FprEN 12697-10

• Abstract:

  This document describes three test methods for characterizing the compactability of a bituminous mixture, by the relation between its density or void content and the compaction energy applied to it, using an impact (Marshall) compactor, gyratory compactor, or a vibratory compactor.; This document applies to bituminous mixtures, both those prepared in laboratory and those resulting sampled from plant produced mixtures. The results of the test method serve to supplement the results of mixture design.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 03-Jan-2027
• ICS: 93.080.20 - Road construction materials
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 227 - Road materials
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 227/WG 1 - Bituminous mixtures
• Current Stage: 5020 - Submission to Vote - Formal Approval
• Start Date: 10-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Completion Date: 10-Sep-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 12697-10:2025 - Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 10: Compactability

• Referred By: EN ISO/ASTM 52908:2023 - Additive manufacturing of metals - Finished Part properties - Post-processing, inspection and testing of parts produced by powder bed fusion (ISO/ASTM 52908:2023)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: CEN ISO/ASTM TS 52949:2025 - Additive manufacturing of metals - Qualification principles - Installation, operation and performance (IQ/OQ/PQ) of PBF-EB equipment (ISO/ASTM TS 52949:2025)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO/ASTM 52935:2023 - Additive manufacturing of metals - Qualification principles - Qualification of coordination personnel (ISO/ASTM 52935:2023)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO/ASTM 52904:2024 - Additive manufacturing of metals - Process characteristics and performance - Metal powder bed fusion process to meet critical applications (ISO/ASTM 52904:2024)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Revises: EN 12697-10:2017 - Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 10: Compactability
• Effective Date: 21-Feb-2024

FprEN 12697-10 is a CEN draft European Standard for testing the compactability of bituminous mixtures. It specifies three test methods - impact, gyratory and vibratory compaction - that relate density or void content to applied compaction energy, so laboratories and mixture designers can compare mixtures and use the results as a supplement to mixture design.

What does FprEN 12697-10 specify?

FprEN 12697-10 specifies how to characterize the compactability of bituminous mixtures by measuring how density or void content changes with compaction energy. The document applies to mixtures prepared in the laboratory and to mixtures sampled from plant production.

The standard is organized into:

• Scope
• Normative references
• Terms and definitions
• Principle
• Apparatus
• Test procedure
• Calculation and expression of results
• Test report
• Precision

Clause 4 sets out two ways to monitor compactability:

• multiple specimens compacted at different energies and measured for density or void content
• one specimen measured during compaction by its thickness change

What are the key requirements of FprEN 12697-10?

FprEN 12697-10 requires the test to be run at a prescribed compaction temperature and to use one of three compaction methods: impact, gyratory or vibratory. The practical point is that the method choice determines what you measure, how many specimens you need, and which result parameter you calculate.

Principle and apparatus

Clause 5 links the apparatus to companion standards:

• Marshall compactor for impact compaction
• gyratory compactor
• vibratory compactor

For impact compaction, the document also requires a device for automatic thickness recording after each blow and a slide calliper rule for final thickness checks. In practice, this means the equipment has to support either density-based evaluation or thickness-based evaluation.

Impact compaction

Clause 6.1 gives two impact methods. One method uses different specimens at several blow counts and determines bulk density after compaction; the other uses one specimen, records thickness after each blow, and then corrects the thickness with final measurements on the cooled specimen.

For the density-based impact method, the document uses 5, 15, 25, 35, 50 and 100 blows to each side. For the thickness-based method, it uses 100 blows to each side and requires thickness readings after each blow plus four final perimeter measurements. In practice, this gives a curve showing how quickly a mixture densifies under Marshall compaction.

Gyratory and vibratory compaction

Clause 6.2 requires at least 200 gyrations and at least three specimens per mixture. The bulk density is measured, maximum density is determined separately, and void content is calculated for each gyration level. This gives a direct picture of how the mixture closes up under gyratory action.

Clause 6.3 requires duplicate specimens at several vibratory times: 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 and 120 s on each side, unless no further density increase occurs after 60 s. The result is based on bulk density and calculated air void content. The document notes that this vibratory procedure is tentative and its precision is not yet established.

Calculation, reporting and precision

Clause 7 fits regression equations to the measured data and uses the fitted parameters as the compactability result. For impact compaction, the parameters are bulk-density based C or thickness-based T; for gyratory compaction, the parameter is K; for vibratory compaction, the parameter is k. Clause 8 then requires the report to identify the mixing method, compaction method, compaction temperature, gyratory settings where relevant, the compactability parameters, the plot of results, and any deviations or unusual features.

Clause 9 gives precision information for impact and gyratory methods and separate repeatability/reproducibility data for C, T and K. For buyers or quality staff, this is the part that shows how much variation to expect between laboratories or repeated tests.

What terms does FprEN 12697-10 define?

FprEN 12697-10 defines the key terms used to interpret the test result:

• Compactability - the ability of an asphalt mixture to be compacted; the document uses K for gyratory evaluation and k for vibratory evaluation.
• Compaction resistance - the resistance of an asphalt mixture to compaction; the document uses C for the impact method with several specimens and T for the impact method using one specimen.
• Marshall compactor - the impact compaction device used in the impact methods.
• Gyratory compactor - the device used to compact specimens by gyration and to evaluate K.
• Vibratory compactor - the device used to compact specimens by vibration and to evaluate k.

Who uses FprEN 12697-10?

FprEN 12697-10 is used by road-materials laboratories, asphalt producers, and test houses that evaluate mixture design or compare production material against design targets. Quality managers use it to define how compactability data are generated and reported, while engineers and buyers use the results to judge how a mixture responds to compaction in practice.

What changed in FprEN 12697-10 from the previous edition?

FprEN 12697-10 will supersede EN 12697-10:2017. The stated changes are:

• deletion of a foreword paragraph about applicability in product standards
• correction of clause 2 test-method titles by removing “for hot mix asphalt”
• amended wording in 5.1.2 and 5.1.3 for thickness-measurement accuracy
• clarification of the second paragraph in 6.1.2
• updated test-report content in clause 8

Which standards are used with FprEN 12697-10?

FprEN 12697-10 relies on these companion standards:

• EN 12697-5 - maximum density of bituminous mixtures, used to calculate void content
• EN 12697-6 - bulk density of bituminous specimens, used for density measurements after compaction
• EN 12697-8 - void characteristics of bituminous specimens, used to derive air void content
• EN 12697-30 - specimen preparation by impact compactor, used for the Marshall methods
• EN 12697-31 - specimen preparation by gyratory compactor, used for gyratory testing
• EN 12697-32 - laboratory compaction by vibratory compactor, used for vibratory testing

What does the FprEN 12697-10 document contain?

FprEN 12697-10 includes a principle section, apparatus requirements, three test procedures, calculation formulas, a reporting clause, and precision data. It also contains a method-selection table, example regression figures for impact compaction, and tables for permissible variation and repeatability/reproducibility.

The document’s core technical content is the set of regression relationships used to turn test measurements into compactability parameters. Those formulas are intended for design and comparison work, not for reproducing every measured value in the report.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2025
Bitumenske zmesi - Preskusne metode - 10. del: Zgostljivost
Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 10: Compactability
Asphalt - Prüfverfahren - Teil 10: Verdichtbarkeit
Mélanges bitumineux - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 10 : Compactabilité
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12697-10
ICS:
93.080.20 Materiali za gradnjo cest Road construction materials
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 12697-10
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2025
ICS 93.080.20 Will supersede EN 12697-10:2017
English Version
Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 10:
Compactability
Mélanges bitumineux - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 10 : Asphalt - Prüfverfahren - Teil 10: Verdichtbarkeit
Compactabilité
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 227.
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
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12697-10:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 12697-10:2024 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 5
5 Apparatus . 6
5.1 Impact compaction . 6
5.2 Gyratory compaction . 6
6 Test procedure . 6
6.1 Impact compaction . 6
6.1.1 Different specimens for each level of compaction energy, recording increases in
density . 6
6.1.2 One specimen for all levels of compaction energy, recording decreases in thickness 6
6.2 Gyratory compaction . 6
6.3 Vibratory compaction . 7
7 Calculation and expression of results . 7
7.1 Impact compaction . 7
7.1.1 Different specimens for each level of compaction energy, recording increases in
density . 7
7.1.2 Same specimen for all levels of compaction energy, recording decreases in thickness
..................................................................................................................................................................... 9
7.2 Gyratory compaction . 10
7.3 Vibratory compaction . 11
8 Test report . 11
9 Precision . 11
9.1 Impact compaction . 11
9.1.1 General. 11
9.1.2 One specimen for all levels of compaction energy, recording decreases in thickness
................................................................................................................................................................... 12
9.2 Gyratory compaction . 12
9.3 Vibratory compaction . 12

prEN 12697-10:2024 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 12697-10:2024) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 227 “Road
materials”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 12697-10:2017.
prEN 12697-10:2024 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to
EN 12697-10:2017:
— [European Foreword] deletion of paragraph: “The applicability of this European Standard is
described in the product standards for bituminous materials.”;
— [Clause 2] the titles for test methods corrected by deletion of “for hot mix asphalt”;
— [5.1.2] amended to read: “mm with a maximum permissible error of 0,1 mm.”
— [5.1.3] amended to read: “Slide calliper rule, capable to measure the thickness of the specimen to
the nearest 0,1 mm with a maximum permissible error of 0,2 mm.”
— [6.1.2] 2nd paragraph clarified;
— [Clause 8] information to be included in the test report amended.
A list of all parts in the EN 12697 series can be found on the CEN website: www.cencenelec.eu
prEN 12697-10:2024 (E)
1 Scope
This document describes three test methods for characterizing the compactability of a bituminous mix,
by the relation between its density or void content and the compaction energy applied to it, using an
impact (Marshall) compactor, gyratory compactor, or a vibratory compactor.
This document applies to bituminous mixtures, both those prepared in laboratory and those resulting
sampled from plant produced mixtures. The results of the test method serve to supplement the results of
mixture design.
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 12697-5, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods— Part 5: Determination of the maximum density
EN 12697-6, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods— Part 6: Determination of bulk density of bituminous
specimens
EN 12697-8, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods— Part 8: Determination of void characteristics of
bituminous specimens
EN 12697-30, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods— Part 30: Specimen preparation by impact compactor
EN 12697-31, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods— Part 31: Specimen preparation by gyratory
compactor
EN 12697-32, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods— Part 32: Laboratory compaction of bituminous
mixtures by vibratory compactor
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions 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
compactability
K, k
ability of an asphalt mixture to be compacted (K when evaluated by gyratory compaction and k when
evaluated by vibratory compaction)
Note 1 to entry: High values of K and k will indicate a mixture for which less compaction energy is required to
obtain a given void content decrease.
prEN 12697-10:2024 (E)
3.2
compaction resistance
C, T
resistance of an asphalt mixture to being compacted (C when evaluated by impact compaction of several
specimens with varied compaction energy and T when evaluated by impact compaction of one specimen
while measuring its thickness)
Note 1 to entry: High values of C and T will indicate a mixture for which high compaction energy is required to
obtain a given void content decrease.
4 Principle
The bituminous mixture is compacted at a prescribed temperature with varying compaction energies
using one of three optional types of compaction methods:
a) impact compaction
b) gyratory compaction
c) vibratory compaction.
Two methods of monitoring the compactability can be applied:
— Method 1: two or more specimen are compacted with different amounts of compaction energy and
their densities are measured.
— Method 2: one specimen is used and its increase in density during the compaction process is
determined from its decrease in thickness.
The following Table 1 defines the compaction type to use depending of the compactness of tracking
method and gives the clause of test procedure.
Table 1 — Compaction type
Procedure clause according to
compaction method
impact gyratory vibratory
Compaction of specimens with carried compaction energy 6.1.1 n. a. 6.3
Measurement of specimen thickness during compaction 6.1.2 6.2 n. a.
A graph is drawn of density (or voids content) against compaction energy. When the impact compaction
is used, the compaction energy is characterized by the number of blows, when the gyratory compaction
is used, by the number of gyrations and when the vibratory compactor is used, by the duration in seconds.
A mathematical formula is derived from the experimental results, the parameters of which formula
characterize the compactability of the bituminous mixture.
prEN 12697-10:2024 (E)
5 Apparatus
5.1 Impact compaction
5.1.1 Marshall compactor shall be in accordance with EN 12697-30.
5.1.2 Measuring device for automatically recording the thickness of the specimen after each blow of
compaction with a maximum permissible error of 0,1 mm.
5.1.3 Slide calliper rule with a maximum permissible error of 0,1 mm.
5.2 Gyratory compaction
5.2.1 Gyratory compactor shall be in accordance with EN 12697-31.
5.3.1 Vibratory compactor shall be in accordance with EN 12697-32.
6 Test procedure
6.1 Impact compaction
6.1.1 Different specimens for each level of compaction energy, recording increases i
...