FprEN 12697-18

• Abstract:

  This document describes two test methods:; - basket method (see Clause 4);; - beaker method (see Clause 5).; The basket method describes a method for determining binder drainage of bituminous mixtures. This method directly measures binder drainage, but when carried out on bituminous mixtures with fibres or mixtures whose mortar content is higher than in porous asphalt some clogging of the holes in the drainage baskets can occur, limiting the drainage of the binder. The basket method can be used either for determining the binder drainage for different binder content, or with a single binder content, eliminating the successive repetitions. It also enables the effects of varying fine aggregate types or including any anti-draining additive to be quantified.; The beaker method describes a method for determining binder drainage of bituminous mixtures. It is applicable to asphalt materials that are not porous asphalt or for porous asphalt incorporating fibres. It can be used either for determining the binder drainage for different binder content, or with a single binder content, eliminating the successive repetitions. It also enables the effects of varying fine aggregate types or including any anti-draining additive to be quantified.

• 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
• Directive: 305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
• Mandate: M/124 - Mandate to CEN/CENELEC concerning the execution of standardization work for harmonized standards on road construction products
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 12697-18:2025 - Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 18: Binder drainage

• Revises: EN 12697-18:2017 - Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 18: Binder drainage
• Effective Date: 21-Feb-2024

FprEN 12697-18 is a CEN draft European Standard for bituminous mixtures test methods, Part 18, focused on binder drainage. It specifies two laboratory methods - basket and beaker - for measuring how much binder, fine particles and additives separate from a mixture. It is used by laboratories, asphalt producers and road-material quality teams that need to compare mixtures, binder contents and anti-draining additives.

What does FprEN 12697-18 specify?

FprEN 12697-18 specifies the scope, the test definitions, and two alternative methods for determining binder drainage in bituminous mixtures. The document is organized around Clause 4, the basket method, and Clause 5, the beaker method, with each method divided into principle, materials, apparatus, procedure, calculation, test report and precision.

FprEN 12697-18 applies the basket method to direct drainage measurement, including mixtures tested at different binder contents or at one binder content for repeat checking. It also covers the beaker method for mixtures that are not porous asphalt, and for porous asphalt incorporating fibres, where the result is taken from the residue after inversion of the beaker.

What are the key requirements of FprEN 12697-18?

Common requirements

FprEN 12697-18 requires prepared aggregate and binder in the specified grading, with samples dried to constant mass. This matters because the drainage result depends on the mix being made consistently before testing.

FprEN 12697-18 allows samples to come from Factory Production Control, provided sampling follows EN 12697-27. In practice, that means the same test can be used both on laboratory mixes and on production samples.

The document ties the test temperature to the binder type. For paving grade bitumen, the basket method uses the reference compaction temperature from EN 12697-35 plus 25 °C, while the beaker method uses a temperature not higher than that reference compaction temperature plus 25 °C. For modified bitumen to EN 14023, or other additives, both methods use the supplier's installation temperature plus 15 °C. This matters because temperature strongly affects binder flow and therefore the measured drainage.

Basket method

Clause 4 requires at least 4 kg of asphalt material, and more if several binder contents are tested. FprEN 12697-18 also sets the basket apparatus: perforated metal plate drainage baskets, an oven, balance, thermometer, trays, boxes and aluminium foil. That gives a repeatable setup for direct drainage measurement.

The procedure measures the loss after 3 h at test temperature. If different binder contents are tested, the binder content is increased by 0.3 % by mass at each step. For plant-produced mixtures, the mixing step is omitted. In practice, this lets users compare the effect of binder dosage or additive choice without changing the rest of the method.

Clause 4.5 requires BD to be calculated from the mass loss and the initial masses of aggregate, binder and fibres, if present. If a pair of results at the same binder content differs by more than 0.5 %, the test is repeated. The average of at least two results is then rounded to 0.1 %, and several binder contents may be plotted against initial binder content.

Beaker method

Clause 5 requires at least 3 kg of asphalt material per binder content tested. The apparatus includes glass beakers, a 1 mm sieve, solvent, stop-watch and the same general weighing and heating equipment. This method is useful when the mixture is not porous asphalt, or when porous asphalt contains fibres.

The procedure holds the mixture in the oven for 60 min, then turns the beaker over and keeps it inverted for 10 s. If retained material is more than just drained binder, it is washed over the 1 mm sieve and the residue is weighed. If more than 5 % of the mixture remains stuck to the beaker with some modified binders, the test is repeated at a temperature 5 °C higher and the report notes the result.

Clause 5.5 calculates BD from the beaker masses and, when needed, the residue R on the 1 mm sieve. As in the basket method, a pair that differs by more than 0.5 % is repeated, and the mean of at least two results is reported to 0.1 %.

What terms does FprEN 12697-18 define?

• Binder drainage - the binder, fine particles and any additives that separate from the mixture after mixing or during transport to site.
• Basket method - the method in Clause 4 that measures drained material after heating a sample on perforated drainage baskets.
• Beaker method - the method in Clause 5 that measures drained material after turning over a heated beaker containing the mixture.
• Reference compaction temperature - the temperature from EN 12697-35 used as the basis for the basket and beaker test temperatures for paving grade bitumen.
• Installation temperature - the supplier-defined temperature used as the basis for the test temperature when modified bitumen or other additives are involved.
• Factory Production Control - production sampling that may be used for the test when sampling is carried out in accordance with EN 12697-27.

Who uses FprEN 12697-18?

FprEN 12697-18 is used by asphalt laboratories, road-material producers, and quality control teams that need to measure binder drainage in bituminous mixtures. It is relevant when comparing binder contents, checking the influence of fine aggregate type, or assessing anti-draining additives. It is also used where production samples from Factory Production Control must be checked against a defined laboratory method.

What changed in FprEN 12697-18 from the previous edition?

The foreword states that FprEN 12697-18 will supersede EN 12697-18:2017. The listed technical changes are:

• the balance wording in Clause 4.3.3 and 5.3.3 is updated to a nearest-reading requirement with a maximum permissible error;
• the thermometer wording in Clause 4.3.4 and 5.3.5 is updated in the same way;
• NOTE 2 in 4.5.1 is deleted and NOTE 1 becomes NOTE;
• the basket-method test report list in 4.6 is revised to align with CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, Part 3:2022;
• NOTE in 5.5.1 is deleted;
• the beaker-method test report list in 5.6 is revised to align with CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, Part 3:2022.

Which standards are used with FprEN 12697-18?

FprEN 12697-18 refers to EN 12697-27 for sampling and EN 12697-35 for laboratory mixing and reference compaction temperature. It refers to EN 14023 for polymer modified bitumens, which sets the supplier temperature basis used in the procedures. It also refers to ISO 3310-1 and ISO 3310-2 for the 1 mm sieve and the perforated plates used in the apparatus.

What does the FprEN 12697-18 document contain?

FprEN 12697-18 contains two full test methods with step-by-step procedures, calculations, reporting items and precision notes. Clause 4 includes the basket setup, a perforated-plate basket shown in Figure 1, and the drainage calculation based on tray mass change. Clause 5 includes the beaker setup, inversion timing, the optional 1 mm sieve wash, and the calculation of both drained material and sieve residue. The document also gives the required test report items for each method and notes that official precision has not yet been established, while providing estimated repeatability and reproducibility values.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2025
Bitumenske zmesi - Preskusne metode - 18. del: Odtekanje veziva
Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 18: Binder drainage
Asphalt - Prüfverfahren - Teil 18: Bestimmung des Ablaufens
Mélanges bitumineux - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 18 : Egouttage du liant
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12697-18
ICS:
91.100.50 Veziva. Tesnilni materiali Binders. Sealing materials
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 12697-18
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
January 2025
ICS 93.080.20 Will supersede EN 12697-18:2017
English Version
Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part 18: Binder
drainage
Mélanges bitumineux - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 18 : Asphalt - Prüfverfahren - Teil 18: Bestimmung des
Egouttage du liant Ablaufens
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 12697-18:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

prEN 12697-18:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Basket method . 5
4.1 Principle . 5
4.2 Materials . 5
4.3 Apparatus . 5
4.4 Procedure. 6
4.5 Calculation and expression of results . 7
4.6 Test report . 8
4.7 Precision . 8
5 Beaker method . 8
5.1 Principle . 8
5.2 Materials . 8
5.3 Apparatus . 8
5.4 Procedure. 9
5.5 Calculation and expression of results . 10
5.6 Test report . 10
5.7 Precision . 11

prEN 12697-18:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 12697-18:2025) 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 12697-18:2017.
prEN 12697-18:2024 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 12697-
18:2017:
— [4.3.3] the wording “accuracy able to weigh to 0,1 g” amended to read “able to weigh to the nearest
0,1 g with a maximum permissible error of 0,2 g”;
— [4.3.4] the wording “able to measure the temperature to 1 °C” amended to read “able to measure
the temperature to the nearest 1 °C with a maximum permissible error of 2 °C;
— [4.5.1] NOTE 2 deleted. NOTE 1 amended to NOTE;
— [4.6] list of items in the test report has been revised in accordance with CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations, Part 3:2022;
— [5.3.3] the wording “accuracy able to weigh to 0,1 g” amended to read “able to weigh to the nearest
0,1 g with a maximum permissible error of 0,2 g”;
— [5.3.5] the wording “able to measure the temperature to 1 °C” amended to read “able to measure
the temperature to the nearest 1 °C with a maximum permissible error of 2 °C;
— [5.5.1] NOTE deleted;
— [5.6] list of items in the test report has been revised in accordance with CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations, Part 3:2022.
A list of all parts in the EN 12697 series can be found on the CEN website: www.cencenelec.eu.

prEN 12697-18:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document describes two test methods:
— basket method (see Clause 4);
— beaker method (see Clause 5).
The basket method describes a method for determining binder drainage of bituminous mixtures. This
method directly measures binder drainage, but when carried out on bituminous mixtures with fibres or
mixtures whose mortar content is higher than in porous asphalt some clogging of the holes in the
drainage baskets can occur, limiting the drainage of the binder. The basket method can be used either
for determining the binder drainage for different binder content, or with a single binder content,
eliminating the successive repetitions. It also enables the effects of varying fine aggregate types or
including any anti-draining additive to be quantified.
The beaker method describes a method for determining binder drainage of bituminous mixtures. It is
applicable to asphalt materials that are not porous asphalt or for porous asphalt incorporating fibres. It
can be used either for determining the binder drainage for different binder content, or with a single
binder content, eliminating the successive repetitions. It also enables the effects of varying fine
aggregate types or including any anti-draining additive to be quantified.
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 12697-27, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods — Part 27: Sampling
EN 12697-35, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods — Part 35: Laboratory mixing
EN 14023, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Specification framework for polymer modified bitumens
ISO 3310-1, Test sieves — Technical requirements and testing — Part 1: Test sieves of metal wire cloth
ISO 3310-2, Test sieves — Technical requirements and testing — Part 2: Test sieves of perforated metal
plate
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
binder drainage
binder, fine particles and additives, if any, separated from the mixture after the mixing process or
during transport of the mixture to the site
prEN 12697-18:2025 (E)
4 Basket method
4.1 Principle
The quantity of material lost by drainage, after 3 h at the test temperature (see 4.4.1) is measured in
mixtures placed on baskets made out of perforated metal plates.
4.2 Materials
Sufficient aggregates and binder shall be prepared to manufacture at least 4 kg of asphalt material. If
more than one binder content is going to be tested, aggregates and binder to manufacture 2,5 kg of
asphalt material per each additional binder content shall be provided. The aggregates shall be dried to
constant mass and graded in the fractions appropriate to the specified grading.
The test can be carried out with samples taken during the factory production control. In that case,
sampling shall be in accordance with EN 12697-27.
4.3 Apparatus
4.3.1 Oven with closed ventilation system, vibration free, fitted with thermostatic control to
maintain the temperature in the vicinity of the samples to ±2 °C in the range of 80 °C to 200 °C.
4.3.2 Drainage baskets, constructed from 3,15 mm perforated plate sieves, in accordance with
ISO 3310-2, on sides and base to form (100 ± 2) mm cubes, with feet, at each corner of the base, of
approximately 3 mm diameter and approximately 5 mm height (see Figure 1).
...