Friday 7 February 2020

Is Hanson’s new range of asphalt able to cut air pollution?

Hanson, a supplier of heavy building materials, has unveiled a new range of Reduced Emission Asphalt (REA) products to minimise air pollution caused by asphalt production.

Using the Shell Bitumen FreshAir binder, the firm claims to be able to reduce specific toxic gases and particulate matter from asphalt mixes by an average of 40% compared to conventional bitumen.

The binder can be used in all of its asphalt products and does not affect the property of the surface - it interacts directly with the chemical compounds that affect air quality, such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter and reduces their release into the air during production and paving.

The firm suggests every kilometre switched to the innovative tarmac can cut nitrogen dioxide levels during asphalt laying by the same amount as removing 40 cars from the road, making it highly suitable for use in Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZs) and tunnels.