General requirements, special considerations and duties of parties to approval trials

A9.5.5

General requirements for approval trials

Trials may be undertaken in any road category with the approval of the authority. Trials cannot be undertaken in a high amenity or high duty footway, footpath or cycle track, or a site of special scientific interest unless by agreement. Off-site trials can also be used if appropriate.
Approval trials in carriageways must be conducted on a minimum of three separate sites selected to represent a range of traffic conditions. A number of positions in the carriageway (e.g. within and outside a wheel track, longitudinal and transverse orientation (for trench reinstatements)) should also be considered.
The duration of all approval trials must be agreed between the undertaker and the authority. The duration will depend on evidence of performance, timescale to demonstrate performance and type of ARM or AT as follows:
1. ATs used where the technology can be directly validated during the works (for example an alternative excavation or compaction method) should typically be less than a year. By the end of the trial, a technical report with evidence of compliance must be submitted.
2. For other ATs, if evidence of performance is presented (for example track record of use from other sectors or accelerated loading trials) the duration may be 2 years; however, in the absence of this it may be up to 5 years. By the end of the trial, a technical report with evidence of compliance must be submitted.
3. SMRs and TMFs complying with the requirements in A9 should be 2 years. By the end of the trial, a technical report with evidence of compliance must be submitted.
4. For other ARMs, if evidence of performance is presented (for example track record of use from other sectors, accelerated loading trials and durability testing) the duration may be 2 years. However, in the absence of this it may be up to 5 years. By the end of the trial, a technical report with evidence of compliance must be submitted.
A record of all test sites must be kept to enable effective monitoring and management of the asset. Specific details must be agreed as part of the Memorandum of Understanding for the approval process.
The final inspection must be completed within one month following the end of trial period. The undertaker must notify the authority of the inspection date at least seven working days in advance. The authority must confirm their intention to attend or otherwise within seven working days of receipt of such notification. The inspection measures should be carried out on the notified date at an agreed time or an agreed alternative date. Where the authority does not attend the final inspection, the undertaker must provide the authority with a summary of the investigation within 28 days of the inspection. The undertaker should keep a photographic record of the approval trial reinstatements at the time of inspection and send copies to the authority.
Core sampling and interim inspections of any type may be carried out on approval trial reinstatements at any time. Where required as part of the approval trial agreement, the undertaker must notify the authority at least five working days in advance of such works. Any holes created during these activities must be reinstated in accordance with the relevant requirements of this Code.
Reinstatements may be accidentally damaged during the trial and rendered unsuitable for accurate assessment. It is therefore recommended that trials should include duplicate sites for each road type, category, position, orientation, etc.
Where an approval trial reinstatement requires remedial action, then regardless of the reason, the undertaker must provide the authority with details of the remedial measures within one month of completion. Where practicable, records of surface measurements, photographs etc taken before and after the remedial work should be kept by the undertaker and copies provided to the authority.
With the approval of the authority, further use of the ARMs or ATs under trial may be permitted before completion of the trial. Such approval will only apply to works carried out within the boundary of the authority that has given approval. Further use of ARMs or ATs can only be in road categories up to and including the highest category used for the approved trial.
On successful completion of the approval trial, the results, audit trail and Factory Production Control or Quality System documentation should be shared with other authorities from whom permission for further use is to be sought. By agreement between the parties involved, some or all of the details of the trials can be forwarded to Regional HAUC or National HAUC to allow them to be made available nationally. Further use of ARMs or ATs can only take place in road categories up to and including the highest category used for the approved trial.
After successful completion of an approval trial, permission for further use of the ARM or ATs must not be unreasonably withheld by any other authority and must only be denied for engineering reasons. Where reasonable engineering concerns are expressed, the nature of which must be stated, then additional assessment may be required by the authority.
It is recognised that the scope, extent and duration of ARM and AT approval trials may vary widely.

A9.5.6

Special considerations for approval trials

For small-scale approval trials intended to take place on a small number of sites and over a fixed period of time (e.g. for specially prepared approval trial excavations), the undertaker must notify the authority at least one month in advance of each trial.
Specially prepared excavations should be of similar depth and plan dimensions to the undertaker’s routine excavations, and generally not less than 500 mm by 500 mm in plan, or not less than 200 mm wide for trench excavations. The total combined surface area of all approval trial sites should not be less than 2 m².
The location and position of the approval trial reinstatements should represent as wide a range as possible (see A9.5.5(2)). If specially prepared sites are to be used, the site locations may be jointly selected.
Large-scale trials, such as those where the material or technique is used during works, may take place over a longer time period. The undertaker must notify the authority of such trials at least one month before they start. Arrangements for notification and attendance at the trials should be included in the trial agreement.
Any restrictions on size, location and position, number of approval trial sites or the period during which the approval trial reinstatements may be carried out, should also be included in the approval trial agreement.
The agreed trial period starts on the date of installation. Dates for submission of an interim report on the trial should be agreed, with the report being submitted in the agreed period. The final review or reporting must be carried out when the trial sites have reached the agreed age.

A9.5.7

Duties of parties to approval trials

The initiator (usually the undertaker) would be expected to have carried out documented development work to ensure a high level of confidence in the proposed ARM or AT before starting the approval process. The results of such development work should not be unreasonably withheld from the authority.
The undertaker must provide as much notice of the approval trial reinstatement operation(s) (e.g. location, date/time, excavation, mixing, reinstatement, sampling, post-construction activities etc.) as practically possible, in accordance with the requirements of the approval trial agreement.
The undertaker must not unreasonably withhold information relating to any aspect of the approval trial from the authority.
The authority must not unreasonably obstruct approval trials or cause their termination provided they are carried out in accordance with the terms of the approval trial agreement.
Either party has the right to request confidentiality on any matter relating to the approval trial.