Scotland’s Transport Infrastructure: The Strategic Transport Projects Review at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh » Monday 19th January 2009

Autostrada Traffex 2009 in Kielce Poland » 12th – 15th May 2009

Lets face it – pothole repair and asphalt preservation aren’t exactly stimulating! ASI Solutions wanted to bring a little more life and colour to the subject.

With colour coded products, process videos available in English and Spanish, clear key product benefits, service providers information, lifetime guarantees, action shots, asset management information and in depth case studies, this new and vibrant website should bring a bit more life to pothole repair and road preservation.

“We wanted ASI to stand out, to be clear and more dynamic. The benefits and offerings for our products are actually incredibly exciting and we wanted the website to show our enthusiasm and belief in them. We have great logos for the Rhinoworks product portfolio and we wanted to show the fun side of ASI and the work that we do.”

Pippa Caesar | Marketing Manager ASI Solutions plc

Download the full Press Release

Process and Product Understanding

What is the Rhinopatch process?

There are 7 easy steps to the Rhinopatch process:

1. A Rhinopatch infra-red heater is placed over the pothole or section of road to be repaired and left to heat the road surface to a pre defined and computerised heat setting. This softens the road surface and usually takes between 8-10 minutes.
2. The heated and now pliable road surface is then worked over with spades by the operatives, leaving a 10cm ‘picture-frame’ around the inside of the heated section of road (this action enables a joint-free repair).
3. Rhinobinder is applied, by way of an even spray, and thoroughly mixed in to preserve the existing heated road material.
4. Hot material from an asphalt plant, or proprietary cold replacement material available from ASI, is added, as required, to the treated area to make up any lost volume from the original surface defect.
5. The recycled repair is then levelled and compacted using conventional equipment with emphasis on the edges of the reinstatement in order to eliminate surface joints.
6. Once properly compacted, Rhinophalt preservative is applied to the entire heated area in order to provide the proven longevity of the Rhinopatch process.
7. Finally, Black Rhinogrit is cast onto the uncured Rhinophalt material in order to provide the necessary skid and slip resistant properties to the completed repair. The entire process, which holds full HAPAS approval, takes around 15 minutes to complete and delivers a sustainable, permanent and recycled reinstatement.

ASI Solutions plc offer tailored training packages to ensure correct working practices, and can also provide demonstrations of the straightforward process in practice.
You can see the full process by viewing the video on our website www.asiplc.com
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Where can Rhinopatch be used?

Rhinopatch can be used on any modern asphalt, macadam or surface dressed infrastructure.
Rhinopatch is not recommended for anti-skid surfaces or materials containing coal tar due to the possibility of noxious fumes.
Application sites for Rhinopatch include roads, highways, footpaths, car parks, airfields, retail parks, platforms, playgrounds and other pedestrian areas.
Typical surface defects include potholes, ravelling, open joints, utility trenches, ironwork surrounds, chip loss, fire damage and all other surface defects.
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Can Rhinopatch Be Used for Other Applications?

Rhinopatch is incredibly versatile. The process has already been used for many different applications and we would welcome the opportunity of addressing any specific challenges that you may have. Some of the more interesting applications for Rhinopatch include the repair of train platforms; the reduction in height of speed humps; the removal of white lines and the repair of mastic asphalt on multi-storey car parks.
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How Long Does It Take to Repair a Patch Using Rhinopatch?

Obviously, there are many factors to be taken into consideration here including things like the size of the patch, location and access. As an indication, the RP36 will provide around 3m2 of permanent reinstatement in approximately 15 minutes for isolated repairs and can achieve up to 20m2 per hour on closely located and continuous reinstatements.
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What Training Is Provided for the Rhinopatch Process?

ASI provides full HAPAS approved process training for the Rhinopatch process where, upon completion, the trained operatives become HAPAS approved installers. Additionally, ASI retain a number of Regional Supervisors whose main role is to support and audit Rhinopatch users 24 hours a day and who also offer top-up training sessions.
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Benefits

What are the benefits of the Rhinopatch process?

• A true, permanent, joint-free, ‘right first time’ pothole repair
• Unparalleled cost effectiveness
• Sustainable ‘green’ alternative to conventional methods
• Meets the new Traffic Management Act requirements
• Uses 90% less new asphalt/macadam by recycling all existing materials
• Proven 85% reduction in Co₂ emissions compared to conventional methods
• Eliminates HAV’s injuries
• Minimizes disruption to road users
• Provides the safest repair for motorcycles and pedestrians by eliminating dangerous overbanding

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Why is Rhinopatch better than my current patching solution?

In basic terms, when judged on a like for like basis with conventional road repair processes, Rhinopatch is quicker, safer, longer lasting, less disruptive, cheaper and 80% less damaging to the environment.
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Who else is using the Rhinopatch process and do you have any like for like case studies?

Rhinopatch has a large number of clients in the UK, and around the world. We are happy to offer information pertaining to a client’s solution that would be in line with your requirements. Feel free to get in touch so we can discuss this further.
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What are the reasons other clients have chosen to move to the Rhinopatch process?

As expected, there is a wide variety of reasons why maintenance entities have opted for the Rhinopatch process including health & safety, environmental, disruption, performance and cost. In truth, and in most cases, any balanced assessment will identify Rhinopatch as being a truly sustainable alternative to the problems associated with conventional road repair methodology.
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What exactly do you mean when you say Rhinopatch is ‘permanent’?

ASI can demonstrate that a properly undertaken Rhinopatch repair will last longer than the surrounding pavement surface into which it was installed. Rhinopatch longevity is subject to sub-surface structural issues, or unforeseen situations outside of normal practice.
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is there a sub-contract service available for Rhinopatch?

As a Technology provider, as opposed to a contractor, ASI does not provide a sub-contract service. However, ASI partner with a number of Rhinopatch Authorised Users who would be more than happy to provide rates for HAPAS approved infra-red works on this basis.
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Health & safety

Is Rhinopatch a safer option than conventional methods?

Absolutely, given that, with operatives, Rhinopatch eliminates HAV’s injuries and minimises the risks associated with manual handling and excessive noise injuries. Additionally, the longevity of the Rhinopatch reinstatement, and the elimination of slippery over-banding materials used in conventional repairs, makes asphalt surfaces much safer for the road users and pedestrians.
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Are the Rhinopatch materials hazardous?

Not when used sensibly and in accordance with the process method statement. Comprehensive site testing has been undertaken by independent HSE organisations who have confirmed the safety of ASI’s HAPAS approved infra-red process.
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How long after patching, can the surface be reopened?

Obviously, this will depend upon ambient temperatures and site location. In general terms, Rhinopatch will act in a very similar nature to conventional repairs to this regard.
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Does Rhinopatch have a seamless bond with the surface or do we need to overband?

The unique benefits of the Rhinopatch process include the permanent elimination of surface joints and the elimination of potentially dangerous over-banding materials.
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Cost

Is Rhinopatch value for money?

ASI firmly believe that any proper cost assessment of Rhinopatch against conventional processes will highlight considerable financial benefits with the adoption of their unique infra-red process. Some Rhinopatch users have reported up to 50% savings against their historic conventional costs and, when the additional environmental, disruption and safety benefits are taken into consideration, the Rhinopatch option becomes fairly compelling.
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Is Rhinopatch more expensive than conventional patching methods?

In very simple terms, when judged on a like-for-like basis and when all relevant costs are taken into consideration, Rhinopatch is demonstrably cheaper than conventional methodology.
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How much are the Rhinopatch consumables and at what rate are they used?

The cost of the Rhinopatch re-cycling materials are largely dependent upon the amount of work being undertaken and the specific procurement option which has been tailored to suit the relevant Authority. In general terms, the cost of ASI’s re-cycling materials is significantly less than the cost of replacement asphalt material used in conventional road repair methods.
Please feel free to get in touch with ASI to talk further about these costs.
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Technical

How is the Skid Resistance Value (SRV) affected by Rhinopatch?

There is an immediate, but temporary increase of SRV on completion of the Rhinopatch process.As the grit wears over the road surface the SRV of the infra-red reinstatement will return to the surrounding road value.The time period for this depends upon the volume of traffic passing over the repair.The Rhinopatch, as it delivers a joint-free reinstatement, does not require over-banding and, consequently, is much safer for motorcyclists and pedestrians by negating the dangerous slippy edging experienced with conventional patching.
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Why would i need telemetry with the Rhinopatch process?

There are a number of options through opting for ASI’s heater telemetry including the ability to monitor and effectively control patching crews from a central position and the ability to obtain daily printouts of the positioning and timing of completed repairs. This function can be extremely useful and beneficial to address the growing problem of bogus compensation claims. Additionally, this advanced telemetry allows ASI’s technical department to remotely monitor heater performance and to be pro-active with respect to servicing requirements.
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Can Rhinopatch be used in all weathers?

Other than in conditions below freezing and where running water is present on the road surface, Rhinopatch can be used in virtually all weather conditions subject to the relevant RISK assessment.
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How does Rhinopatch work on surface dressing?

Due to the ability of ASI’s infra-red equipment to accurately control surface temperature, the Rhinopatch process performs very well on this type of surface.
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Can the process be used if the first time repair contained cut-back materials?

Yes – the heat used in the process drives off any volatiles left in the temporary ‘cut-back’ repair and the remaining aggregate is simply recycled into the finished Rhinopatch repair.
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How do i assess if a site is suitable for Rhinopatch?

Rhinopatch can be used on the vast majority of intended sites, with the exception of anti-skid surfaces and very old materials containing coal tar. Accordingly, site assessment would have little difference to that of conventional road patching. ASI’s operations department are freely available to provide further assistance to this regard if required.
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Will you be able to advise us on what materials we should use for our various road surfaces?

Certainly, we can offer different solutions for different road surfaces and can address this in depth once we have a better understanding of your requirements. We also teach correct material usage during our comprehensive training sessions at the beginning of each hire or purchase.
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Is there any government legislation that we should be aware of regarding the Rhinopatch Process?

The Rhinopatch process holds full HAPAS approval, and is the only road repair process in the UK which has attained this premier Government accreditation. All general legislation is covered under this approval and any other legislation can be independently addressed.
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Environmental

What approvals do you have for the Rhinopatch process?

The Rhinopatch process has held full Highways Agency and BBA approval (HAPAS) since 2005.
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What are the comparative co₂ emissions from the Rhinopatch process?

Rhinopatch reduces Co₂ emissions by around 75% when compared to conventional methods.
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What other environmental benefits can the Rhinopatch process deliver?

Environmental benefits that Rhinopatch delivers include the elimination of waste, the minimisation of the use of new materials and huge reductions in disruption.
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Procurement

What procurement options do you offer?

ASI Solutions plc offer three procurement options and can discuss further tailoring to these on a case by case basis, feel free to get in touch to discuss the options.Short term hire: Simply hire the specialist heating equipment for the period you need and purchase recycling and preservation materials as you need them. Conditions apply.

Pay as You Patch: For longer hire periods, pay a special rate for the M2 recycling and preservation material required and ASI will provide the specialist heating equipment free of charge. Conditions apply.

Capital purchase: Delivering by far the ‘best value’ to long term customers Rhinopatch users, the most cost effective option is to purchase the specialist heating equipment with an optional maintenance contract. Rhinopatch users also receive materials at a discounted rate. Service and maintenance contracts are available upon request.
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Can I see a Rhinopatch demonstration?

Certainly, we are fully equipped to offer demonstrations at your premises, and can even arrange a ‘field-trip’ to watch the process being implemented in ‘real-life’ by an existing customer.Feel free to get in touch and we can set up a live demonstration for you and your team.
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Who should I contact to find out more or arrange a meeting?

Simply call us on +44 (0) 1296 715151 or email for more information.
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The problem of road and footpath surface defects, such as potholes and crazing, has grown by 70% in the last 10 years. This is largely due to the failure of traditional road repair methodology to evolve with modern road use. However, the issues to be resolved go beyond merely mending today’s road defects. No longer is it acceptable for authorities to take care of repairs in the quickest and cheapest way possible, using the traditional methodologies with which the general public and road users are increasingly uncomfortable. They must address employee health and safety, asset management, sustainability, noise pollution, waste tipping, recycling, road user safety, rising costs of raw materials, quality assurance, road occupation permits and attractive looking roads. The list is extensive, the budget is relatively small.

Rhinopatch is the only infra-red process to meet, or exceed, current government environmental and health & safety legislation.

The Rhinopatch Solution

Rhinopatch is a sustainable, HAPAS/DfTand BBA approved road repair process from ASI, and more and more local authorities and their contractors are now realising its benefits and using it successfully. Rhinopatch recycles all waste in-situ, doesn’t require jackhammers, is quiet and convenient to use and results in a permanent, joint-free repair. Rhinopatch is the only infra-red process to meet, or exceed, current government environmental and health & safety legislation. Rhinopatch is significantly more cost effective than traditional methods of road repair. No tipping costs, no waste certification, no purchase of new asphalt, no extra lorry loads of asphalt, no compensation claims, no return trips to previously executed repairs. The use of the Gilsonite-based preservative and the elimination of all surface interfaces creates a repair that is permanent.

Process and Product Understanding

What is Rhinophalt?

Rhinophalt is a unique, innovative and sustainable method of making bituminous bound surfaces, like asphalt, macadam and surface dressing, last longer.Likened to a ‘wood preservative’ for asphalt, Rhinophalt is a cold spay, rapid cure surface treatment which penetrates into the bituminous material and protects the surface against the damaging effects of frost, water ingress, weathering and oxidisation. Additionally, following the chemical re-engineering of the existing binder, Rhinophalt seals in the oils and resins which are essential to retain the flexibility of the treated surface.Rich in Gilsonite, a naturally occurring 99% pure mineral asphalt, Rhinophalt effectively delays the deterioration of a treated pavement by around 5 years.
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Is Rhinophalt a one-off treatment?

Rhinophalt is completely sustainable, ASI recommend that the Rhinophalt treatment is repeated every 4 to 5 years. Regular reapplication will continue to delay the deterioration of the asphalt or macadam asset.
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Where can Rhinophalt be used?

Rhinophalt can be used anywhere where there is a bituminous bound surface, this includes roads and highways, airfields, car parks and pedestrian infrastructure.
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Can Rhinophalt be used on high speed roads?

The Rhinophalt proprietary process has been specifically designed for use on high speed roads where comprehensive testing to treated areas has demonstrated satisfactory readings for both skid resistance and texture depth.
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Is Rhinophalt approved?

Rhinophalt holds full BBA and HAPAS approval.
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Who currently preserves their asphalt?

• DBFO companies.
• Super Agencies.
• Local authorities.
• Commercial and civil airfields
• Retail parks and supermarkets e.g. Tesco, Costco, and Land Securities.

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Benefits

How will using Rhinophalt benefit me?

Rhinophalt ensures that the asset that you own, or are responsible for, lasts much longer and with the growing divide between maintenance costs and available budgets, these benefits can only increase with time.
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Why should I move to preventative maintenance?

Historic records have clearly demonstrated that preventative maintenance is 10 times less expensive than reactive measures. Additionally, the environmental benefits and minimisation to road disruption that can be attained through the adoption of a proactive approach are enormous.
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Health & safety

Is Rhinophalt a safer option than conventional methods?

With the associated reduction in disruption from road works, there is a very strong HSE argument supporting the use of Rhinophalt. Additionally, with the preserved condition of the treated pavement, the subsequent reduction in potholes and other road surface defects can only result in a safer infrastructure generally.
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Cost

Is Rhinophalt value for money?

Rhinophalt is very competitively priced. Cost comparisons against conventional resurfacing show in excess of 50% savings in all applications and in some cases as much as 80% savings have been recognised. Given the ever increasing cost of new asphalt and macadam materials, these savings are only going to become bigger in the future.
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Technical

Can ASI prove the longevity of Rhinophalt?

Worldwide, Rhinophalt has been installed on over 1.5 billion square metres of road, airfield and pedestrian infrastructure and holds a proven track record of sustainable maintenance. In the UK alone we have 26 year old asphalt surfaces which remain in excellent condition following Rhinophalt application, and we have sites in the USA which are now 40 years old and still going strong. We are happy to provide more information on these case studies upon request.
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Is Rhinophalt guaranteed?

Rhinophalt has a 3 year surface guarantee where ASI will guarantee that that the surface treated with Rhinophalt will remain in a better condition than a non-treated controlled comparative.
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When should Rhinophalt be applied?

In order to retain the most value out of the asset, Rhinophalt is best applied to roads that are in good condition. Notwithstanding this, Rhinophalt can be used effectively to retard the deterioration of bituminous bound surfaces in any condition as part of individual asset management strategies.
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Why would I use Rhinophalt on an old surface?

Ideally, Rhinophalt would initially be used to preserve asphalt in its early life, but Asset Managers often use the process to preserve bituminous surfaces which are in the latter stages of their functional life. This option may be taken due to changes in surfacing programmes or where resurfacing budgets are not available thus forcing the Asset Manager to find a way of getting a few more years life out of the affected pavement.
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What preparation is required prior to the application of Rhinophalt?

The area to be treated needs to be clean and dry with a minimum surface temperature of 5°C. Catseyes and ironwork should be masked and any affected road markings can be replaced once the Rhinophalt treatment has cured.
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How is the Skid Resistance Value (SRV) affected by Rhinophalt?

Following initial application, there will be a slight increase in skid resistance due to the Black Rhino grit spread onto the uncured Rhinophalt. This is followed, for a short period of time, by a slight reduction in the pre-treated SRV figures, around 5%, although after around 60,000 vehicle passes these SRV values return to the pre-treated levels.
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How is the texture depth affected by Rhinophalt?

The HAPAS accreditation testing showed little, if any, change in the texture depths on all types of asphalt and macadam surfaces. Subsequent texture depth testing has remained consistent with these findings.
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Can Rhinophalt fail or damage an asphalt or macadam surface?

The impregnated Rhinophalt treatment becomes an integral part of the surface material and, consequently, there is nothing to fail, much like creosote in wood. Additionally, comprising of natural mineral asphalt, there is nothing within the Rhinophalt material that could cause any realistic form of damage to the treated pavement.
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What can the Rhinophalt process do for surface dressing?

Rhinophalt can be used very effectively on surface dressing as it prevents deterioration through oxidisation of the bitumen binder. Additionally, the Rhinophalt treatment can help to prevent the bitumen rich dressing from ‘bleeding’ in hot weather due to the excellent heat resistant properties of the gilsonite.
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Can Rhinophalt be hand-applied?

Rhinophalt materials can be applied with a hand lance for small areas, or sites with restricted access.
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Is the application of Rhinophalt weather dependant?

Rhinophalt needs to be applied to a dry surface with a road temperature between 5 and 60°C.
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How long does Rhinophalt take to cure?

The curing time of Rhinophalt will be determined by ambient temperatures, experience has shown this period to be between 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
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Environmental

What are the Co₂ emissions from the solvent in the Rhinophalt material?

Independent environmental studies have been undertaken in comparing the use of Rhinophalt to conventional road maintenance. Historic records have demonstrated that with the pro-active use of 2 Rhinophalt treatments it is likely to double the functional life of an asphalt or macadam surface. To this regard, the use of Rhinophalt will deliver a staggering 94% reduction in Co₂ emissions when compared with a traditional re-surfacing alternative.
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What other environmental benefits can the Rhinophalt process deliver?

The Rhinophalt preserved surfaces will minimise the occurrence of potholes and other surface defects which will deliver substantial environmental benefits. Any minimisation of re-surfacing will also deliver tremendous environmental benefits with regard to minimised natural aggregate extraction, eliminated waste and vastly reduced disruption to the road user and the general public.
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Procurement

How do I assess if a site is suitable for Rhinophalt?

While Rhinophalt will work on all bituminous bound surfaces, specific levels of site sustainability will be determined by the relevant asset management strategy together with the existing surface conditioning of the proposed pavement. ASI remain freely available to offer assistance to this regard.
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How will I know that the Rhinophalt process will be properly installed?

ASI do not undertake contracting works themselves, all Rhinophalt contracting work is undertaken by carefully chosen Authorised Installers using computerised application equipment and pre-agreed method statements to ensure that the project is completed correctly, efficiently and professionally.
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