What is BS EN 1427 - Determine softening point of bitumen and bituminous binders about?
BS EN 1427 is a European standard on bitumen and bituminous binders. The main aim of the BS EN 1427 series is to provide best industry practices to determine the quality and performance of construction materials to meet your specific engineering needs.
BS EN 1427 specifies a method for the determination of the softening point of bitumen and bituminous binders in the range of 28 °C to 150 °C.
Note: Technical warning - The change from mercury thermometers to electronic temperature devices has revealed that the temperature definition in the mercury thermometer has not been precise enough to make a correct, unbiased transfer to electronic devices. Care should be taken for softening points ring and ball above 100 °C as the condition may have changed from previous practise to present days testing equipment. Below approx. 100 °C the difference in temperature readings between electronic and mercury stem thermometer is acceptable compared to the repeatability of this test methods.
Who is BS EN 1427 - Determine softening point of bitumen and bituminous binders for?
BS EN 1427 on bitumen and bituminous binders is useful for:
- Manufacturers of bitumen and bituminous binders
- Manufacturers and suppliers of construction materials
- Construction industry
- Civil engineers
- Contractors
Why should you use BS EN 1427 - Determine softening point of bitumen and bituminous binders?
BS EN 1427 defines the softening point as the temperature at which material under standardised test conditions attains a specific consistency. The purpose of the test is to determine the consistency of bitumen and bituminous binders at elevated service temperatures under defined conditions of heating. Evaluating the softening point is particularly important for materials used as joint and crack fillers.
BS EN 1427 provides best industry requirements for the reagents and materials used to test the softening point of bitumen and bituminous binders.
BS EN 1427 covers guidance on the ring and ball apparatus, and walks you through the test procedure.
Compliance with the tests can help evaluate bitumen consistency and provide indications on the temperature at which the bitumen attains a specified viscosity. The softening point value gives the temperature at which the bitumen should be heated before using it for pavement construction, such that in extreme temperatures, the binder does not melt and make the road/pavement sticky.
Thus, you can determine the temperature up to which bitumen can be heated for different road use applications.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 1427:2015 supersedes BS EN 1427:2007. BS EN 1427:2015 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 1427:2007. These include:
- Mercury thermometer is no longer the normative reference thermometer
- The description of establishing the temperature gradient has been improved
- It is recognised that it is difficult to establish the temperature gradient homogeneously in the bath in the temperature range from 30 °C till 60 °C when glycerol is used as bath liquid. A new procedure requires the gradient to be met from 60 °C. An informative Annex B with examples of valid and invalid temperature gradients has been added for clarification
