October 2022
Lecture 3c
Civil Engineering Practice
SPECIFICATIONS
Examples – Kerb and Gutter
Prepare a Specification for Kerb and Gutter for the provided drawings
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Any construction procedure or material that is not covered by this Specification shall only be permitted
where explicit written approval has been granted by Council’s Engineer. This may require the submission of
certification or compliance reports where appropriate.
This Specification will be revised periodically to embrace new ideas and technologies and to coordinate with
updated Council planning and engineering policy.
2.0 CONCRETE WORKS
2.1 General
a. Compressive Strength
All concrete shall have a minimum compressive strength of 25MPa at 28 days except where
otherwise specified.
The Applicant shall be responsible for the making of test cylinders where directed by Council’s
Engineer and shall bear the cost of transport and testing of the cylinders at a laboratory to be
approved by Council’s Engineer.
Tests to be taken at the Applicant’s expense and carried out in a Registered Laboratory.
Ready mixed concrete shall be obtained from a source acceptable to Council’s Engineer and shall
consist of a mixture of best quality cement, fine and course aggregates, and water, complying in
all respects with the requirement of the current – “Specification and Supply of Concrete”.
b. Placing
Concrete shall be transported, placed, compacted and cured to the satisfaction of Council’s
Engineer.
2.2 Kerb and Gutter
The kerb and gutter shall be constructed in place with the kerb built upon and integral with the gutter.
The kerb shall be aligned in straight lines and in circular curves as shown on the approved Engineering
Drawings, and shall be true to the grades shown on the Engineering Drawings.
The sub-base for the kerb and gutter shall be formed at the required depth, in accordance with Section 1.3 of
this specification. A sub-base of compacted thickness not less than the road pavement sub-base shall be
provided on the sub-grade and this shall extend 300mm beyond the back of the kerb.
Unless otherwise specified kerb moulding machines or slip-form machines are to be used for the construction
of kerb and gutter to the specified profile. Where short lengths of kerb and gutter are to be constructed,
Council’s Engineer may permit formwork to be used.
Vertical full depth expansion joints of approved bitumen impregnated jointing material shall be placed at the
end of each day’s construction, at junctions with the existing old work and at every pit. Weakened plain joints
(dummy joints) shall be cut full depth through the kerb and gutter at regular intervals of 3 metres. A dummy
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joint shall be cut at the centre of all vehicular crossings and at the edge of precast lintels. Joints shall be
located at least 500mm from any drainage holes.
A maximum tolerance of +/-10mm along the top of kerb and/or face of kerb over a length of 5 metres shall
be adopted. For machines with a milling attachment the maximum cut shall be 20mm.
Driveway and pram ramp laybacks shall be provided in conjunction and concurrently with the construction of
the kerb and gutter. Storm water outlets through the kerb shall also be provided concurrently in accordance
with Attachment I of this Specification.
Inspection of the kerb and gutter will be as detailed in Attachment II of this Specification.
Backfilling of the kerb and gutter shall not be undertaken until at least four days after placement.
Where directed by Council’s Engineer, core samples of the concrete kerb and gutter are to be taken and
tested for compliance with compressive strength requirements.
2.3 Sub-Base Course
The sub-base may consist of crushed or ripped sandstone, either 75mm or 100mm nominal size, derived from
well cemented, medium grained quartz sandstone free from overburden, clay seams, shale and other
deleterious material, excessively friable materials and flat or elongated pieces.
2.4 Sub base Layer
The road pavement shall be constructed on the sub-base in uniform layers to provide the pavement thickness
in accordance with the pavement design. No individual layer shall be more than 200mm or less than 100mm
compacted thickness.
The base course material shall be uniformly compacted at the required moisture content and shall be graded
and trimmed parallel to the designed finished surface.
Where stabilised crushed rock is used as the base material, it shall be spread and compacted within twenty-
four (24) hours of delivery.
The minimum compacted thickness of the base course shall be 125mm.
Inspection of the base course shall be done by a roller test, using a three-point roller having a weight of at
least ten (10) tonnes. The placement of the wearing course shall not commence until after the appropriate
inspection by Council’s Engineer.
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