Until recently, the national standardisation body in each European state was responsible for setting the standard specifications and test methods used in that country. Over the last couple of decades, work has been underway on producing series of product specifications and test methods as well as two quality standards (type testing and factory production control) for use across Europe. These standards have now been published as the 43 parts of EN 12697 (test methods) and the 10 parts of EN 13108 (product specifications and quality standards) with a requirement that they are implemented by March 2008, by which time all conflicting standards by European national standardisation bodies have to have been withdrawn. This implementation occurred despite the different climatic conditions and procurement methods varying widely across the continent. Therefore, the new standards are starting to be used across Europe and will replace British, German, French, etc, standards in other countries that are in one the relevant spheres of influences. The paper describes the package of asphalt standards in terms of the general approach used and their contents, with particular emphasis on the enhanced legal status of the product specifications compared to the previous national standards and the need for national guidance documents to limit the options needing to be offered in a region. (a)
Abstract