What is BS EN 12595 - Kinematic viscosity of bituminous binders about?
BS EN 12595 is a European Standard that discusses the kinematic viscosity of bitumen and bituminous binders.
The main objective of the BS EN 12595 series is to ensure bitumen and bituminous binders play a positive role in maintaining the structural integrity of your civil engineering works.
BS EN 12595 specifies a method for the determination of the kinematic viscosity of bituminous binders at 60 °C and 135 °C, in a range from 6 mm2/s to 300 000 mm2/s. Other temperatures are possible if calibration constants are known. Bituminous emulsions are not covered within the scope of this method.
Results for this method can be used to calculate dynamic viscosity when the density of the test material is known or can be determined.
Who is BS EN 12595 - Kinematic viscosity of bituminous binders for?
BS EN 12595 on bitumen and bituminous binders is useful for:
- Manufacturers of bitumen and bituminous binders
- Manufacturers and suppliers of construction materials
- Construction industry
- Quality control and testing personnel
- Civil engineers
- Contractors
Why should you use BS EN 12595 - Kinematic viscosity of bituminous binders?
Viscosity test of the bitumen sample is one of the important tests on bitumen to be conducted before road construction to ensures the quality of the bitumen used as a binder by giving a measure of fluidity at a particular temperature.
In this regard, BS EN 12595 guides you through the standard test technique for assessing bituminous binders to determine the consistency of liquid bitumen.
By assessing kinematic viscosity in accordance with BS EN 12595, you can evaluate whether the highly viscous binder can restrict flow, limiting the binder's ability to spread and fill the voids between the aggregates during pavement construction. As a result, this assessment can be beneficial in ensuring the construction materials used play a positive role in making the pavement/road denser and more durable.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 12595:2014 supersedes EN 12595:2007. BS EN 12595:2014 includes some technical changes with respect to EN 12595:2007. These include:
- Changed/added wording of the Warning in the Scope
- EN 12607-2, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of the resistance to hardening under the influence of heat and air — Part 2: TFOT Method was added as a normative reference in Clause 2
- The reference to the mercury thermometer has been deleted (see subclause 5.2) and Annex C is informative
- Alternative cleaning procedure added as optional in subclause 7.2
