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Railroad Grade Crossing Surfaces
Railroad grade crossings are surfacing materials placed between railroad tracks, and between the track and the road at highway and street railroad crossings, to enhance automobile and pedestrian safety. Railroad grade crossings are made from recovered rubber, concrete containing coal fly ash, steel, wood, or plastic.
- Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges
- Product Specifications
- Product Information
- Additional Links
Recommended
Recovered Materials Content Ranges:
EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for purchasing railroad grade crossing surfaces as shown in the table below.
| Surface
Material |
Recovered
Material |
Postconsumer Content (%) | Total Recovered Materials Content (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Coal Fly Ash 1 | -- | 15-20 |
| Rubber 2 | Tire rubber | -- | 85-95 |
| Steel 3 | Steel |
16
67 |
25-30
100 |
| Wood 4 | Wood or wood composite | 90-97 | 90-97 |
| Plastic 5 | Plastic or plastic composite | 85-95 | 100 |
1 Coal fly ash can be used as an ingredient of concrete slabs, pavements, or controlled density fill product, depending on the type of concrete crossing system installed. Higher percentages of coal fly ash can be used in the concrete mixture; the higher percentages help to produce more workable and durable product but can prolong the curing process.
2 The recommended recovered materials content for rubber railroad grade crossing surfaces are based on the weight of the raw materials, exclusive of any additives such as binders or adhesives.
3 The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated items can be made from steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30% total recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.
4 Railroad grade crossing surfaces made from recovered wood may also contain other recovered materials such as plastics. The percentages of these materials contained in the product would also count toward the recovered materials content level of the item.
5 Railroad grade crossing surfaces made from recovered plastics may also contain other recovered materials such as auto shredder residue, which contains a mix of materials. The percentages of these materials contained in the product would also count toward the recovered materials content level of the item.
Product Specifications:
Learn more about specifications for railroad grade crossing surfaces containing recovered materials.
Product Information:
Database
of Manufacturers and Suppliers
This database identifies manufacturers and suppliers
of railroad grade crossings containing recovered
materials.
Additional Links:
2007
Buy-Recycled Series: Construction Products (PDF) (115 pp, 104K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights construction products
designated in the CPG, including railroad grade crossing
surfaces, and includes case studies, recommended
recovered-content levels, and a list of resources.
Technical Background Document (PDF) (215 pp, 381K, About PDF) This background document includes EPA's product research on recovered-content railroad grade crossings as well as a more detailed overview of the history and regulatory requirements of the CPG process.