EN 13587:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for determining the tensile properties of bituminous binders, unaged, aged, residual or recovered, in particular those of polymer-modified bitumens, by means of a tensile test.; NOTE 1 The tensile properties, more particularly the tensile stress, the elongation and energy, at the yield point and on fracture, are customarily used as a criterion for assessing the cohesion performance of these materials.; NOTE 2 The test method described in EN 13589 [1] is an alternate test method to determine the tensile properties of bituminous binders.; WARNING — The use of this document can involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This document does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this document to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 15-Dec-2026
• ICS: 75.140 - Waxes, bituminous materials and other petroleum products
• ICS: 91.100.50 - Binders. Sealing materials
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 336 - Bituminous binders
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 336/WG 1 - Bituminous binders for paving
• Current Stage: 5060 - Closure of Vote - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 15-Oct-2026
• Due Date: 19-Apr-2027
• Completion Date: 15-Oct-2026
• Ref Project: kSIST FprEN 13587:2026 - Bitumens and bituminous binders - Determination of the tensile properties of bituminous binders by the tensile test method

• Revises: EN 13587:2016 - Bitumen and bituminous binders - Determination of the tensile properties of bituminous binders by the tensile test method
• Effective Date: 19-Jan-2023

EN 13587:2026 is a CEN standard for determining the tensile properties of bituminous binders by a tensile test. It is intended for unaged, aged, residual or recovered binders, especially polymer-modified bitumens, and it measures tensile stress, elongation and energy at yielding and fracture so users can judge cohesion performance.

What does EN 13587:2026 specify?

EN 13587:2026 specifies a laboratory method for tensile testing bituminous binders and sets out how to prepare specimens, run the test, calculate the results and report them. The scope points users to tensile properties as the main output, and it also notes EN 13589 as an alternate tensile test method.

The document is organized into:

• Scope, normative references, terms and definitions
• Principle, apparatus, sample preparation, procedure, calculation, expression of results, precision and test report
• Annex A with cohesion specification criteria

Annex	What it covers
Annex A	Cohesion specification criteria, including the reference cohesion value and example force-elongation curves

What are the key requirements of EN 13587:2026?

EN 13587:2026 is built around a controlled tensile test on a dumbbell-shaped specimen. The practical aim is to produce a force-elongation curve that can be used to identify yielding, fracture and cohesion energy.

• Apparatus control (Clause 5): The test machine must keep a constant traverse speed, the force and elongation measurements must stay within stated tolerances, and the chamber must hold the test temperature closely. In practice, this means the machine, chamber and measurement chain need to be suitable before any result can be trusted.
• Specimen attachment and extensometry (Clause 5): The specimen must be clamped without slip or local tearing, and the extensometer type must be recorded. This matters because poor gripping or an unrecorded measurement setup can change the curve.
• Specimen preparation (Clause 6): Samples are taken and prepared using EN 58 and EN 12594, then moulded as H2 dumbbell specimens or, if needed, another approved geometry. Defective specimens are rejected, so the lab must control molding quality and cooling history.
• Conditioning before test (Clause 6 and 7): Specimens are cooled at room temperature, then kept in a refrigerator for a limited time before testing, and then held at test temperature before loading. This keeps temperature history consistent, which is important for bituminous binders.
• Test execution (Clause 7): The test runs at defined temperatures and speeds, with width and thickness measured before loading. The method requires a repeat test if brittle break occurs, and after three brittle breaks the binder is recorded as brittle.
• Calculation and averaging (Clause 8): Deformation energy is obtained from the force-elongation data, cohesion energy is calculated from that energy and the initial cross section, and the final result is the average of three valid specimens. That means one specimen is not enough for the reported value.
• Expression and precision (Clauses 9 and 10): Cohesion energy is expressed to two significant figures, and the precision section gives repeatability and reproducibility values as guidance. Users should treat the precision data as indicative when comparing laboratories.
• Test report (Clause 11): The report must identify the sample, specimen type, test temperature, speed, extensometer type, number rejected, deviations and unusual observations. This is what makes the result traceable for quality control or specification work.

What terms does EN 13587:2026 define?

EN 13587:2026 defines key terms used in the curve and result calculations.

• Tensile force (F): the force acting on the specimen while it is being stretched.
• Elongation: the increase in length of the specimen during the test.
• Brittle break: rupture at the start of the test before the flowing threshold, while the curve is still linear.
• Flowing threshold: the first maximum on the stress-strain curve.
• Deformation energy (E): the energy supplied to the specimen up to a chosen displacement.
• Cohesion energy: deformation energy divided by the specimen’s initial cross section.
• H2 specimen: the dumbbell-shaped specimen geometry used by the method.

Who uses EN 13587:2026?

EN 13587:2026 is used by testing laboratories, bitumen producers, road materials quality teams and specifiers of polymer-modified bitumens. They use it to compare binders, check batch quality, support product specification and document cohesion-related performance under controlled test conditions.

What changed in EN 13587:2026 from the previous edition?

EN 13587:2026 supersedes EN 13587:2016. The stated changes include:

• recommended pneumatic clamping jaws for specimen attachment
• revised specimen conditioning times before test
• measurement of specimen width and revised holding time at test temperature
• removal of the waiting time after temperature stabilization
• averaging of three determinations for each parameter
• a new requirement to express cohesion energy to two significant figures
• reworded precision information
• added keys to the annex figures
• editorial review of the document and its structure

Which standards are used with EN 13587:2026?

EN 13587:2026 relies on several related standards:

• EN 58 - sampling of bituminous binders
• EN 12594 - preparation of test samples
• EN 12597 - terminology for bitumens and bituminous binders
• EN ISO 527 (all parts) - tensile testing framework used for specimen geometry and clamping practice
• ISO 5893 - requirements for constant-rate tensile, flexural and compression test equipment
• EN 13589 - alternate tensile test method mentioned in the scope
• EN 14023 - specification limits for polymer modified bitumens used with the reference cohesion value
• EN 13703:2003 - historical source for the precision data cited in Clause 10

What does the EN 13587:2026 document contain?

EN 13587:2026 contains a specimen geometry in Figure 1, dimension data for the H2 mould in Table 1, and precision data in Table 2. It also includes the main calculation formulas for deformation energy and cohesion energy, plus the annex formula for the reference cohesion value.

Annex A provides example force-elongation curves and a graphical explanation of how deformation energy is taken from the curve area. That makes the document useful not only for testing, but also for checking calculations, validating software output and building specification reports.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 13587:2026
01-marec-2026
Bitumen in bitumenska veziva - Določanje nateznih lastnosti bitumenskih veziv z
natezno preskusno metodo
Bitumens and bituminous binders - Determination of the tensile properties of bituminous
binders by the tensile test method
Bitumen und bitumenhaltige Bindemittel - Bestimmung der Streckeigenschaften von
bitumenhaltigen Bindemitteln mit dem Zugprüfverfahren
Bitumes et liants bitumineux - Détermination des caractéristiques de traction des liants
bitumineux par la méthode d'essai de traction
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13587
ICS:
75.140 Voski, bitumni in drugi naftni Waxes, bituminous materials
proizvodi and other petroleum products
91.100.50 Veziva. Tesnilni materiali Binders. Sealing materials
oSIST prEN 13587:2026 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 13587:2026
oSIST prEN 13587:2026
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 13587
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2026
ICS 75.140; 91.100.50 Will supersede EN 13587:2016
English Version
Bitumens and bituminous binders - Determination of the
tensile properties of bituminous binders by the tensile test
method
Bitumes et liants bitumineux - Détermination des Bitumen und bitumenhaltige Bindemittel -
caractéristiques de traction des liants bitumineux par Bestimmung der Streckeigenschaften von
la méthode d'essai de traction bitumenhaltigen Bindemitteln mit dem
Zugprüfverfahren
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 336.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13587:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 13587:2026
prEN 13587:2026 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 5
5 Apparatus . 5
6 Samples preparation and conservation . 7
7 Procedure. 8
8 Calculation . 8
9 Expression of results . 9
10 Precision . 9
10.1 General . 9
10.2 Repeatability, r . 9
10.3 Reproducibility, R .10
11 Test report .10
Annex A (normative) Cohesion specification criteria .11
Bibliography .13

oSIST prEN 13587:2026
prEN 13587:2026 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 13587:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 336 “Bitumens and
bituminous binders”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13587:2016.
prEN 13587:2025 includes the following significant changes with respect to EN 13587:2016:
a) Clause 5, Apparatus: for the specimen attachment, the use of pneumatic clamping jaws has been
recommended (see 5.1.2);
b) Clause 6, Samples preparation and conservation: specimens are cooled down at room temperature
between 1 h and 24 h and then kept in a refrigerator for not more than 1 h before the test;
c) Clause 7, Procedure: the measurement of width B has been introduced, the duration of the holding time
of the specimen at the test temperature has been set to an interval of 1 h to 3 h and the requirement for a
waiting time of 5 min after temperature stabilization has been withdrawn;
d) Clause 8, Calculation: the result shall now be the average of three determinations for each parameter;
e) Clause 9, Expression of results: has been introduced requiring the cohesion energy results to be expressed
to two significant figures;
f) Clause 10, Precision: has been reworded;
g) Annex A, Cohesion specification criteria: keys have been added to Figures A.1 and A.2;
h) the document and its structure have been editorially reviewed.
oSIST prEN 13587:2026
prEN 13587:2026 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for determining the tensile properties of a bituminous binder, in particular
those of a polymer modified bitumen, by means of a tensile test.
NOTE 1 The tensile properties, more particularly the tensile stress, the elongation and energy, at the yield point and
on fracture, are customarily used as a criterion for assessing the quality of these materials.
NOTE 2 The test method described in EN 13589 [1] is an alternate test method to determine the tensile properties of
polymer modified bitumens.
WARNING — The use of this document can involve hazardous materials, operations and equipment. This
document does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this document to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 58, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Sampling bituminous binders
EN 12594, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Preparation of test samples
EN 12597, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Terminology
EN ISO 527 (all parts), Plastics — Determination of tensile properties(ISO 527)
ISO 5893, Rubber and plastics test equipment — Tensile, flexural and compression types (constant rate of
traverse) — Specification
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12597 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org
3.1
tensile force
F
force undergone by a specimen subjected to extension
Note 1 to entry: Tensile force is expressed in Newton (N).
3.2
Elongation
L
increase in length of a specimen
oSIST prEN 13587:2026
prEN 13587:2026 (E)
Note 1 to entry: Elongation is expressed in metres (m).
Note 2 to entry: Elongation can also be expressed in percentage (%) of the initial length. It is then calculated as [(new
length – initial length)/initial length] × 100.
3.3
brittle break
rupture happening at the beginning of the test before the flowing threshold when the stress-strain curve is
still linear
3.4
flowing threshold
first maximum of the stress-strain curve
3.5
deformation energy
E
i
energy supplied by test pieces, until displacement, i, of the moving element
Note 1 to entry: The deformation energy E is expressed in joules (J).
i
3.6
cohesion energy
*
E
i
quotient of the deformation energy, E (3.5) and the initial cross section of the test specimen
i
Note 1 to entry: The initial cross section of the test specimen is expressed in square centimetres (cm ) therefore the
*
cohesion energy E is expressed joules per square centimetres (J/cm ).
i
4 Principle
A specimen, held by its ends between two jaws, is extended in a chamber (5.2), regulated at the test
temperature, at a constant speed until a given elongation or fracture is achieved. In general, the stress and the
elongation are noted at the flowing thresholds: at an elongation of 400 % and at breaking.
The deformation energy, E , is determined from the recordings of the tensile curve (see Figures A.1) obtained,
i
in accordance with the procedure described in Clause 7, by calculating the area delimited by:
— the abscissa axes corresponding to elongations;
— the recorded curve (force versus elongation);
— a parallel to the ordinate axis which passes by a given elongation or the breaking point (see Figure A.2).
*
The cohesion energy, E , is obtained as the quotient of the deformation energy at 400 % elongation (250 mm
i
for H2 type specimen final length) and the initial cross section of the test specimen.
5 Apparatus
The usual laboratory apparatus and glassware, together with the following, shall be used.
5.1 T
...