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IS 5317:2002 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for pitch-mastic for bridge decking and roads. This standard specifies the requirements for pitch-mastic used as a waterproofing and wearing course for bridge decks and roads. It covers the properties of constituent materials, the composition of the mix, and the physical requirements for the final pitch-mastic product.
Pitch-Mastic for Bridge Decking and Roads
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Transportation — Flooring, Wall Finishing and Roofing
! Temperature control during mixing and laying is critical for achieving the desired properties and workability. Overheating can damage the binder.
! The hardness number is a key performance indicator and should be regularly checked for quality assurance.
! Ensure the concrete substrate is thoroughly cleaned, dried, and primed before applying the mastic layer to ensure proper adhesion and waterproofing integrity.
BS EN 13108-6:2016BSI / CEN (British Standards Institution / European Committee for Standardization), UK / Europe
MediumCurrent
Bituminous mixtures. Material specifications. Mastic Asphalt
Specifies requirements for mastic asphalt for roads and airfields, serving a similar functional purpose but using bitumen binder.
BS 5284:1993BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
HighWithdrawn
Specification for mastic asphalt for roads and other paved areas
Directly equivalent scope for roads, but specified bituminous mastic, not pitch-mastic. Its recipe-based approach is similar to IS 5317.
ASTM D491 / D491M - 19ASTM International, USA
LowCurrent
Standard Specification for Asphalt Mastic Used in Waterproofing
Covers bituminous mastic for general waterproofing, a key function on bridge decks, but not specifically for road wearing courses.
ZTV-ING, Part 7, Section 3FGSV (Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen), Germany
MediumCurrent
Additional Technical Terms of Contract and Guidelines for Civil Engineering Works - Bridge Deck Sealing and Surfacing
German technical regulation for bridge deck systems, often specifying polymer-modified mastic asphalt ('Gussasphalt') for this purpose.
Key Differences
≠The primary binder in IS 5317 is Coal Tar Pitch (as per IS 215), whereas modern international standards exclusively specify petroleum-based bitumen or polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) due to health and environmental concerns associated with carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coal tar.
≠IS 5317 specifies a significantly higher binder content (14-17%) compared to typical bituminous mastic asphalt for paving in European standards (e.g., 7-10% for an MA 11 mix), which affects material cost and performance.
≠The Indian standard specifies a 'Hardness Number' of 30-60 at 25°C. Comparable historical British standards (e.g., BS 5284) required a harder material for roads (hardness 10-30), indicating the IS 5317 mastic may be softer and more susceptible to deformation.
≠International standards like the EN 13108 series are increasingly performance-based, allowing for innovation in mix design. IS 5317:2002 remains a purely recipe-based (prescriptive) specification.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 5317 and its international counterparts describe a hot-applied, dense, essentially voidless mixture of binder, filler, and aggregate, known as mastic asphalt.
≈The intended application is identical: to provide a durable, impermeable wearing course and/or waterproofing layer for critical infrastructure like bridge decks and heavily trafficked roads.
≈The manufacturing and application processes are fundamentally similar, involving heating the components in specialized 'cookers' and laying the material at high temperatures (typically around 200°C) without the need for compaction.
≈Both types of standards specify a gap-graded aggregate structure, with a high proportion of fine aggregate and filler to create the dense mastic mortar that holds the coarser aggregate particles.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Binder Type
Coal Tar Pitch (Grade P3 or P4 as per IS 215)
Paving Grade Bitumen or Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB)
BS EN 13108-6:2016
Binder Content (% by mass of mixture)
14 to 17
7 to 10 (Typical for paving grade Mastic Asphalt)
BS EN 13108-6:2016
Hardness Number (at 25°C)
30 to 60 for roads
10 to 30 for roads (Note: Test methods are similar but not identical)
BS 5284:1993 (Withdrawn)
Maximum Coarse Aggregate Size
13.2 mm
Typically 11 mm or 16 mm (designated MA 11 or MA 16)
BS EN 13108-6:2016
Filler Content (Passing 0.075mm/0.063mm sieve)
18 to 28% of total mix
15 to 25% of total mix (Typical range for MA 11)
BS EN 13108-6:2016
Laying Temperature
175°C to 205°C
200°C to 230°C
PD 6691:2015 (UK Guidance)
Binder Softening Point (R&B)
73-83°C (for P4 grade Pitch)
> 55°C (for typical PMB for bridge decks)
ZTV-ING (Germany)
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Binder Content by Mass14-17 %
Hardness Number at 25°C10-25
Softening Point of Binder (R&B)73 to 87 °C
Maximum Water Absorption0.10 % by mass
Maximum Loss on Heating at 170°C for 5h3 % by mass
Minimum Coarse Aggregate (8mm-2.8mm) Content30 % by mass
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Requirements for Pitch Binder
Table 2 - Grading of Fine Aggregate
Table 3 - Composition of Pitch-Mastic by Mass
Table 4 - Requirements for Pitch-Mastic
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Materials
Clause 4 - Preparation of Pitch-Mastic
Clause 5 - Requirements
Clause 7 - Sampling and Criteria for Conformity
Appendix A - Method for Determination of Hardness Number