IRC: 16-2008

STANDARD S~ECIFICATIONS AND CODE OF PRACTICE FOR

PRIME AND TACK COAT
1. INTRODUCTION
held on Sth May, 2007. The draft document
1.1 The Standard for Prime Coat was was considered by the Highways
originally published in 19S6 as IRC: 16. The Specifications and Standards Committee on
first revision ofthe Standard was approved by 26th May, 2007 and was approved. The draft
the Specifications and Standards Committee was approved by the IRC Council on 18th
in its meeting held on 7th April, 1989 and by August, 2007 subject to certain
the Executive Committee through circulation' modifications, keeping in view the
and by the Council in its meeting held at New comments of members and approval by the
Delhi on 29thApril, 1989 for publication. Convenor, Highways Specifications and
Standards Committee.
1.1.1 The decision to review and revise the
code of practice was taken during the meeting Members of Flexible Pavement
of Flexible Pavement Committee (FPC) held Committee (B-2)
on 30th April, 2004. The task was assigned to
Dr. P. K. Jain of Central Road Research Singh, Nirmaljit ... Convenor
Institute (CRRI). The draft ofthe revised code Shukla, R.S Co-Convenor
was presented and discussed in the meeting of Nirmal, S.K Member Secretary
Flexible Pavement Committee held on 7th
August, 2004. It was decided that the draft Members
document should include specifications for Agarwal, Sanjeev, Dr.
Tack Coat also and may be modified in the Bose, Sunil, Dr.
light of the comnients of the members. The Bhanwala, R.S., Co!.
draft Standard prepared by Dr. P.K. Jain was Das, Animesh, Dr.
Jain, S.S., Dr.
reviewed by the F,PC in its meeting held on Jain, RK.
12th August, 200S! l!nd it was decided that a Jain, Rajesh Kumar
Group consisting of Dr. P. K. Jain, Kachroo, P.N., Dr.
Shri Rajesh Kr. Jain and Shri. Gurdip S. Kandhal, P.S., Prof.
Khinda of IRC will finalise the document Kirori, RR.D.
incorporating the suggestions ofthe members Kumar, Anil
and forward the same to Convenor, FPC for Krishna, Prabhat
approval before circulating to HSS Mina, H.L.
.Committee. The draft Standard was finalized Pandey, R.K.
Rathore, S.S.
by the Group in its meeting held on 29th Rawat, M.S.
August, 200S and 26th September, 200S and Roychaudhari, Pinaki
sent to Convenor FPC. During the meeting of Sharma, S.C.
FPC held on 6th January, 2007, it was decided Sodhi, M.S.
to publish the draft document in "Indian Tatwani, L.N.
Highways". Draft document was published in Tyagi, B.R
issue of "Indian Highways". Comments of Director, HRS
engineers from profession were discussed in
the meeting of Flexible Pavement Committee Corresponding Members
held on Sth May, 2007 and incorporated in the Bhattacharya, C.c.
revised document which was approved by Dongre, Raj, Dr.
Flexible Pavement Committee in its meeting Issac, P.K., Prof.

1
 IRC: 16-2008
Justo, C.E.G., Dr. 3. PRIME COAT OVER GRANULAR
Reddy, K.S., Dr. BASE
Ex- OjJic;ioMembers 3.1 Definitions and Objectives
President, IRC (Subhash Patel)
Director General (RD), MOSRT&H 3.1.1 Priming is spraying of low viscosity
Secretary General, IRC (VK. Sinha) liquid bituminous materials on the surface of
non-bituminous granular base course
preparatory to the superimposition of
This Standardwould supersedeexistingIRC:16 bituminous treatment. The objectives of
-1989 titled "Specification for Priming of Base priming a granular surface are as under:
CoursewithBitmninousPrimers(FirstRevision)".
(i) to penetrate the existing base
course surface so as to plug
1.2 Symbols and Abbreviations capillary voids in it.
1.2.1 For the pmpose of this Standard, the (ii) to .coat and bond loose mineral
following symbols for SI units and abbreviations particles on the surface of the
shallapply. base course.
(iii) to seal surface pores and make
1.2.1.1 Symbols for SI Units the surface of the base course
water-resistant.
DC degreeCelsius
kg kilogram (iv) To provide adhesion between the
m metre base and the superimposed
mm millimetre bituminous surface course in
cSt centiStokes conjunction with a tack coat.

1.2.1.2Abbreviations 3.1.2 Prime Coat is not to be regarded as a

substitute for tack coat, the objective of
BS BritishStandardbyBritish which is to ensure a proper bond between the
StandardInstitute surface being paved and the new bituminous
IRe IndianRoads Congress course being placed over it.
IS Indian Standard by Bureau
of Indian Standards 3.2 Materials
MC Medium Curing
RC RapidCuring 3.2.1 The bituminous material to be used as
RS RapidSetting primer should be such that it can penetrate
SS SlowSetting deep into base course (about 10 mm depth) to
WBM WaterBoundMacadam perform its intended function in an
WMM WetMixMacadam environment friendly mariner. Bitumen
emulsion or medium curing cutback bitumen
2. SCOPE can be used as primer.
TIlls documentcoversthespecificationsand
3.2.2 Cationic bitumen emulsion SS-l grade
construction of bituminous prime coat for laying conforming to IS:8887/ASTM D2397 shall
over granular surface and tack coat over primed be used as primer. The quantity of SS-l grade
granular surface, bitmninous or cement concrete bitumen emulsion for various types of
pavement. granular surfaces shall be as per Table 1-
Cutback should not be prepared in the fiel9.

2
 IRC: 16-200~
Table 1 : Quantity of Bitumen Emulsion as Primer for Various Surface Types
Type of Surface 0.7-1.0
1.2 -- 1.5
Rate of Spray (kg/m2)0.9 1.2
e/cement stabilized Gravel Base, Crusher Run Macadam and Crushed Rock base

3.2.3 Medium curing cutback bitumen 3.3.2 Equipment

conforming to IS:217 shall be used as primer.
The type and quantity of cutback bitumen to All equipments required for execution
be used as primer shall be as given in Table 2. of priming work shall be in good working

Table 2 : Type and Quantity of Cutback· Bitumen Primer

Type0.9 Rate
0.6-0.9
1.2 1.2 of Sprayof Cutback
of -SurfaceType
1.5 MC30
MC70
MC250
base
Gravel Base, Crusher Run Macadam and
(kg/m2)

3.2.4 The correct quantity of primer will be condition at site. The primer distrlbutor shall
the maximum amount that can be absorbed by be a self propelled or towed bitumen pressure
the surface without causing run-off of sprayer equipped for spraying the material
uniformly at specified rates and temperature.
, excessive primer (some times referred as
"finger" to form at the lower edges of the Hand spraying of small areas using pressure
primed area) and is to be decided by the hand sprayer may be permitted at specific
supervising engineer at the site to achieve strategic locations, where distributor is not
desired penetration of I 0 nun. accessible or if narrow strips of « 3 m)
granular surface are to be primed. Pouring of
3.3 Construction primer using perforated can should not be
permitted. SS-I grade bitumen emulsion
3.3.1 Weather and seasonal limitations stored at site in the tank shall have
arrangement like circulation pump to ensure
Cutback Bitumen as Primer shall not its proper mixing before withdrawal from
be applied on a damp or wet surface. Bitumen tank and transfer to browser.
emulsion shall be applied on a damp surface:
Surface shall be just wet with very light 3.3.3 Preparation of surface
sprinkling of water. Primer shall not be
applied during dust storm, rainy, foggy or The base course surface to be primed
windy weather. The ambient temperature shall be swept clean and made free from dust.
during priming by bitumen emulsion should All loose material and other foreign material
be above 10°C. on the surface shall be removed completely.
Power brooms or mechanical sweepers may
3
 IRC:16-2008
be used for cleaning of surface. The surface to application of sand using the mlmmum
be primed (whether with SS-l emulsion or quantity possible. A primed surface shall not
medium curing cutback bitumen) should be be opened for traffic other than that necessary
kept dry in case cutback is used as primer. If construction vehicles to lay the next
Soil/Moorum binder has been used in the bituminous course.
WBM surface, part of this should be brushed
and removed up to a depth of 2 mm so as to 3.3.7 Arrangement for traffic
provide good borid.
During the period of construction;
The dilution of SS-l bitumen emulsion is appropriate arrangement for traffic diversion
.not permitted. shall be made as specified in IRC:SP:55 to
prevent any possible damage of primed
3.3.4 Application of primer surface.

After the base to be primed has been 3.4 Quality Control

prepared as in section 3.3.3, the primer shall
be uniformly applied using the appropriate The Quality Control shall be
equipment at application rate specified in undertaken as under:
Table 1 or 2 as applicable. The spraying Test Orte:set
frequency
less
I Regular oftwo
of
testthan
per test tests
Tests for
m2 aand
Intervals
1000 per day
not
should be carried out using pressure
binder
for sprayer
application bitumen
as per emulsion
and
(Appendix-I)
tanker or lot
IS:217
(Appendix 18:8887
2)
of 10
for for
tonne
cutback
Quality
BinderofTemperature
Binder Rate of spread of
or distributor. The method of application of
primer will also depend on the type of
equipment to be used, size of nozzles,
pressure at spray bar and speed of the forward
movement of vehicle. A trial section shall be
laid to check the efficacy of equipment as well
as penetration depth (10 mm) of the priming
material.

3.3.5 Temperature of application of

primer 4.TACK COAT

No heating ofSS-1 bitumen emulsion 4.1. Definition

is permitted at site. In case of cutback
bitumen, temperature of application of primer Tack Coat is a very light application of
should be high enough to permit the primer to low viscosity liquid bituminous material to an
be sprayed effectively through the jets of the existing bituminous, cement concrete or
spray bar and to cover the base course surface primed granular surface to ensure a bond
effectively. The temperature of product at the between the surface being paved and the
time of application should be more than 1DoC. overlaying course. The tack coat material is
not expected to penetrate into pavement and
3.3.6 Air curing and opening oftraffic for this reason; the applications should be
very light to provide adequate bond between
The primed surface shall be allowed to two layers.
cure for at least 24 hours or any other higher
period, as is found to be necessary to allow all 4.2. Materials
the moisture or volatiles to evaporate before
any subsequent bituminous surface treatment The binder used for tack coat shallbe either
or mix is laid. Excessive and unabsorbed CationicBitumen Emulsion (RS-l) conforrnin..gto
primer if any, shall be blotted with a light
4
 IRC: 16-2008

IS: 8887/AS1M D 2397 or suitable low viscosity to be applied shall be clean and free from dust,
pavingbitumenof VG 10gradeconfonningtoIS:73. dirt and any extraneous material. The granular
The use of cutback bitumen RC-70 (in cold or stabilized surface shall be primed as per
climate) as per IS:217 shall be restricted only for specifications given in Clause 3 of this Code.
siteswhere atmospherictemperature at the time of Immediately before the application of tack
application reaches below O°Cor for emergency coat, the surface shall be swept clean with a
applications. mechanical broom and high-pressure air jet or
by other means as directed by the Engineer.
4.3 Construction
4.3.4 Application oftack coat
4.3.1 Weather and Seasonal Limitations
4.3.4.1 The rate of application for tack coat on
Bituminous material shall not be various types of surfaces shall be as per
applied during rainy season, dust storm or Table 3 and shall be applied uniformly. The
when the weather is foggy, rainy or windy or quantity of cutback, when used as tack coat,
when the ambient temperature is less than will be same as that of emulsion.
WoC. The surface should be totally dry in case
of cutback bitumen. However, when using 4.3.4.2 The method of application of tack
bitumen emulsion as tack coat, the surface coat will also depend on the type of equipment
should be slightly damp, but shall not be wet. to be used, size of nozzles, pressure at spray
bar and speed of the forward movement of
4.3.2 Equipment vehicle. A spraying trial shall demonstrate
that the equipment and method to be used is
capable of providing a uniform spray, within
The tack coat shall be applied by a
specified tolerance limit. The quantity of tack
self-propelled or towed bitumen pressure
coat shall be checked periodically using tray
sprayer equipped for spraying the material
coating test as described in Appendix 2. The
uniformly at a specified rate. Hand spraying dilution of RS-l bitumen emulsion is not
may be permitttjd where tack coat is to be . permitted.
applied on small areas, inaccessible to the
distributor, or in narrow strips, with a pressure
4.3.5 Temperature of application of tack
hand sprayer. Pouring of tack coat using coat
perforated can may be permitted in case of
patchwork but shall not be permitted for
majorroad works. No heating ofRS-1 Bitumen Emulsion
is permitted at site. Paving Bitumen if used
shall be heated to its appropriate application
4.3.3 Preparation of base temperature in bitumen boiler to achieve
desired viscosity of less than 2 poise. The
The surface on which the tack coat is

Table 3 : Rate of Application of Tack Coat

Sl. No. Bituminous

(Kg/m2)Type
0.35
0.30
of Surface
Cement
Granular to
of 0.45
surface
0.40
(Bitumen
Rate
concrete
Surface
(Kg/m2) 0.40
0.50
Spray
VG-IO)
pavement
treated 0.25
0.30
withRate toto0.30
0.20of
primer 0.35
0.30
Spray

5
IRC:16-2008

normal range of spraying temperature for a appropriate arrangements for traffic

bituminous emulsion shall be 20°C to 70°C diversion shall be made.
and for a cutback, 50°C to 80°C if RC-
70/MC-70 is used. In case of cutback 4.4 Quality Control
bitumen, temperature of application of primer
should be high enough to permit the tack coat Tests to be conducted on bitumen,
to be sprayed effectively through the jets of cutback bitumen and bitumen emulsion are
the spray bar and to cover the base course given in Appendix-t. Manufacturer shall
surface uniformly. In case of the use of provide test certificate for each· batch
paving grade bitumen, viscosity at the time of indicating date of manufacture, batch number
application shall be less than 2 poise so that arid signature of quality control in charge. The
spraying is uniform . details of tray test for measurement of quantity
are given in Appendix -2.
4.3.6 Curing of tack coat
The Quality Control shall be
After application of the Emulsion as undertaken as under:-
tack coat, allow the bitumen emulsion to
Test and
One
tanker
as
Frequency ISl8887
perset
orof
oftest
lot
IS:73
I Regular
test
less per
than for
for
Tests bitumen
oftests
for
10 atonne
bitumen
Interyals
1000
two m2 and
per day
not
break i.e turn black before placing the
binder
manufacturer
for application
product
test per batch
by theof (Appendix
emulsion 2)
(Appendix-I)
Rate of spread of
bituminous mixture or overlay.Quality
Traffic should
of Binder
be kept off ofthe area where tackBinder
coat Temperature
is being
sprayed. No Plant or vehicles shall be
allowed on the tack coat other than those
essential for construction.

4.3.7 Arrangements for traffic

During the period of construction,

6
 IRC:SP:16-2008
REFERENCES
APPENDIX-l

Quality Tests for Tack Coat and Prime The following IS Standards contain
Coat provisions, which through reference in the
text, constitute provisions of this Standard. At
In case of bitumen emulsion residue the time of publication, the editions indicated
on 600 micron sieve, viscosity test and were valid. All Standards are subject to
storage stability tests shall be conducted at revision and parties to contract agreements
site. In case of cutback bitumen, viscosity based on this Standard are encouraged to
test, flash point test and residue test shall be examine the possibility of applying the most
recent editions of the Standards indicated
conducted at site. In case of paving grade
below:-
bitumen, viscosity at 60°C and 160°C shall be
determined.
IS:73-2007 Specifications of
APPENDIX-2 Paving Bitumen
IS:217-1988 Specifications. for
Method of Test for Measurement of - Cutback Bitumen
Spread of Binder for Prime Coat and (Second Revision)
Tack Coat IS: 8887-2004 Bitumen Emulsion for
Roads
Aluminum or other light metal tray of (Cationic Type)
200 mm x 200 mm size and 20 mm depth are Specifications
to be used. A set of three plates is essential for (Second Revision)
one test. All the plates are to be weighed and
numbered. These are placed at intervals of 10
m along the road in path between wheels of
bitumen distributor. After the distributor
crosses a length of 50 m, trays are to be
removed and wrapped in weighed
polyethylene bags so that these can be
handled, stocked safely for further weighing
in laboratory. The trays shall be weighed to
first place of decimal. Similarly, transverse
. distribution of liquid bituminous material
can be checked by placing three numbers of
plates at interval of 50 cm in the path of
binder spraying equipment.