A to Z of Aggregates

6F1

Selected granular material with a fine grading that is used for capping and can’t contain any more than 50% by mass of recycled bituminous plainings and granulated asphalt as per the specification for highway works. 6F1 is produced and used on the site of origin. If this material was to be imported to another site it would be classified as 6F4.

 

6F2

Selected granular material with a coarse grading that is used for capping and can’t contain any more than 50% by mass of recycled bituminous plainings and granulated asphalt as per the specification for highway works. 6F2 is produced and used on the site of origin. If this material was to be imported to another site it would be classified as 6F5.

 

6F3

Selected granular material used as capping that can’t contain any more than 50% by mass of recycled bituminous plaining and granulated asphalt as per the specification for highway works.

 

6F4

Selected granular material with a fine grading that is imported on to site for capping use as per the specification for highway works.

 

6F5

Selected granular material with a coarse grading that is imported on to site for capping use as per the specification for highway works. View our 6F5 material by clicking HERE

 

Abrasion test

A test that indicates the hardness of an aggregate through its ability to resist wear and tear.

 

Aggregates

A broad category of materials that are reused in construction. This includes Sand, Gravel, Crushed Stone, Recycled Concrete, and geosynthetic. View our range of aggregates by clicking HERE

 

Argillaceous Rock

A sedimentary rock that’s composed of clay-grade particles.

 

As Dug

A term used for when a material is dug directly from reserves with no further processing. For example, ‘As Dug Shale’.

 

Asphalt

Also known as bitumen, is a viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum that is used as glue with aggregates to create asphalt concrete. It is mainly used in the construction of roads.

 

Building Sand

Material used primarily for building works such as laying bricks, blocks, and paving slabs. View our range of building sand by clicking HERE

 

California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

A measure of the strength of the subgrade of a road of other paved areas and of the material used in its construction.

 

Carboniferous

A geologic period that spans between 359-299 million years ago. This is used for the period the rock was formed.

 

Cement

A binder substance that is set, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together.

 

Chippings

Small fragments of material usually stone. It is mainly used as a decorative aggregate.

 

Class 1A

Well-graded granular material that is used as general fill as per the Specification for Highway Works.

 

Class 1B

Uniformly graded material that is used as general fill as per the Specification for Highway Works.

 

Class 1C

Coarse granular material that is used as a general fill as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 2A

Wet cohesive material used as general fill that can’t contain chalk as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 2B

Dry cohesive material used as general fill that can’t contain chalk as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 2C

Stony cohesive material used as general fill that can’t contain chalk as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 2D

Silty cohesive material used as general fill that can’t contain chalk as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 2E

Reclaimed pulverised fuel ash cohesive material that can’t contain more than 20% furnace bottom ash as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 3

Chalk that is used as general fill as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 4

Various materials used as fill to landscape area as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 5A

Topsoil or turf on an existing site as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 5B

Imported Topsoil that complies with BS 3882 as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6A

Selected well-graded material that is used below water as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6B

Selected coarse granular material used as a started layer as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6C

Selected uniformly graded granular material used as a starter layer as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6D

Selected uniformly graded granular materials used as a starter layer below pulverised fuel ash as per the specification for highway work.

 

Class 6E

Selected granular material for stabilisation with cement to form capping as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6G

Selected granular material used for gabion filling as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6H

Selected granular material used as a drainage layer to reinforce soil and anchored earth structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6I

Selected well-graded granular material used as fill to reinforced soil and anchored earth structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6J

Selected uniformly graded granular material used as fill to reinforced soil and anchored earth structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6K

Selected granular material used as lower bedding for corrugated steel buried structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6L

Selected uniformly graded granular material used as upper bedding for corrugated steel buried structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6M

Selected granular material used as a surround to corrugated steel buried structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6N

Selected well-graded granular material used as fill to structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6P

Selected granular material used as fill to structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6Q

Selected granular material used as fill to structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6R

Selected granular material used for stabilisation with lime and cement to form capping that does not contain unburnt colliery spoil and argillaceous rock as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 6S

Selected well-graded granular material used as a filter layer below a subbase that is crushed rock or sand as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7A

Selected cohesive material used as fill to structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7B

Selected conditioned pulverised fuel ash cohesive material used as fill to structures and to reinforced soil. Material is conditioned directly from the power station dust collection system and to which a controlled quantity of water has been added. As per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7C

Selected wet cohesive material used as fill to reinforced soil that can’t contain unburnt colliery spoil, argillaceous rock, and chalk as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7D

Selected stony cohesive material used as fill to reinforced soil that can’t contain unburnt colliery spoil, argillaceous rock, and chalk as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7E

Selected cohesive material used for stabilisation with lime to form capping that can’t contain unburnt colliery spoil as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7F

Selected silty cohesive material used for stabilisation with cement to form capping that can’t contain chalk, unburnt colliery spoil, or argillaceous rock as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7G

Selected conditioned pulverised fuel ash cohesive material for stabilisation with cement to form capping. Material is conditioned directly from a power station dust collection system and to which a controlled quantity of water has been added. As per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7H

Wet, dry, stony, or silty cohesive material and chalk used for overlying fill for corrugated steel buried structures as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 7I

Selected cohesive material for stabilisation with lime and cement to form capping that doesn’t contain unburnt colliery spoil.

 

Class 8

Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 materials used as lower trench fill except no stones or lumps of clay shall be retained on the 40mm test sieve as per the specification for highway works.

 

Class 9A

Cement stabilised well-graded granular material used for capping as per class 6E in the specification for highway works with the addition of cement according to clause 614.

 

Class 9B

Cement stabilised silty cohesive material used for capping as per class 7F in the specification for highway works with the addition of cement according to clause 614.

 

Class 9C

Cement stabilised conditioned pulverised fuel ash cohesive material used for capping as per class 7G in the specification for highway works with the addition of cement according to clause 614.

 

Class 9D

Lime stabilised cohesive material used for capping as per class 7E in the specification for highway works with the addition of lime according to clause 615.

 

Class 9E

Lime and cement stabilised cohesive material used for capping as per class 7I in the specification for highway works with the addition of lime and cement according to clause 643.

 

Class 9F

Lime and cement stabilised well-graded granular material used for capping as per class 6R in the specification for highway works with the addition of lime and cement according to clause 643.

 

Clay

A type of fine-grained soil material that contains clay minerals.

 

Clean Stone

A crushed stone that has been screened so that most of the fine particles have been removed.

 

Cobbles

A rock that has a particular size that is larger than a pebble but smaller than a boulder. It is generally used for road construction or decoratively.

 

Concrete

A composite material that is composed of aggregates and fluid cement that hardens to create a durable material.

 

Crusher Run

A type of crushed rock with stone dust that is used as a dense sub grading.

 

Crushing Test

A test that determines the crushing value of an aggregate to give an indication of its strength. A value of fewer than 10 highlights a very strong aggregate whereas a value above 35 would be considered as a weak aggregate.

 

Decorative Aggregates

Small pieces of stone that are designed for the purpose of landscaping. This is commonly chipping, gravel or pebbles.

 

Deval Attrition Test

A test that is carried out to measure the rate of wear of a granular material.

 

Drainage Aggregates

An aggregate that is used to improve drainage and allow water to drain away. They are typically used within soils and around pipes.

 

Dust

A by-product of crushing stone, dust is often used for agricultural and hardscaping purposes or for paving projects.

 

Elongation Index Test

A test to highlight the percentage by weight of particles whose greatest dimension is greater than 1.8 times their mean dimensions.

 

Fill Sand

Sand that is used to backfill depressions of holes to change the grade or elevation. View our range of fill sand by clicking HERE

 

Flakiness Index

The percentage by weight of aggregates particles whose least dimension is less than 0.6 of their mean dimensions.

 

Frost Heave

This is an upward or outward swelling of soil during freezing conditions caused by the presence of ices as it grows towards the surface. Aggregates are tested using a Frost Heave test to determine.

 

Gabion Basket

A large metal cage that is filled with gabion stone creating a solid structure.

 

Gabion Stone

A stone with a particular size and shape that is placed within a Gabion Basket to create a solid structure. Find out more about Gabion Stone

 

Gradation and Size Test

A test to determine aggregate particle size distribution.

 

Grading

A measure of how well distributed the sizes of the particles in an aggregate.

 

Granite

A coarsely grained rock that is composed mostly of quartz.

 

Gravel

A loose collection of fragmented rock that is classified by its particle size range.

 

Gritstone

A hard, coarsely grained sandstone.

 

Hardcore

A mass of solid materials that do not easily degrade with low absorbency usually made up of concrete, stones, and bricks.

 

Impact Test

A test that indicates the toughness of an aggregate showing its ability in resisting sudden shock or impact.

 

Lime

A calcium-containing mineral that is often sued as a building material or chemical feedstock.

 

Limestone

A common type of sedimentary rock that is composed of calcium carbonate.

 

Los Angeles Abrasion test

This is a test that measures the degradation of aggregates from abrasion, attrition, impact, and grinding. It produces a result known as the Los Angeles Coefficient which indicates the overall toughness of the material.

 

MOT Type 1

A crushed aggregate material that is used as a subbase and complies with the Specification for Highway Works, Clause 803. This is now referred to as Type 1 Subbase. Find out more about Type 1 Subbase

 

Particle Index Test

A test that provides an index value to the relative particle shape and texture characteristics of aggregates.

 

Particle Size

The diameter of individual particles.

 

Pea Gravel

Small rocks that generally have rounded edges and are smooth due to natural weathering. They are often used as a decorative aggregate for landscaping.

 

Pebbles

A specifically sized piece of rock that are larger than granules but smaller than cobbles.

 

Plainings

They are created when the surface layer of a road or footpath is removed.

 

Plate Bearing Testing

A load-bearing test used to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of the ground and the likely settlement under a given load.

 

Plastering Sand

A fine sand that is used for internal and external rendering and plastering.

 

Pipe Bedding

Gravel that is used as fill, which pipes are then laid on.

 

Primary Aggregates

An aggregate that comes directly from naturally occurring deposits in the earth. Also known as quarried aggregates.

 

Quarried Aggregates

An aggregate that comes directly from naturally occurring deposits in the earth. Also known as primary aggregates. Find out more about quarried aggregates

 

Quarry

A type of open put in which stone, aggregates, sand, and gravel are extracted from the natural reserves in the ground.

 

Rail Ballast

A bed for rail tracks that provides the strength for heavy train loads.

 

Recycled Aggregates

An aggregate that is produced by recycling waste materials such as hardcore. Find out more about the recycled aggregate production process

 

Riprap

Loose stone is used to form a foundation to protect against erosion. Also known as Rock Armour. View our range of riprap by clicking HERE

 

Rock Armour

Loose stone is used to form a foundation to protect against erosion. Also known as Riprap. View our range of rock armour by clicking HERE 

 

Sand

A granular material composed of fine particles of rock and minerals.

 

Sandstone

A sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size particles.

 

Scalping

A process in which particles from feedstock are separated into different particle sizes. This is usually performed by Scalping Screen.

 

Secondary Aggregates

An aggregate that is produced as a by-product of other industrial processes

 

Shale

A finely grained type of sedimentary rock that is formed from mud, clay, and tiny fragments of other materials.

 

Sharp Sand

A type of gritty sand that hasn’t been cleaned and is usually used within concrete or other building projects.

 

Shingle

Similar to gravel, Shingle is a collection of small stones.

 

Silica Sand

This is white sand that is mainly made from silica and oxygen. The most common material is quartz.

 

Siltstone

A sedimentary rock that is composed mostly of silt.

 

Single Size

When the particle sizes of an aggregate are uniform in size. For example, 10mm pipe bedding consists only of particles of around 10mm.

 

Slag

A collection of stony compounds that are separated from metals during smelting or refining of ore.

 

Slate

A finely grained metamorphic rock created from an original shale-type of clay or ash. It’s often used as a decorative aggregate for landscaping on rooftops.

 

Soundness Test

A test that indicates the durability of an aggregate and how resistant it is to the effects of weather.

 

Standards for Highway Works (SHW)

A manual on contract documents for the design, construction, and maintenance of highways.

 

Subbase

A layer of aggregate material laid on the subgrade on which the base layer is located above.

 

Tarmac

A road surfacing material that combines aggregates with tar.

 

Topsoil

The uppermost layer of soil that is generally high in organic matter and microorganisms.

 

Trench Fill

A material that is used to backfill trench foundations. A variety of different aggregates can be used as trench fill.

 

Type 1 Subbase

Previously known as MOT Type 1, It is a crushed aggregate material that is used as a subbase and complies with the Specification for Highway Works, Clause 803. Find out more about Type 1 Subbase

 

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