|
Industry
Position
on
Performance Related Properties
Bituminous binders contribute in varying degrees
to the performance of asphalts. The industry wants a wide consensus on the
question under which circumstances and for which applications the binders
are important for the performance of the asphalt (and therefore for the
performance of the pavement), in what way binder properties contribute to
this performance and how they can be measured in a practical manner. The industry wants a standardised way to show the performance of existing
and new bituminous binders in particular to suppliers and users, so that:
·
The binders can be evaluated on a fair and
comparable basis;
·
The appropriate binder can easily be selected
for an application;
·
The binder can be applied with confidence
The industry needs measurement methods, which
can be used for one or more of the following purposes:
·
Routine quality control;
·
Contractual specifications;
·
Evaluation and development of new products.
It is important to recognise that different
measurement methods may be required for each of these purposes and that
proven conventional methods should not be discarded where they are
appropriate. Validation against performance in the field is essential before
implementation of new measurement methods.
For contractual specifications and quality
control purposes, the industry needs procedures and test methods, which
are practical, are able to be implemented on a daily basis and which are
suitable for the application.
For contractual specifications, in particular,
the procedures and test methods should be limited to properties
that are important to the performance of the asphalt and the pavement. For
quality controls, in particular, the industry needs tests and instruments
that can be used within regular production and construction activities.
Measurement methods that are too complex, too
expensive and too slow are not suitable for day-to-day operations,
although they may be suitable for the purpose of evaluating and developing
new binders and new products.
Background
The
road construction industry and road materials suppliers face a number of
challenges:
·
Increased traffic loads and density
·
More cost efficient solutions
·
Faster repair methods and easier maintenance
·
Road owners increasingly buying road performance
These demands have required the industry to
develop new asphalts and binders with enhanced properties. Conventional
test methods are not always able to evaluate these new binders,
particularly modified bitumens. New methods are needed to facilitate and
encourage product development.
To
improve the knowledge and understanding of performance related properties
for asphalt and bituminous binders EAPA has committed itself to a number
of international congresses, workshops, research projects and information
exchange projects, such as the Eurobitume Workshops 1995 in Brussels and
1999 in Luxembourg and the specialised sessions during the Eurasphalt&Eurobitume
Congresses 1996 in Strasbourg and 2000 in Barcelona. In the year 2000 a new CEN Technical Committee 336 ‘Bituminous
Binders’ was assigned to draft the second generation of European
Standards for bituminous binders as performance related standards. Related to drafting these Second Generation European Standards EAPA’s wrote a Position Paper ‘Performance-related specification system for bituminous binders for paving’
In
its position paper the views of the EAPA members are expressed in relation
with the development of this future specification system. The views in the
paper are restricted to paving, in a later stage other applications such
as surface dressings and slurry surfacings will also be considered.
The first goal of the position paper is to formulate the
opinion of the EAPA members to communicate with the other partners in the
bitumen standardisation process.
In
the paper the scope and objectives of CEN/TC 336 Bituminous Binders are
described and an overview of the EAPA representations in this TC is given.
Statements concerning the basic requirements
and the needs of the asphalt industries are described, as well as
Statements concerning the standardisation process.
For reading or downloading the
EAPA position paper click here.
June
2002 You can reach the European Asphalt Pavement Association by e-mail at info@eapa.org and by mail at P.O. BOX 175, 3620 AD Breukelen, The Netherlands. |