Understanding IRC 67: A Complete Guide for Road Engineers

India's road network, one of the largest in the world, demands rigorous standards for maintenance to ensure safety and longevity. Among these, the IRC Code 67 stands out as the cornerstone for managing bituminous road surfaces. This blog offers engineers, urban planners, and road agencies a comprehensive understanding of IRC 67 and its practical application in real-world scenarios.

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What is IRC Code 67?

IRC:82-2015, commonly referred to as IRC Code 67, is the Code of Practice for Maintenance of Bituminous Road Surfaces, developed by the Indian Roads Congress. It categorizes maintenance into routine, preventive, and periodic operations and provides standardized methods to assess pavement distress, severity, and the appropriate treatments.

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Importance of Maintenance as per IRC Code

Timely upkeep of road infrastructure:

• Reduces the rate of deterioration
• Enhances pavement lifespan
• Cuts down vehicle operating costs (VOC)
• Improves safety by reducing accident risk
• Minimizes long-term rehabilitation costs

In fact, the code notes that proper maintenance can offer economic returns of up to 15–20%, making it not only a technical necessity but an economic imperative.

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Types of Maintenance Defined in IRC 67

1. Routine Maintenance

Daily or frequent work like:

• Crack sealing
• Pothole patching
• Pavement markings

2. Preventive Maintenance

Performed before serious deterioration occurs. It includes:

• Fog sealing
• Slurry sealing
• Microsurfacing

3. Periodic Maintenance

Scheduled treatments like renewal coats depending on the condition, traffic intensity, and climate.

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Common Pavement Distresses and Their Treatment

1. Cracking

• Hairline cracks → Fog seals, rejuvenators
• Alligator cracks → Full-depth repair or overlay
• Longitudinal cracks → Rubberized bitumen sealing
• Reflection cracks → Stress Absorbing Membranes (SAM/SAMI)

2. Surface Defects

• Bleeding → Sand blotting or milling & replacement
• Smooth surface → Microsurfacing, anti-skid treatment
• Hungry surface → Fog seal or slurry sealing

3. Deformation

• Rutting → Premix patching and compaction
• Shoving & Corrugation → Scarification and reshaping
• Shallow Depressions → Open-graded patching
• Upheavals/Settlements → Full excavation and reconstruction

4. Disintegration

• Ravelling → Surface dressing or slurry seal
• Potholes → Cold or hot mix patching with proper edge trimming

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Materials & Equipment Recommended in IRC 67

IRC 67 specifies use of:

• Bituminous emulsion, VG-30/40 grade binders
• Cold patch and Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) mixes
• Portable patching equipment, cutting machines, and mobile hot mix units

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Traffic & Safety Measures During Maintenance

To ensure public safety during ongoing works:

• Use of warning signs and barricades
• Reduced speed zones
• Temporary markings and cones around affected zones

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Preventive Maintenance Strategies

• Apply before condition rating drops below “Fair”
• Conduct condition surveys twice a year (pre and post monsoon)
• Prefer slurry seal, thin overlays, and micro surfacing in early distress stages

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Why Road Engineers Should Follow IRC 67?

Implementing IRC 67 ensures:

• Consistent road quality across Indian networks
• Efficient resource use in asset management
• Data-driven decision-making for RoadVision AI platforms

When integrated with AI-powered road inspection tools like RoadVision AI, engineers can automate defect detection, measure distress severity, and recommend treatments aligned with IRC guidelines—resulting in smarter maintenance cycles.

RoadVision AI is revolutionizing road infrastructure development and maintenance with its innovative solutions powered by computer vision AI. By leveraging advanced technologies, the platform conducts comprehensive road condition monitoring and traffic surveys, enabling early detection of surface issues like potholes and cracks for timely repairs and enhanced roads. Through traffic congestion analysis, RoadVision AI provides data-driven insights to address traffic congestion challenges and optimize road usage. With a focus on building smarter and more efficient road infrastructure, RoadVision AI ensures full compliance with IRC Codes, helping engineers and stakeholders reduce costs, minimize risks, and improve road safety and transportation efficiency.

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FAQs

Q1. What is IRC Code 67 used for?

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IRC Code 67 sets the guidelines for maintaining bituminous road surfaces through visual and technical methods. It is widely used by engineers and platforms like RoadVision AI for road inspection.

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Q2. How does RoadVision AI support IRC 67 compliance?

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RoadVision AI enables automated crack detection, surface analysis, and distress classification in line with IRC 67 guidelines, helping road agencies make informed decisions.

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Q3. What treatments are recommended in IRC 67 for potholes?

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IRC Code 67 recommends cold/hot mix patching, cleaning, and sealing edges. RoadVision AI helps pre-identify potholes with severity ratings for prioritization.

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