Tarmac
The second edition of The Dictionary of Urbanism by Rob Cowan, published in 2020, suggests that tarmac can mean:
- ‘A generic name for asphalt surfaces.’
- ‘A patented type of road-surfacing material composed mainly of compacted tar and aggregate. The word is a shortening of tarmacadam, a word combining tar- with the name of the engineer and road-builder John McAdam (1756–1836), who invented a process for building roads with a smooth, hard surface (macadam).’
It suggests that macadam can refer to:
- ‘A type of road construction with a smooth, hard surface, in which layers of compacted, crushed stone are bound with stone dust . It was pioneered by the engineer and road-builder John McAdam (1756–1836).’ Also referred to as stone macadam.
- ‘A similar type of road construction but with the addition of tar as a binder.’ Also referred to as bitumen macadam (bitmac).
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Asphalt.
- Bituminous mixing and laying plant.
- Britain's historic paving.
- Coal holes, pavement lights, kerbs and utilities and wood-block paving.
- Glossary of paving terms.
- Code of Practice for Ironwork Systems Installation and Refurbishment.
- Hazard warning surfaces.
- Highway.
- Highway drainage.
- How to lay block paving.
- Pavement.
- Permeable pavements.
- Pervious bitmac.
- Road paving.
- Types of road and street.
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