Specifications include, but are not limited to: CRACK AND JOINT CLEANING AND FILLING, HOT POUR - A. General: 1. Use equipment complying with Iowa DOT Articles 2541.03 (HMA) and 2542.03 (PCC). 2. Rout or saw joints and cracks with an average opening of 3/8 inch or less to provide a minimum sealant reservoir of 3/8 inch wide by a nominal 1/2 inch deep. B. Crack and Joint Cleaning: 1. Clean cracks or joints of existing joint filler material, backer rod, vegetation, dirt, and other foreign material. 2. Clean joints or cracks by air blasting or by other methods as necessary to remove debris. 3. If specified in the contract documents, clean wet sawn joints with high pressure water immediately after sawing to remove residue produced by the sawing operation. 4. When cleaned joints or cracks are contaminated before being filled, clean them again before filling. C. Crack and Joint Filling: 1. Ensure cracks and joints are dry prior to placement of filler material. 2. Heat, handle, and apply joint filler material to the proper level as specified in the contract documents and as recommended by the manufacturer. a. PCC Pavement: Do not overfill joint or crack with filler material. Immediately remove filler material placed on the pavement surface. b. HMA Pavement: Slightly overfill the entire crack reservoir with filler material. Smooth with a narrow V-shaped squeegee immediately after placement of the filler material to within 1/2 inch on each side of the crack edge. 4. Place joint filler material when the pavement and ambient air temperatures are 40°F or higher. When near this minimum, additional air blasting or drying time, or both, may be necessary to ensure a satisfactory bond to the joint surfaces. 5. Lanes may be opened to traffic only after the filler material has set sufficiently so it will not pick up under traffic. Blotting material may be applied to the filler material, but only after the surface has set to avoid penetration of the blotting material into the filler material...
