A Big Thaw is Imminent!
January 14, 2010 - posted in Prismo Group, Prismo Traffic Products, Road Safety, Safety Solutions
The continuous cycle of freezing and thawing breaks up road surfaces. After last February’s two-week cold snap, there was a 40% increase in road damage
What will that mean for the UK’s roads?
Potholes and lots of them!
What’s the solution?
REphalt Permanent Pothole Repair
But the roads are wet?
Not a problem, REphalt can be applied in all weather conditions
But it’s too cold?
REphalt can be applied below 0°C
- REphalt can be trafficked immediately after application
- REphalt is a one visit, instant, permanent repair
- HAPAS APPROVED for use on all Motorways, Roads and footpaths.
- REphalt replicates hot laid material performance Marshall Load Value of 15.8kn @25°C
Want to see how good REphalt is for yourself?? Request a sample!
Open Day Opens Eyes!
November 17, 2009 - posted in Exhibitions, Prismo Group, Prismo Team, Prismo Traffic Products
Prismo’s now established annual Open Day took place at the beginning of June at Prismo Traffic Products premises in Midsomer Norton, near Bath.
The event proved a great success and even the sun shone on the many invited guests, who included personnel from local authorities, contractors and builders merchants.
Among the products demonstrated were „Coloursafe anti-slip surface coating, REphalt permanent pothole repair, Flexiline preformed thermoplastic, Stonegrip decorative surfacing, Ecodyn mobile road marking assessment system, Bee Bump sleeping policemen and LineLazer airless line marking machines.
A great deal of interest was generated in the Prismo Traffic Products range, particularly in the “hands on” demonstrations.
A spokesman for Prismo commented “The open day allows various products to be physically demonstrated and for guests to witness, first hand, how they are applied and what the material looks like after installation. Given the reaction of the guests, we’re already making arrangements for next year’s event. The LineLazer machine used for the demonstration was bought right there, on the day!”
Pothole Backlog Easily Fixed with REphalt
November 17, 2009 - posted in Prismo Group, Prismo Traffic Products, Road Safety, Safety Solutions
Did you know that on average there is one pothole for every 120 yards (110m) of UK road? A recent report by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) claims exactly that and reports an estimated 13-year repair backlog in England and 15.6 years in Wales.
More than 800,000 potholes were filled on English local roads last year, at a cost of £52.3 million (or £61.27 per pothole) and almost 94,000 potholes in Wales alone.
The real truth may be more damming in that many of these pothole ‘fills’ were almost certainly needed as a result of the early failure of a previous repair system, due to its inadequate performance. The blight of potholes is a recurring problem and more prevalent in the spring, after harsh winter conditions or floods.
Whilst local authorities struggle on to arrest the problem, however, the potholes remain a significant threat to safety of the road user. Cyclists, motor cyclists and car drivers are likely to be injured and vehicles damaged, resulting in extensive insurance claims and a financial burden running into millions (in 2008 – £53m).
It is comforting to know, however, that Prismo Traffic Products has the ideal solution to meet this difficult challenge. Prismo’s ‘REPhalt’ Instant Pothole Repair is already being used by a growing number of UK councils and contractors, as well as many International authorities and Prismo believes the REPhalt asphalt revolution cannot be embraced quickly enough.
Sales Director Larry Walsh commented “The crux of the matter is, that in many cases the existing products and methods only provide a very temporary repair, with some attempts failing even before the contractor has left site. This is especially true in cold and wet conditions. REphalt possesses the potential to arrest this problem, simply because this new technology provides a permanent repair, in most climatic conditions.”
REphalt is an instant and ‘permanent’ pothole repair that is activated by water and is the only bituminous repair product that will perform permanently in wet conditions and at temperatures below freezing. It exhibits excellent strength with >16kN load and flow characteristics at 25 degrees C (on Marshall testing), has similar properties to that of conventional asphalt, can be trafficked immediately after application and being totally solvent free, eliminates shrinkage.
As well as being more cost effective to install, REphalt provides significant environmental benefits. Fluxed with renewable resources it does not emit solvents into the atmosphere and being a single-visit permanent repair, it avoids the need to dump thousands of tonnes of failed materials into landfill sites.
Dyer & Butler, the regional civil engineering contractor, has used REphalt extensively for airport maintenance repair work, originally for non-airside repairs to concrete aprons, hard-standings and on expansion joints. When the company’s maintenance crews where asked about the suitability of REphalt, their response was empathic. “There is nothing else out there that is suitable. There are no decent economical alternatives to using REphalt.
Fraser Kidman, Senior Site Agent for Dyer & Butler commented “We have been using it for over five years now, initially non-airside, but then we found its properties ideally suited to airside repairs too. REphalt‟s toughness, steadfastness and flexibility means that it can be used in areas where strict standards must be met to avoid potential damage to aircraft and engines from loose material. Gatwick, Heathrow and Stanstead have all used REphalt as a “permanent” (up to a year) repair to concrete and expansion joints, until other more major repairs can be scheduled through busy airports maintenance programmes. It is simple to use” concludes Fraser. “Just present the mix to the hole, add a little water, pack down and the job is done”
Blackpool Council has also used REphalt to repair potholes on the M55; the busiest stretch of motorway under its jurisdiction. The M55 endures continuous heavy traffic from coaches, trucks and thousands of holiday makers who flock into the town for its attractions all year round. John Holmes, of Blackpool’s Street Scene Services commented on the material’s properties, “We have used REphalt on the M55 and in urban environments, but I was impressed by its ability to hold up against heavy plant traffic during repairs to the M55. Three months later after some rough use, it’s still there, as good as new.”
New Verge Post Introduced by Prismo
November 12, 2009 - posted in Prismo Traffic Products
In order to be clearly perceptible by day, by night and in poor weather conditions (in other words, to be ‘fit for purpose’), it is essential that a highway verge post incorporate a highly visible reflector.
In addition, to maintain its overall ‘visibility’ and to minimise Council maintenance operations, such posts should also preserve their white bands for as long as possible over their operational life.
To meet both requirements, Prismo Traffic Products has introduced a traditional-style verge post with a highly visible corner cube reflector located at the top corner and moulded entirely from extremely durable plastic.
The new Alegrini Verge Post is actually hollow, but when installed exhibits a solid, attractive and very noticeable warning sign. The post has high resistance to the damaging effects of ultra-violet light, thus ensuring an extended working life. In wet weather conditions, it is self-cleaning. As such, the new post demands little or no maintenance.
Alegrini Verge Posts are quick and simple to install directly into concrete, asphalt, or soil. They conform to Class Reference 2 BSEN12899-1:2001.
For those situations that require posts with a spring-back action, to allow them to return to their original position should an impact occur, ‘Fleximarker’ Verge Posts are also available through Prismo.
There is little doubt that the new Allegrini Verge Post is one of the brightest most durable currently available, yet still being lightweight and easy to install. This is not surprising given that Allegrini is a brand leader with products having been specified by UK Local Authorities for more than thirty year
New Road Stud Sets the Pace
November 12, 2009 - posted in Awards, International News, Prismo Contracting Services, Prismo Group, Prismo Traffic Products, Road Studs
Prismo Traffic Products has introduced a new moulded road stud that, in BSI road trials, has exhibited a remarkable retained retro-reflectivity and 100% location retention over a one-year period, which is significantly higher than that normally anticipated, or generally demanded for such road safety devices.
The technology behind the new product, branded ‘Stimsonite Model 980’, also designates the stud as the highest performing reflecting road stud currently available to highway engineers.
In trials, Stimsonite Model 980 exhibited 409 mcd/lux of retained retro-reflectivity after one year; more than twice that required by BSEN1463 R1, which demands a minimum of 150 mcd/lux for such surface applied markers.
The new stud is provided as a system, incorporating a specifically designed polymer modified bitumen adhesive for maximum retention and proven to perform above minimum requirements of BSEN1463 S1. The Stimsonite stud adhesive is provided in three grades, tropical, semi tropical and standard, to suit all climatic conditions for optimum retention.
Stimsonite model 980 is manufactured from extremely tough, injection-moulded, high impact resisting polymers and incorporates the most advanced air gap prismatic lens technology, protected by a highly abrasion resistant glass face. The stud’s 17cm reflective area includes a 35° reflecting face that will continue functioning even if subject to damage.
New Stimsonite 980 road stud represents an enhanced low cost engineering road safety solution and complies fully with BSEN 1463, parts 1 and 2, is manufactured to ASTM D4280 and is approved for use by the UK Highway Authorities.
It is available for application in the UK through Prismo Contracting Services, Tel: 0845 688 0155, E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)