Temporary Road Markings (or is is more about proprietary Thin Surfacings)
I find it strange sometimes when the beginning of the month comes round and I am looking for something to include in the newsletter that is fresh to a particular situation, when, up it pops as I browse around the web. 
So, please have a browse of the page provided by the Highways Agency, which is to be found in their "Corporate Documents" section, that relates to "Temporary Road Markings" on proprietary Thin Surfacings.
(It might be a good idea to download it or copy it in to text, as a useful reference.) 
I will leave you to read it, but I will make the comment that I feel this report relates more to the road surfacing material than it does to temporary road markings, although it is an excellent reference source to road markings in general and is well worth reading for that aspect alone.
I am going to concentrate on the road surfacing aspects of the seven page report, i.e. page three and appendix 1.
I know a bit about bituminous surfacing materials, and although I do not use proprietary Thin Surfacings in my daily work I do know a little about some of the products that are available. But even I was very surprised at how low some of the binder contents were that have been included in the table on the linked page (page three).
If the binder contents are listed there I am assuming some of the proprietary products do have binder contents that are able to be that low, and I am making the assumption that these are absolute minimum binder contents and not minimum Target Binder Contents (TBC) that would have a working tolerance and allow them to be even lower.
The organisation I work for is responsible, every year, for laying many kilometres of generic (BS 4987 & BS594) bituminous mixtures, thinly, i.e. 50mm. or less, yes the definition of "thin" is now up to 50mm..
The bituminous mixture that "we" use that has the least  bitumen content will be "good old"  10mm. size close graded surface course which has a TBC OF 5.3% +/- 0.5%
The lowest specified binder content I can find for a generic material is a TBC OF 3.7% +/- 0.3% for unmodified bitumen in 20mm. size porous asphalt surface course, if it were modified bitumen the TBC is increased to 4.5%. 
(Interestingly this increase in binder content for modified binder in porous asphalt is contrary to what is shown in the linked table for Thin Surfacings.)
But I seem to recall that the use of porous asphalt is no longer permitted on Motorways and trunk roads because of its poor durability/longevity.
I believe the tables, on the linked pages, admirably demonstrates my concern regarding low binder contents of bituminous mixtures. 
Because,  where the binder content is higher temporary road markings are "suitable", where binder contents are lower temporary road markings are "unsuitable". The report indicates there may be two problems, the problem of secure stud attachment and adhesion of the temporary marking. Followed by possible damage to the road surface during removal, presumably a road surface with a low binder content can be damaged by the quite severe removal process that a more durable bituminous mixture can withstand.  
Bitumen is a wonderful road making material, but you need enough of it for it to be able to perform its function to its full capability. 
It is clear the report shows that some of the Thin Surfacings available do have the appropriate bitumen content, but do we know which. 
I am not aware that HAPAS certificates include TBC's and as I often point out HAPAS certificates are for "systems", not individual products, which are liable to change from the original bituminous mixture that was subject to assessment.
I think you know what is coming next, yes, I believe many of you you need the support of good, experienced materials engineers to help you understand the complexity of the Thin Surfacing situation in England. It would appear to me advice is needed on the choice of product because I am assuming the "buck stops" with the person who authorised the use of a particular material and not necessarily the supplier/contractor.
Somebody had better start training a new crop of Materials Engineers soon before us old timers depart for the great materials laboratory in the sky, (and the sooner the better some would say).  
But in the meanwhile please take the time to read this report and draw your own conclusions, it would be a shame for this excellent work to go unstudied.

One last tip to be helpful, do not forget the availability of,

CSS Report ENG 1/2003 - Advice Note for the Specification of Thin Surfacing
This Advice Note was published in July of 2003. this is an excellent Advice Note and its content relates to the specifying of "Thin Surfacing Systems". 
I believe it is necessary reading if you are considering the use of any of the range of the proprietary bituminous mixtures now offered by the industry, these being known as "Thin Surfacing Systems".  
Copies are available from :-
CSS Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Lincolnshire County Council, City Hall, LINCOLN, LN1 1DN
Tel. 01522 553098 Fax. 01522 512335

Cost is £5:00 to members and £10:00 to non-members 

Websites of the Month
I have just had recommended to me (thank you Steve) two excellent websites that at least demand an initial visit, and I am wasting no time on passing on this information.
However there is a little bad news as well as the good news. 
The good news is that these are excellent sites with a wealth of information, images, video clips, and interactive diagrams, the bad news is that you will only get the real benefit if you have a broadband connection.
But there is more good news, if you do not have a broadband connection the material on both these sites is available on CD at a moderate cost.
I have to admit that I am still on dial-up connection so I have not been able to fully appraise these websites but my initial reaction is one of being impressed by the manner in which the information has been presented, to make it available, and comprehensible, to those who want to learn.
But nothing is for nothing, you have to be prepared to put some time in studying what is presented.  

The websites are,
The Washington Asphalt Pavement Guide, 
and,
The Pavement Guide of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

In effect one guide is presented by "industry" and the other by the "overseeing authority", both appear well worth browsing.

Technology Becoming Less Expensive
This is a quick reference to the way technology is continually becoming more widely available as the cost of the various devices reduces, and with the improvement in quality of the products.
As near to a "win / win" situation I can think of, pretty unusual these days.
I particularly refer to the use of "laser" thermometers, which I will not repeat here because I have included a new section on the page BITUMINOUS (THERMOPLASTIC) MATERIAL TEMPERATURES .
Also, I would repeat, because I know I have mentioned it in a past newsletter, how affordable relatively high quality digital cameras have become over the last couple of years. 
I would certainly recommend that all staff who work on site have access to digital cameras and be encouraged to use them to record site conditions that may need to be referred to in any future negotiations.
Apart from the superb quality you can obtain from a £100:00 camera these days, and the speed that you can produce images back in the office, you will save a lot of money by not having to take your film down to the "chemist" for processing.
It seems strange to me in an age that the cost of testing, and recording to a high standard, is able to be less expensive because of advancing technology and instrument engineering, less testing is said to be necessary because everything is "wonderful".
I am happy to report the organisation I work for have already invested in some of this modern technology and it is proving extremely useful and cost effective in a number of situations.

Motto of the Month
"Opera is when a man gets stabbed in the back but instead of bleeding he sings."