Technical Specification

Transport and Main Roads Specifications

MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications
July 2022
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Transport and Main Roads Specifications, July 2022

Contents

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Definition of terms ........................................................................................................................ 1
2.1 Standard definitions ........................................................................................................................ 1
2.2 Definitions in other documents ....................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Priority of definitions ....................................................................................................................... 4
3 Referenced documents ................................................................................................................ 4
4 Standard test methods ................................................................................................................. 5
5 Quality system requirements ...................................................................................................... 6
5.1 General ........................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2 Hold points, Witness Points and Milestones................................................................................... 6
5.3 Conformance requirements ............................................................................................................ 6
6 Units of measurement .................................................................................................................. 6
7 Materials and workmanship......................................................................................................... 7
8 Set out of individual installations ............................................................................................... 7
9 Ground slope................................................................................................................................. 8
10 Utilisation and disposal of surplus material .............................................................................. 8
11 Limits in the technical specifications ......................................................................................... 8
11.1 General ........................................................................................................................................... 8
11.2 Maximum and/or minimum limits and/or shapes ............................................................................ 9
11.3 Specified values/shapes and tolerances ........................................................................................ 9
11.4 Characteristic value ........................................................................................................................ 9
12 Calculation of the characteristic value ....................................................................................... 9
13 Methods of specifying skewed structures ............................................................................... 11
14 The Administrator ....................................................................................................................... 12
15 Supplementary requirements .................................................................................................... 12
16 Commentaries ............................................................................................................................. 12

Transport and Main Roads Specifications, July 2022 i

Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

1 Introduction
This Technical Specification serves as an introduction to Technical Specifications.

This Technical Specification contains definitions of terms and interpretation of clauses common to
many Technical Specifications.

This Technical Specification shall be read in conjunction with other Technical Specifications.

In the Technical Specifications, reference to clause numbers shall be taken to mean reference to the
clauses of that number within that Technical Specification, unless stated otherwise.

This Technical Specification forms part of the Transport and Main Roads Specifications Manual. All
specifications forming the Transport and Main Roads Specifications Manual detail the technical
requirements for work related to departmental projects.

Others may use these documents for non-departmental projects at their own risk. In some cases, a
particular Technical Specification may be based on the assumption that a standard departmental
contract is in place (that is, references to “contract” means a reference to a specific standard contract).
A consistency check should be undertaken if the contract is not a departmental standard.

These specifications do not specifically cover non-technical issues associated with undertaking
departmental works, for example Workplace Health and Safety, or environmental. Such issues are
generally covered by legislative or other requirements and are generally beyond the scope of these
specifications.

The Standard Work Items outlined in Specification (Measurement) ‘MRSxx’ documents have changed
from a four-digit number to a five-digit number to enhance the sustainability of this system. Existing
contracts tendered using the four-digit Standard Work Items will continue to be managed under this
numbering system until finalisation. Contracts prepared after 31 July 2017 will be prepared with five-
digit Standard Work Items.

2 Definition of terms
2.1 Standard definitions

The standard definitions listed in Table 2.1 shall apply to the Technical Specifications.

Table 2.1 – Definition of terms

Term Definition
base line The survey line actually pegged on the ground, which may also be the
control line or the centreline
cell A single chamber of a drainage structure which provides an opening
compliance testing Testing carried out to determine if the product complies with the
relevant standards and requirements. Compliance testing may also be
referred to as conformance testing
conformance Conformity as defined in AS/NZS ISO 9000
conformance report Summary statement submitted by the Contractor to the Administrator
of the evidence pertaining to each lot which demonstrates that the
specified requirements for that lot have been met
contract Refers to the related contract between the department and other party

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

Term Definition
control testing Testing used to monitor and control the construction process and
material quality
culvert A drainage structure which consists of one or more cells
height The vertical distance of a point on a surface above or below the
project survey datum. Height replaces the term “reduced level”
Hold Point An identified point in a process past which the Contractor shall not
proceed without a direction from the Administrator
localised excavation A minor excavation which is not scheduled separately as a Work Item
and whose dimensions are not specifically indicated in a standard
and/or Drawing but which shall be carried out in order to correctly
construct the work under the Contract
lot A portion of material or a section of the Works which has been
constructed and/or supplied under essentially uniform conditions and
contains material of essentially uniform quality, or
A single finished item of work which includes several materials and/or
work types (eg a culvert in place)
Transport and Main The manual containing the set of Specifications and Technical
Roads Specifications Specifications for road and bridge works published by Transport and
Manual Main Roads
mass concrete Unreinforced concrete placed in a large mass which relies on its
weight for stability
MDR Abbreviation for moisture density relationship
Milestone A point within a project where progress is verified by the completion of
an activity or a point which marks the start of an activity
NATA Abbreviation for the National Association of Testing Authorities
Australia
natural ground surface The ground surface existing prior to the commencement of any work
under the Contract
nonconformance Nonconformity as defined in AS/NZS ISO 9000
nonconformance report A written report produced by the Contractor which indicates that a
nonconformance has been identified
pavement marking Any delineation device installed on the pavement including lines,
symbols, chevrons and raised pavement markers
processing Operations required to modify material for the purpose of altering its
properties
proprietary product A product obtained from a recognised manufacturer of that product
which is recommended by the manufacturer as suitable for its intended
use
random sampling A system in which the selection of sampling locations, sampling
intervals or test locations is made for a lot or sub-lot so that each
location or interval in the lot or sub-lot has an equal chance of being
selected. Random sampling shall be performed in accordance with
Test Method AS 12891.4.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering
purposes, Method 1.4.1: Sampling and preparation of soils – Selection
of sampling or test sites – Random number method, unless otherwise
specified

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

Term Definition
random stratified A system in which selection of sampling locations, sampling intervals
sampling or test locations is made by dividing the lot or sub-lot into strata of
equal size, followed by the random selection of a single location or
interval for sampling or testing in each stratum so that each location or
interval in the lot or sub-lot has an equal chance of being selected.
Random stratified sampling shall be performed in accordance with
Test Method AS 1289.1.4.2 Methods of testing soils for engineering
purposes, Method 1.4.2: Sampling and preparation of soils – Selection
of sampling or test sites – Stratified random number method, unless
otherwise specified
relative compaction Previously relative dry density, abbreviated to RDD, is the ratio,
expressed as a percentage, of the insitu dry density of the material
presented for compliance testing and the maximum dry density of a
reference sample compacted in accordance with a specified procedure
road The developed way devoted to public travel principally with motor
vehicles
road furniture Any roadside item or device including signs, guide posts, guardrails,
barriers, fences and grids
road reserve The whole width between abutting property boundaries of a section of
land reserved for use for a road
specified Given or described. When used without qualification it shall refer to
information given or described in the Contract and/or information
which can be derived from the Contract
Standard Drawing A drawing published by the department as a Standard Drawing in the
Manual of Standard Drawings Roads
subgrade The trimmed or prepared portion of the formation on which the
pavement is constructed
subgrade level The level of the top surface of the prepared subgrade on which a
pavement is constructed
sublot A subdivision of a lot
supplementary technical Any Technical Specification included in the Contract which is not a
specification Technical Specification
Technical Specification Any Technical Specification published by the department as a
Technical Specification forming part of the Transport and Main Roads
Specifications Manual
Transport and Main The Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland, its
Roads successors or assigns
Witness Point An identified point in a construction process at which an activity is
observed
WPI Abbreviation for Weighted Plasticity Index = Plasticity Index × %
passing 0.425 mm test sieve

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

2.2 Definitions in other documents

Further relevant definitions are contained in the following documents:

a) a particular Transport and Main Road's Supplementary Technical Specification

b) a particular Transport and Main Road's Technical Specification

c) a particular Transport and Main Road's Technical Publication (Manual, Supplement to

Austroads Guide, Supplement to Australian Standards, Technical Note, Engineering Policy
and Guideline)

d) Austroads Glossary of Terms, and

e) AS/NZS ISO 9000.

2.3 Priority of definitions

In the event of conflict in definition, priority shall be assigned in the order that the documents are listed
below:

a) the relevant Transport and Main Road's Supplementary Technical Specification

b) the relevant particular Transport and Main Road's Technical Specification

c) this Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

d) a particular Transport and Main Road's Technical Publication (Manual, Supplement to

Austroads Guide, Supplement to Australian Standards, Technical Note, Engineering Policy
and Guideline)

e) Austroads Glossary of Terms, and

f) AS/NZS ISO 9000.

3 Referenced documents
Throughout the Technical Specifications, Australian Standards are referenced by their allocated “AS”
number only. Unless an edition date accompanies the particular reference, the latest edition available
14 days prior to the date of lodgement of tenders shall apply. Where a Referenced Standard has been
superseded or deleted by Australian Standards, the current relevant Australian Standard shall apply.

For all other documents referred to in the Contract (including the Materials Testing Manual, the
Nuclear Gauge Testing Manual, Austroads documents, ASTM International Standards, other state
road authority standards, technical notes and design guidelines / supplements), the latest edition
available 14 days prior to the date of lodgement of tenders shall apply, unless an edition date
accompanies the particular reference.

Table 3 lists documents referenced in this Technical Specification.

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

Table 3 – Referenced documents

Reference Title
- Austroads Glossary of Terms
AS 1289.1.4.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Method 1.4.1: Sampling
and preparation of soils – Selection of sampling or test sites – Random
number method
AS 1289.1.4.2 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Method 1.4.2: Sampling
and preparation of soils – Selection of sampling or test sites – Stratified
random number method
AS/NZS ISO 9000 Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary
MRTS04 General Earthworks
MRTS05 Unbound Pavements
MRTS06 Reinforced Soil Structures
MRTS07A Insitu Stabilised Subgrades using Quicklime or Hydrated Lime
MRTS07B Insitu Stabilised Pavements using Cement or Cementitious Blends
MRTS07C Insitu Stabilised Pavements using Foamed Bitumen
MRTS08 Plant-Mixed Heavily Bound (Cemented) Pavements
MRTS09 Plant-Mixed Pavement Layers Stabilised using Foamed Bitumen
MRTS10 Plant-Mixed Lightly Bound Pavements
MRTS30 Asphalt Pavements
Q020 Calculation of characteristic value of a lot

4 Standard test methods

Testing of all work carried out under the Contract shall be undertaken in accordance with test methods
in the departments Materials Testing Manual or where specified, from national standards. Where
these methods are referenced in the Materials Testing Manual and in the Transport and Main Roads
Specifications Manual they are prefixed as follows:

a) "Q" for methods published in the Materials Testing Manual

b) "AS" for methods published by Standards Australia

c) "AS/NZS" for Test Methods jointly published by Standards Australia and Standards New
Zealand

d) "AG:AM/T", "AG:PT/T" or "ATM" for methods published by Austroads

e) “ASTM” for method published by the ASTM International, formerly American Standards for
Testing of Materials, or

f) 'T' for Test Methods published by Transport for New South Wales, formerly Roads and

g) Maritime Services New South Wales.

In some instances, however, test methods from other sources, such as, International Standards or
other State Road Authorities, may be specified. Where this is the case, complete details of the test
method references are given in the relevant Technical Specification.

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

5 Quality system requirements

5.1 General

The general quality system requirements for work covered by the Technical Specifications are set out
in MRTS50 Specific Quality System Requirements.

Additional requirements, where applicable, are included in the relevant Technical Specification under a
Clause titled “Quality System Requirements” (the “Quality clause”).

5.2 Hold points, Witness Points and Milestones

Where a Hold Point, Witness Point or Milestone applies in a Technical Specification, the text is
highlighted at the appropriate point and a summary of all such points is included in the Quality Clause
of the relevant Technical Specification.

a) a Hold Point is indicated in the text as Hold Point

b) a Witness Point is identified in the text as Witness Point and

c) a Milestone is identified in the text as Milestone

The Hold Point to this Technical Specification is summarised in Table 5.2. There are no Milestone and
Witness Points defined.

Table 5.2 – Hold Points, Witness Points and Milestones

Clause Hold Point Witness Point Milestone

8 1. Design appropriateness of
design setout with regard to the
actual site conditions

5.3 Conformance requirements

Where applicable, a summary of the conformance requirements for a lot is included in the Quality
Clause of the relevant Technical Specification.

Additionally, minimum testing requirements may be specified in the Technical Specification or in the
Annexure to the relevant Technical Specification.

6 Units of measurement
Dimensions and measurements in the Technical Specifications are consistently described by the set
of units of measurement listed in Table 6.

Table 6 – Units of Measurement

Measurement Unit Abbreviation

metre m
micrometre µm
distance millimetre mm
centimetre cm
kilometre km

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

Measurement Unit Abbreviation

square metre m²
area
hectare ha
cubic metre m³
volume kilolitre kL
litre L
newton N
force
kilonewton kN
kilopascal kPa
pressure
megapascal MPa
temperature degrees Celsius °C
unit weight kilonewtons per cubic metre kN/m³
metres per second m/s
velocity
kilometres per hour km/h
kilogram kg
mass
tonne t
grams per square metre g/m²
mass per unit
kilograms per square metre kg/m²
density tonnes per cubic metre t/m³
seconds s
time minutes min
hours h
hertz Hz
frequency
kilohertz kHz

7 Materials and workmanship

Where materials, material components, workmanship and procedures are not specifically described by
the Contract, they shall be in accordance with the relevant Australian Standard. Where no Australian
Standard is available, other specifications shall be used in the following order of priority:

a) the contract specification of the local authority where work is being undertaken

b) manufacturer’s recommendations, and

c) accepted industry standards.

At a minimum materials and workmanship shall be the best of their respective kinds and fit for the
purpose for which they are intended.

8 Set out of individual installations

The Contractor shall set out an installation as shown on the Drawings in sufficient detail to identify the
location, length and levels of the proposed installation.

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

Once the initial set out is complete the Administrator will determine the design appropriateness of the
set out with regard to the actual site conditions Hold Point 1 The Administrator may direct
amendments to the set-out details. Payment for such amendments will be made at appropriate rates in
the Schedule of Rates or, where such rates are not deemed by the Administrator to be appropriate, as
determined by the Administrator.

Installations to be set out in accordance with the above requirements include:

a) drainage pipes, culverts and structures

b) landscaping, and

c) traffic control and lighting ducts, pits, poles and equipment.

9 Ground slope
Where used in the Technical Specifications to identify ground surface slope or batter angles, the
following terms shall all be taken to mean a slope of 1 unit in the vertical direction and n units in the
horizontal direction:

a) 1 on n

b) 1 in n

c) 1 : n, and

d) N to 1.

10 Utilisation and disposal of surplus material

Demolished material which complies in all respects with specified requirements may be used in the
Works.

Demolished material which does not comply with specified requirements or which is not required for
the construction of the Works shall be disposed of:

a) in accordance with the provisions specifically stated in any specification or Annexure thereto,
or

b) by removal from the Site.

Surplus excavated material shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Clause 11 of
MRTS04 General Earthworks.

Where material is disposed of outside the Site, the Contractor shall comply with all relevant
Commonwealth and State Government laws and regulations and Local Government By-Laws and
shall obtain all necessary approvals and permits and shall comply with all lawful directives.

11 Limits in the technical specifications

11.1 General

Any limits specified in the Technical Specifications shall be interpreted as set out in Clause 11.

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

11.2 Maximum and/or minimum limits and/or shapes

Any specified maximum or minimum limit or shape is an absolute limit / shape and shall not be used
as a target value. The relevant limit / shape shall not be exceeded as the result of any variation in the
construction and/or measurement process.

11.3 Specified values/shapes and tolerances

Any specified value or shape is to be regarded as a target value / shape and any specified tolerance
shall be regarded as providing the absolute limit for any departure from the specified value/shape. The
construction of the Works shall be controlled so that the relevant tolerance is not exceeded as the
result of any variation in the construction and/or measurement process.

11.4 Characteristic value

Where a characteristic value is specified, a statistical procedure in accordance with Clause 12 shall be
used to determine the value which represents the properties of a lot. The statistical procedure makes
allowances for variations in the construction and measurement processes. The Works shall be
constructed so that the characteristic value complies with the relevant requirements.

12 Calculation of the characteristic value

Where the compliance of a product is tested by the assignment of a characteristic value determined by
the analysis of several individual tests or measurements using a statistical procedure, the following
system shall be used:

a) compliance testing / measurements shall be undertaken as specified in the relevant

specification

b) the characteristic value for the lot shall be determined using the individual test results or
measurements and one of the following equations, as applicable:

for a minimum limit:

CharacteristicValue = Xav – ks

for a maximum limit:

CharacteristicValue = Xav + ks

where:

1 n
X av = ∑ Xi
n i=1

( Xi- X av )
2
n
s= ∑ i=1 (n - 1)

where:

n = number of test results or measurements

Xi = the individual test result or measurement for i = 1, 2, 3, …, n, and

k = an acceptance constant dependent upon the number of tests or

measurements.

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

c) the relevant value of k shall be selected from either Table 12(a) for the relevant Technical
Specifications or Table 12(b) unless otherwise specified, and

d) the rounding of the characteristic value shall be as shown in Table 12(c).

Table 12(a) – Acceptance constants (MRTS04, MRTS05, MRTS06, MRTS07A, MRTS07B,

MRTS07C, MRTS08, MRTS09 & MRTS10)

Number of Tests or Acceptance Constant Number of Tests or Acceptance Constant

Measurements (k) Measurements (k)
≤10 0.828 23 0.965
11 0.847 24 0.972
12 0.863 25 0.978
13 0.877 30 1.002
14 0.890 35 1.020
15 0.901 40 1.036
16 0.910 45 1.049
17 0.919 50 1.059
18 0.928 60 1.077
19 0.937 70 1.091
20 0.946 80 1.103
21 0.952 90 1.112
22 0.959 100 1.120

Table 12(b) – Acceptance constants

Number of Tests or Acceptance Constant Number of Tests or Acceptance Constant

Measurements (k) Measurements (k)
2 0.403 19 0.937
3 0.535 20 0.946
4 0.617 21 0.952
5 0.675 22 0.959
6 0.719 23 0.965
7 0.755 24 0.972
8 0.783 25 0.978
9 0.808 30 1.002
10 0.828 35 1.020
11 0.847 40 1.036
12 0.863 45 1.049
13 0.877 50 1.059
14 0.890 60 1.077
15 0.901 70 1.091
16 0.910 80 1.103

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

Number of Tests or Acceptance Constant Number of Tests or Acceptance Constant

Measurements (k) Measurements (k)
17 0.919 90 1.112
18 0.928 100 1.120

Table 12(c) – Rounding intervals

Property / Parameter Rounding Value

dry density ratio 0.5%
Hilf density ratio 0.5%
relative compaction 0.5%
degree of saturation 1%
air voids 0.1%
relative compaction (asphalt) 0.1%
layer thickness 1 mm
wide strip tensile strength 0.1 kN/m
burst strength 0.1 kN
drop cone puncture resistance 1 mm
tensile strength (Ts) at 2% strain ? kN
to a number of significant figures which exceeds by one that
Xav
normally reported for the property / parameter
to a number of significant figures which exceeds by one that
s
normally reported for the property / parameter
k 0.001
to the same number of significant figures normally reported
characteristic value
for the property / parameter

Where a characteristic value is included on NATA endorsed test reports, Test Method Q020 shall be
used.

13 Methods of specifying skewed structures

The meaning of the “Skew Angle” and “Skew Number” which are used to specify the location of
skewed culvert structures relative to the road centre line, are shown in Figure 13. “Skew Number” is
required for ordering metal structures. The skew number is the number of degrees measured in a
clockwise direction from the road centreline to the structure centreline.

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Technical Specification, MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications

Figure 13 – Skew number / Skew angle

Skew Number

Structure
Centreline

Road Centre /
Skew
Control Line
angle 30o
(Clockwise positive)

14 The Administrator
The Administrator shall be as stated in the Contract with the role as defined in the Contract.

15 Supplementary requirements
The requirements of MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications are varied by the
supplementary requirements given in Clause 1 of Annexure MRTS01.1.

16 Commentaries
Transport and Main Roads Specifications includes commentaries. The Commentaries are placed
within a shaded area of the document. It does not form part of the Technical Specification or
Specification (Measurement).

Where an inconsistency occurs between the Technical Specification and the Commentary, the
Technical Specification prevails.

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