Standards Development

Scope

This British Standard specifies requirements for the transport, laying and compaction of asphalt mixtures conforming to BS EN 13108-1, BS EN 13108-4 and BS EN 13108-5, and described in PD 6691, from the time that they leave the mixing plant until they are placed on the road ready to receive a superimposed layer or traffic. It also includes requirements for preliminary work at the laying site needed to ensure that the substrate is fit to receive the asphalt and for the application of bond coats.

Although this standard does not contain explicit requirements for asphalt materials covered in other parts of BS EN 13108 or other proprietary asphalt mixtures, the general requirements of this standard can be applied to those mixtures, in addition to special requirements for particular mixtures specified in individual quality plans and/or method statements.

NOTE 1 The term “asphalt” used in this standard is the generic term used to describe the wide range of mixtures of aggregate and bituminous binder individually known as asphalt concrete (AC), hot rolled asphalt (HRA), stone mastic asphalt (SMA), porous asphalt (PA) or mastic asphalt and other proprietary materials which are available for use in constructing and maintaining roads and other paved areas that are on the market in the UK.

NOTE 2 Methods for ensuring that the correct surface drainage characteristics are imparted to pavements with PA surface course are outside the scope of this British Standard.

NOTE 3 BS EN 13108-20 specifies tests for determining the conformity of a mix to any of the other parts of BS EN 13108. This is similar to a mix design validation or job mix trial. BS EN 13108-20 offers some choice in the way in which specimens are to be prepared for the purposes of product-type testing. Requirements for sample preparation for the demonstration of product-type test properties are given in PD 6691:2015, Clause 13 and are linked to the relevant protocols/annexes in this British Standard, as relevant.

In the case of HRA, a mixture design protocol is provided as informative text in Annex H, and requirements are specified for providing a rough-textured surface on the surface course to provide skid-resistance.

This standard does not specify requirements for asphalt incorporating bitumen emulsion binders.

This standard does not cover additional or specific requirements relating to the laying and compaction of reduced temperature asphalts.

NOTE 4 BS EN 13108 is being reviewed and it is anticipated that any revisions might cover low-temperature and cold mixtures.

Purpose

This standard needs to align with the update to PD 6691. The MCHW Clause 908 has also been updated on warm mix asphalt, the use of which will allow for key sustainability objectives to be met by the asphalt industry in the UK and beyond. The Manual Contract for Highway Works (MCHW) Volume 1 can be found here. Key aspects of the warm mix business case from National Highways (formerly Highways England) can be found here: Highways England accelerates switch to lower carbon asphalts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

To update clauses throughout the Standard to address existing exclusions, including 1, 7.3.1, 9.2.3.4, Table A.1. To incorporate additional applicability for EN13108-6.