What is BS EN 12697-30 about?   
BS EN 12697 is a European Standard that discusses bituminous mixtures and related test methods. The main objective of the BS EN 12697 series is to ensure that the quality and performance of bituminous mixtures contributes to the structural integrity of your civil engineering works.
BS EN 12697-30 is the 30th part of the multi-series that specifies methods of moulding specimens from bituminous mixtures by impact compaction. Such specimens are primarily used to determine the bulk density and other technological characteristics, e.g. Marshall stability and flow according to EN 12697-34.
BS EN 12697-30 applies to bituminous mixtures (both those made up in a laboratory and those resulting from worksite sampling), with not more than 15 % by mass retained on the 22,4 mm sieve and none on the 31,5 mm sieve.  
Who is BS EN 12697-30 for?  
BS EN 12697-30 on specimen preparation by impact compactor is relevant to:  
- Manufacturers and suppliers of bituminous mixtures  
- Suppliers of construction materials  
- Construction industry
- Contractors and civil engineers 
- Road maintenance authorities  
- Quality control and testing personnel
Why should you use BS EN 12697-30?   
Impact compaction is a technique that ensures the bituminous mixture offers required levels of density, stiffness and bearing capacity. BS EN 12697-30 provides best industry guidance on moulding specimen by impact compaction.
BS EN 12697-30 walks you through the necessary apparatus, specimen shape and dimensions, specimen preparation and the procedure.
Adopting BS EN 12697-30-compliant guidance on specimen preparation with impact compaction can help demonstrate the reliability and performance of your construction materials, and whether or they are capable of providing required levels of stability and durability. Ultimately, this can help you improve your mix design and quality of materials used for your engineering works.
What’s changed since the last update?  
BS EN 12697-30:2018 supersedes BS EN 12697-30:2012, which is withdrawn. The following is a list of significant technical changes since the previous edition:
- The series title no longer makes the method exclusively for hot mix asphalt
- [4] Change to undated reference to EN 12697-35
- Deleted description for the quantity of mixture prepared for compaction to be not more than that required for 4 specimens
- [8.2] To avoid conflicting requirements with EN 12697-35 all text is deleted and replaced with a general reference to EN 12697-35
- [8.5] New paragraph added with description for the use of a different number of blows
- [8.7] NOTE deleted and inserted as normal text in the new paragraph in [8.5]  
