314 - GRANULARS - OPSS 314

INDEX
314.1

GENERAL

314.1.1

Tender Items

314.1.2

Specifications

314.1.3

Special Provisions

314.1.4

Standard Drawings

314.2

COMPUTATION

314.2.1

Source of Information

314.2.2

Components of Granular Items

A.
B.
C.

314.2.3

Roadbed
Backfill
Stockpiles

Methods of Calculation
1.
2.

Manual Computation
Electronic Computation

314.3

DOCUMENTATION

314.3.1

Contract Drawings

314.3.2

Contract Documents

314.1

GENERAL
Granular materials meeting the requirements of OPSS 1010 are obtained from pits and
quarries, both commercial and private.
The main materials are categorized, as follows:
GRANULAR A
GRANULAR B
GRANULAR B

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TYPE I
TYPE II

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GRANULAR M
SELECT SUBGRADE MATERIAL (COMPACTED)
and are used in roadway construction, as indicated in the table on the following page.
The recommended depth and selection of type of granular materials to be used is the
responsibility of the Regional Geotechnical Section and may be found in the
Geotechnical Report and the Soils Profile.
314.1.1 Tender Items
The tender items associated with granular materials are:
GRANULAR A
GRANULAR B
TYPE I
GRANULAR B
TYPE II
GRANULAR M
SELECT SUBGRADE MATERIAL (COMPACTED)
When required, these item descriptions may be expanded to include - "Stockpiled", or "from Stockpile".
When measurement is in cubic metres, the item description must be expanded to
include "End Area Method" or "Truck Box Method".
Refer to the CPS item master file for exact item description.

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MATERIAL
Granular A

USUAL APPLICATION
- Granular base, (highways side roads; entrances; detours)
- Shouldering (highways; side- roads; entrances; detours)

(Replaces Granular A, Type I and II)

- Bedding for sidewalk
(concrete or asphalt)
- Frost heave treatment

Granular B Type I
(Replaces Granulars B, C & D)

Granular B Type II

(Alternative to Granular B Type I: must be

specifically recommended by Regional
Geotechnical Section)

Granular M
(Replaces 16 mm Crushed, Type A and
Type B)

- Gabions
- Granular sub-base (highways; sideroads; entrances; detours)
- Bedding and backfill to:
Sewers, MH's and CB's
Culverts
Subdrains
Structures
Frost Heaves
- Granular sub-base (highways; sideroads; entrances; detours)
- Bedding and backfill to:
Sewers, MH's and CB's
Culverts
Subdrains
Structures
Frost Heaves
Gabions
- Shoulder Maintenance
- Gravel Road Maintenance
- Surface Course (Gravel Roads)

Select Subgrade Material

(Compacted)

314.1.2

- Roadway Restoration (fine grading prior to paving)

- Embankment construction where fill required & local materials
are unsuitable or insufficient.

Specifications
Details of the work of placing granular materials on roadbeds are contained in
OPSS 314. Use of granular materials other than on roadbeds are covered by their
respective Specifications.

314.1.3

Special Provisions
The designer should investigate to determine whether any of the Special
Provisions listed should be included in the contract documents.
A standard special provision is in place that allows up to 30% Reclaimed Asphalt
Pavement by mass to be blended with Granular A, Granular B, Type I and
Granular M.

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If the granular quantity will be supplied by the Ministry from an existing

stockpile then the Standard Special Provision (Schedule of Materials to be
Supplied by the Ministry) has to be included with the contract.
314.1.4

Standard Drawings
Standard roadway cross section configurations illustrating the placing of granular
materials are to be found in Ontario Provincial Standard Drawings Manual Series 200.

314.2

COMPUTATION
These items are measured items.
Quantities can be established by careful study of all reports (especially the
recommendations of the Regional Geotechnical Section) and by accurate
computation of the various components of granular material.
Granular on shoulders of resurfacing contracts are commonly overrun. It is
important that a careful assessment is made of existing shoulder cross-fall and
edge of pavement drop off to obtain an accurate estimate. When the design
precedes the construction by a considerable length of time, then the shoulder
conditions should be reviewed again just prior to award of the contract and the
estimated quantities adjusted if required.
The quantity of Select Subgrade Material (Compacted) required in m3 or tonnes is
found by subtracting material available from fill required.

314.2.1

Source of Information
The main sources of information for the computation of granular quantities are
the Geotechnical Report and the Soils Profile.
The crossfall of granular courses and shouldering is governed by Ontario
Provincial Standard Drawings.
The depths of granular courses are determined by the Regional Geotechnical
Section.
The roadway configuration is governed by the Design Criteria.

314.2.2

Components of Granular Items

A.

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Roadbed

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The three components of roadbed granular to be computed are:

a)

Granular Base
Granular Base is a layer of granular material generally composed of high
stability graded crushed gravel or stone. It is a load bearing layer, provides
drainage, reduces frost action and provides a smooth riding surface for
paving.

b)

Granular Sub-base
Granular Sub-base is normally a non-processed material obtained from local
gravel or sand pits and is placed on subgrade. It performs the same function
as a granular base except that it can be of lower quality. In some cases, it is
processed from quarries.

c)

Shouldering
Shouldering is the layer of granular material placed on top of the granular
base material and adjacent to the pavement.

B. Backfill
Granular for structures, sidewalks and frost heaves is computed in
accordance with the requirements set out in their respective sections of this
Chapter.
C. Stockpiles
Granular materials may be stockpiled at MTO patrol yards and construction sites
for future use. The amount of granular material to be stockpiled, or available for
use from stockpile, is based on information obtained from the Regional
Maintenance Office and the Regional Geotechnical Section.
314.2.3

Methods of Calculation
On most projects the unit of measurement for all granulars is the tonne. On
projects where the total quantity of granular materials is less than 5,000 tonnes,
weigh scales may not be practical and the unit of measurement is the cubic metre.
To compute quantities, the first step is to compute the volume of compacted
material required. The designer computes cross section end areas at appropriate
intervals taking into account the changes in depth, crossfall, etc. The end area,
computed to an accuracy of 0.01 m5, is multiplied by the distance between cross
sections to obtain the volume of compacted material in cubic metres.

Rev. Date: 05/99

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If the unit of measurement is the tonne, the volume of compacted material is

multiplied by the appropriate conversion factor to obtain tonnes. The Regional
Geotechnical Section should always be requested to confirm the conversion
factors for each contract. Standard conversion factors are as follows:
Granular A or
Granular M

2.4 t/m;
Multiply volume (m;) of compacted
granular by 2.4 to obtain tonnes(t).

Granular B, Type I or
Granular B, Type II

2.0 t/m;
Multiply volume (m;) of compacted
granular by 2.0 to obtain tonnes(t).

Select Subgrade Material

(Compacted)
If the unit of measurement is the cubic metre, the volume of material is measured
in the field by either the End Area Method, (i.e. volume of material in the original
position in the pit) or by the Truck Box Method as outlined in OPSS 314. These
methods measure the volume of uncompacted material. To establish the volume
of uncompacted material required the designer increases volume of compacted
material by a factor of 15%.
For various reasons, such as traffic maintenance, loss of granular, etc., certain
percentages and allowances are added to several major items to ensure that
estimated quantities are compatible with "as-constructed" quantities. These
percentages and allowances are found in Appendix A to Chapter B.
Computation can be either Manual or Electronic.
1.

Manual Computation
(a) Cross Sections
The granular end area is calculated using cross sections and is
multiplied by the distance between cross sections to obtain the volume
of compacted granular material in cubic metres, which is then: (a)
multiplied by the appropriate conversion factor to obtain tonnes
or:

(b) increased by a volume adjustment factor (15%) to obtain

cubic metres of uncompacted material.

(b) Forms
Granular quantities are computed on Summary Quantity Sheets and
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then transferred to the Complementary Summary Sheet for Tender

Estimate and to the Quantities - Hot Mix and Granulars sheet.
2.

Electronic Computation
Programs for volume calculations are accessible through remote terminals.
The designer must be familiar with program applications and the
operation of a remote terminal to take advantage of the programs and
program abstracts. A complete list of programs is contained in the
Computer System and Program Inventory. Specific program user
documentation can be obtained for each of the listed programs.

314.3

DOCUMENTATION

314.3.1

Contract Drawings
Profiles
"Profile Grade" is preferred for identifying grade control. The total depth of
granular material is to be identified on the profile sheet as follows.

500 mm
Subgrade

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When it is necessary to show "top of pavement" for grade control, the total depth
of granular is to be shown on the profile sheets using either of the following
methods.
including pavement depth

excluding pavement depth

The depths should appear at every location where the total depth changes. When
the depths are consistent throughout the contract, it should appear at least once on
each profile sheet.
The depths of granular base and subbase are to be shown on the typical detailed
cross-sections. When standard drawings are used to indicate granular base
requirements, then the depths are to be shown in a tabular format in the contract
drawings.
The granular base and sub-base quantities are recorded in the quantity blocks of
the construction profile drawings, at 350 m intervals. The estimated quantities for
the following locations are shown separately on their respective profiles and at
350 m intervals, where applicable:
Service Roads
Side Roads
Detours
Ramps
Quantity Sheets
Roadbed granular quantities are broken down into the following components:
Main Highway
Service Roads
Side Roads
Ramps

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Detours
Commercial Entrances
Private Entrances
Frost Heaves
These quantities are included as separate entries on the appropriate Quantity
sheets.
The quantities shown on the profile drawings are totalled for each of the
components and the total entered on the quantity sheet.
Other granular components to be entered on the granular quantity sheet are as
follows:
Backfill to Structures (including frost tapers)
Backfill to Concrete and Timber Culverts
Granular over Extruded Expanded Polystyrene
Foundation for Sidewalk
Frost Heaves
When granular backfills are included with roadbed granular quantities, the
quantity for each structure, culvert, frost heave etc., is first entered on the
appropriate quantity sheet, and the total transferred to the main granular quantity
sheet.
Backfill to Structures
Each structure requires a separate entry on the granular quantity sheet, showing
the quantity of granular backfill, including frost tapers (see Chapter 'F').
Backfill to Gabions, Concrete and Timber Culverts
Each culvert location requires a separate entry on the granular quantity sheet,
showing the quantity of granular backfill, including frost tapers.
Granular over Extruded Expanded Polystyrene
Where the placement of extruded expanded polystyrene requires backfilling with
granular material (in addition to roadbed granular), each frost heave location
requires a separate entry on the granular quantity sheet, showing the quantity of
granular backfill.
Foundation for Sidewalk
The total amount of granular material required for sidewalk foundation is shown
as a single-line entry on the main granular quantity sheet.

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Trench Reinstatement
Where the existing driving lanes are to be cut for the installation of pipes etc.,
then the affected roadway must be reinstated with appropriate granular depths and
types as detailed in the project and payable under the roadway granular items.
This work is further detailed in applicable subchapters of Chapter "B".
314.3.2

Contract Documents
The tender totals for each of the granular items listed in this Section are
transferred to the Tender documentation.
If the unit of measurement is cubic metres, then the phrase "(End Area Method)"
or "(Truck Box Method)" is added to the item description. (See CPS item master
file for exact item description.)
If a portion of the granular material will be supplied by the Ministry from an
existing stockpile(s) then this information is entered on the appropriate form in
CPS, (Material Supplied by MTO). (See Chapter 'C' of this manual). The
designer will choose a general granular item description (ie: granular "B", Type
I).
If all of the granular material will be supplied by the Ministry, from an existing
stockpile(s), then this information is entered on the appropriate form in CPS,
(Material Supplied by MTO) and the designer should use a "... from Stockpile"
item. (ie: Granular "B", Type I, from stockpile.)
Select Subgrade Material (Compacted) is entered on the same sheet in its own
column(s) separate from the others. When computed in tonnes, Select Subgrade
Material (Compacted) is entered on the Quantities - 1 sheet.

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