Pre-Season Training for Preservation Pros: 2020 ISSA Slurry Systems Workshop

With the World Series now in the record books (Way to go Nats!!), the next date on the calendar for die-hard baseball fans is in mid-February when teams report to begin training for next season.  A full 3 weeks before then, avid Pavement Preservation fans will gather in Las Vegas to roll up their sleeves and take part in their own “Spring Training” at the 2020 ISSA Slurry Systems Workshop.

From what began in 1983 as an Operator’s School with 17 attendees, last year attracted over 480 preservation professionals from 40 states and 8 different countries. They gathered to take advantage of great instruction from some of the best in the business at what has evolved into the premier training opportunity in our industry. When attendees at various meetings are asked what challenges they face when looking for solutions to issues with faulted pavements invariably the response is the need for more training. This opportunity could well be the “One Stop Workshop” that offers many of those solutions.

ISSA represents 4 key disciplines in the Pavement Preservation Toolbox:

• Slurry Seal
• Micro Surfacing
• Chip Seals
• Crack Treatments

All of these treatments will be covered in detail in separate breakout sessions that discuss the best practices of each from site selection, proper selection of materials and equipment, placement of the material, troubleshooting and project closeout. The breakouts are based on Web Based Training Modules developed by ISSA and sponsored by FHWA.

In addition to the training covering these 4 core disciplines the attendees will have the opportunity to take part in many other sessions in a very flexible program developed to allow the group to sign up for topics of particular interest. Other highlights of the Workshop:

• Breakout covering Inspection of all ISSA disciplines
• Doing what we do safely
• Troubleshooting slurry/micro mix designs
• Interactive mix tables for the disciplines
• Equipment set-up and proper calibration
• Breakout covering technical aspects of our treatments (micro surfacing and chip seal design methods, proper use of polymers, new developments, etc.)
• Equipment Showcase all week, live demonstrations Wednesday afternoon
• Chip Spreader & Distributor Calibration and Operation
• Vendors (Equipment Manufacturers, Material Suppliers as well as Contractors) to display services and innovations
• Updates from agencies (FHWA, NCAT, NCPP)
• Optional exams for slurry/micro/chip seal administered by ISSA
• Networking opportunities all week

The Slurry Systems Workshop Committee is constantly challenged to build a program that is fresh and current with Industry trends, while continuing to offer critical core training on all of our disciplines because we have consistently been drawing nearly 60% first time attendees!  We continue to listen to the valuable feedback every year and adapt the agenda to reflect those suggestions.  Some new twists this year include:

• On Monday (ahead of the Tuesday start of the Workshop) a true hands on “Day in the Life” session.  Attendees to this session will have the opportunity to take part in actual calibration, paver and spreader box set-up, handwork and application techniques and troubleshooting in the field. End of the day clean up and storage of equipment will be done as well.  Come get ready to get dirty and get some tips from some of the best! There is an extra fee for this session and the group will be limited to the first 25 sign-ups.

• Intro to the RoadResource.org website.  This is an awesome interactive tool that can, among other things, help determine which treatment option is best for particular distresses in pavements.  There will also be a kiosk in the exhibit area manned by folks trained on the content of the site and will offer attendees the opportunity to get familiar with this valuable resource.

• Hands on opportunity at the Micro Surfacing mix table to see the effects of improper proportioning of materials

• Advanced Track Breakout that will run concurrently with the Best Practices Breakouts and will cover some topics “on the next level”.  This session is mainly geared to those who have had the experience of attending our main Best Practices sessions in the past, but certainly open to all. Topics will include, among others, Complete Project Management, Effect of Pavement Temps on Curing of Micro, Inspection from an agency perspective and a panel of contractors discussing challenges in their regions.

At the conclusion of the Workshop, The National Center for Pavement Preservation will again offer the AASHTO TSP2 Certification Exams for Slurry Seal and Micro Surfacing, Chip Seals and Crack Treatments. There are exams offered for both contractor and agency reps. There is a separate fee for this exam and registration information is available through both ISSA and NCPP.

This promises to be a great training opportunity for all ISSA members as well as non-member contractors, suppliers, engineers, consultants and government agency personnel looking to learn more about pavement preservation.

So, save January 20-24, 2020 on your calendars and find registration information on the ISSA Slurry Systems Workshop at www.slurry.org.  We look forward to welcoming all of you as we dust off the winter and prepare for our paving seasons with more knowledge and confidence than before!