
NICET Level III Certification in “Construction Materials
performed by the agency. Applicable equipment shall be
Testing—Subfield Asphalt” would satisfy this requirement.
calibrated or verified at the intervals specified in the agency’s
7.4 Inspector or Testing Technician—This person shall have
QSM. The intervals specified in the QSM shall be no greater
a high school diploma or equivalent and have had sufficient
than those indicated in Table 1 (Note 6). Newly acquired
on-the-job training or trade school training to properly perform
equipment without manufacturers certification and equipment
the test or inspection to which the person is assigned. This
that has not been calibrated or verified because it has been
person must be able to demonstrate either by oral or written
removed from service shall be calibrated or verified before
examination, or both, competence for the test or inspection
being placed in service. The agency shall have detailed written
which is being conducted and possess an appropriate certifi-
procedures for all in-house calibration and verification activi-
cation from a national or state organization (Note 3). A NICET
ties not addressed in standards. These procedures shall indicate
Level II Certification in “Construction Materials Testing—
the equipment required to perform the calibration or verifica-
Subfield Asphalt” would satisfy this requirement. A NICET
tion.
Level I, with the appropriate training and experience, might
NOTE 6—When a maximum calibration or verification interval for a
also be utilized in this position, but only with the specific
specific piece of test equipment is specified in a standard, the maximum
approval of the user of this standard. The Inspector or Testing
Technician shall work under the direct supervision of one TABLE 1 Bituminous Materials Test Equipment
meeting the requirements of 7.2 or 7.3 but shall not be Interval
Equipment—Test Method Requirement
(Month)
permitted to independently evaluate test results or inspections.
Saybolt Viscometers—D 244 Calibrate 36
7.4.1 Trainees working towards certification can be utilized
Mechanical Shakers Check sieving thoroughness 12
to perform the inspection or test, or both, if they work under the
General Purpose Balances, Verify 12
supervision of a certified individual at the same facility,
Scales and Weights
Test Thermometers—D 5, D 70, Calibrate 6
project, or plant. The trainee cannot evaluate the test or
D 113, D 2041, D 2170,
inspection results or sign acceptance reports.
D 2171, D 3142
7.5 It is satisfactory for a person to fill one or more of the
Analytical Balances and Weights Verify 24
Compression Testing Machine— Verify load indications 12
levels of management, supervision, inspector or technician
D 1074, D 1075, D 1559, D 1560
positions in accordance with 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 provided that
CA Kneading Compactor—D 1561 Calibrate 24
person qualifies for the highest level. It is also recognized that Timers—D 2170, D 2171 Check accuracy 6
Ovens Verify tem
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