oSIST prEN 18389:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a framework of additional characteristics and associated test methods for bitumens and bituminous binders, which is complementary to other product standards for bitumens and bituminous binders. This document is applicable to bitumens and bituminous binders suitable for use in paving applications, but it is also applicable for other uses such as waterproofing membranes.; With regard to paving applications, the following characteristics are addressed:; - resistance to permanent deformation (rutting);; - resistance to low-temperature cracking;; - resistance to ravelling;; - resistance to fatigue cracking;; - temperature susceptibility;; - equi-stiffness temperature and phase angle;; - durability (evolution of equi-stiffness temperature and phase angle);; - mixing and handling characteristics (paving and compaction) temperatures;; - additional characteristics (e.g. solubility, elastic recovery and storage stability).; Not all the properties and characteristics established in the framework are universally relevant to all binders. For example, elastic recovery is not relevant for unmodified binders.

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 18-Oct-2026
• ICS: 75.140 - Waxes, bituminous materials and other petroleum products
• ICS: 93.080.20 - Road construction materials
• Technical Committee: VLA - Water proofing
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 12-Jan-2027
• Ref Project: prEN 18389 - Bitumens and bituminous binders - Complementary Performance-related Specification Framework

oSIST prEN 18389:2026 is the Slovenian version of draft European Standard prEN 18389 from CEN. It defines a complementary performance-related specification framework for bitumens and bituminous binders, with associated test methods and performance classes for paving applications and other uses such as waterproofing membranes. In practice, it helps suppliers, laboratories, specifiers, buyers and road materials users describe binder performance beyond the basic product standards.

What does oSIST prEN 18389:2026 specify?

oSIST prEN 18389:2026 specifies a framework of additional characteristics for bitumens and bituminous binders and links each characteristic to a test method and a performance class. The standard is complementary to other product standards, so it is used to add performance information rather than replace the base specification.

For paving applications, the framework covers resistance to deformation, cracking, ravelling and fatigue, temperature susceptibility, equi-stiffness temperature and phase angle, durability, mixing and handling temperatures, and several additional characteristics such as solubility, elastic recovery and storage stability. The introduction also notes that adhesion performance is not addressed here because it is determined on the asphalt mix.

The document is organised into these main clauses:

Annex	What it covers
Annex A (informative)	Guidance on using the tables, selecting performance classes, and reporting results

The main body contains Scope, Normative references, Terms and definitions, Abbreviated terms, Sampling and sample preparation, and Characteristics and test methods.

What are the key requirements of oSIST prEN 18389:2026?

oSIST prEN 18389:2026 is built around tables of performance classes, and the user selects the characteristics that are relevant to the binder and the intended application. In practice, this means the standard supports specification by declared value (DV), not required (NR), threshold, or class, depending on the characteristic.

Sampling and sample preparation

Samples of bulk product are taken as laboratory samples in accordance with EN 58, and test samples are prepared from them in accordance with EN 12594. This matters because the reported performance depends on getting a representative sample and preparing it in the right way.

Ageing conditions

Short-term ageing in Tables 1 to 6 and Table 8 uses rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT) conditioning to EN 12607-1. For soft binders, the standard allows thin film oven test (TFOT) conditioning to EN 12607-2 instead. If another short-term ageing temperature is used, it has to be declared.

Long-term ageing uses RTFOT or TFOT followed by pressure ageing vessel (PAV) conditioning to EN 14769. The PAV conditions are fixed in the standard at 100 °C, 2.1 MPa and 20 h ± 10 min. This is important because several performance characteristics are intended to represent aged binder behaviour in service.

Resistance to permanent deformation

Table 1 uses EN 16659 to report percentage recovery (%R) and non-recoverable compliance (Jnr) at a stress level of 3.2 kPa. A test temperature between 40 °C and 80 °C is selected to suit regional conditions and intended use. This gives a practical way to judge rutting resistance.

Low-temperature cracking and ravelling

Table 2 covers low-temperature cracking using critical stiffness temperature, critical m-value temperature and ΔTc, based on long-term aged binder and EN 14771 after ageing to EN 12607-1 or EN 14769. Table 3 covers ravelling resistance using total cohesion energy and elongation to break from EN 13589. In practice, these results help users judge whether a binder is likely to crack or lose cohesion in cold service conditions.

Fatigue cracking, temperature susceptibility and durability

Table 4 uses the viscous-elastic transition temperature Tcross, also called crossover temperature, and the crossover modulus at a frequency of 1.59 Hz. Table 5 defines equi-stiffness temperatures and phase angle values at two stiffness levels, and Table 6 turns those into durability indicators by comparing short-term and long-term aged binder results. These characteristics are used to describe how the binder changes with ageing.

Mixing, handling and additional characteristics

Table 7 gives temperatures for mixing, paving and completion of compaction from viscosity values, using EN 13302 or EN 13702. The standard also warns that bitumens and bituminous binders should not be handled above 190 °C, and notes that warm mix applications may need practical information from the supplier instead of the table classes.

Table 8 covers solubility, flash point, elastic recovery after short-term ageing, and storage stability. These characteristics matter for purity, safe handling, flexibility and phase separation risk, especially for polymer-modified bitumens.

Precision and disputes

Clause 6.5 points to the precision statements in the test methods, and EN ISO 4259-2 is used when results are disputed. That gives a common basis for interpreting test data consistently.

What terms does oSIST prEN 18389:2026 define?

• Declared Value (DV) - the value stated by the supplier or manufacturer for a binder characteristic.
• Not Required (NR) - a characteristic that is not applicable to a binder type or has not been selected for the specification.
• Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) - the short-term ageing conditioning used for most characteristics in this standard.
• Pressure Ageing Vessel (PAV) - the long-term ageing conditioning used after RTFOT or TFOT.
• Non-recoverable compliance (Jnr) - a measure used in Table 1 to describe deformation that does not recover under load.
• Viscous-elastic transition temperature (Tcross) - the temperature at which phase angle δ is 45° and storage and loss moduli are equal.
• Equi-stiffness temperature - the temperature at which the binder reaches a specified complex shear modulus, with associated phase angle.

Who uses oSIST prEN 18389:2026?

oSIST prEN 18389:2026 is used by bitumen suppliers and manufacturers who need to declare performance, by laboratories that run ageing and rheological tests, and by specifiers who write application documents or project requirements. Road authorities, contractors and buyers use it to compare binders for asphalt paving and related construction works.

It is also relevant for other users of bituminous binders, such as producers of waterproofing membranes, where the same performance framework can help describe handling, safety and service behaviour. Quality managers use it when checking whether a binder is classified and reported in a consistent way.

Which standards are used with oSIST prEN 18389:2026?

• EN 58 - sampling of bituminous binders.
• EN 12594 - preparation of test samples.
• EN 12597 - terminology and the terms and definitions used in the document.
• EN 12607-1 / EN 12607-2 - short-term ageing by RTFOT or TFOT.
• EN 14769 - long-term ageing by PAV.
• EN 14770 / EN 14771 / EN 16659 / EN 13589 - rheological and mechanical tests used for deformation, cracking, fatigue and cohesion-related properties.
• EN 12592 / EN 1426 / EN 1427 / EN 13398 / EN 13399 - solubility, penetration, softening point, elastic recovery and storage stability.
• EN 13302 / EN 13702 - viscosity methods used to set mixing and handling temperatures.
• EN ISO 2592 / EN ISO 2719 - flash point methods.
• EN ISO 4259-2 - precision interpretation when results are disputed.

What does the oSIST prEN 18389:2026 document contain?

The document is a table-based specification framework rather than a fixed product grade sheet. Tables 1 to 6 cover performance-related binder behaviour, Table 7 covers mixing and handling temperatures, and Table 8 covers additional characteristics linked to quality, safety and storage behaviour.

The body also explains the ageing sequence used before testing, the chosen test frequencies and temperatures for some properties, and the meaning of proxy values such as %R, Jnr, Tcross and ΔTc. Annex A adds guidance on how to choose classes, how to report them, and how to read the tables as a framework instead of a vertical set of mandatory columns.

Annex A also includes an example of class selection for a theoretical polymer-modified bitumen, which shows how the framework can be turned into an application document or project specification.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Bitumen in bitumenska veziva - Okvir dodatnih specifikacij glede na zmogljivost
Bitumens and bituminous binders - Complementary Performance-related Specification
Framework
Bitumen und bitumenhaltige Bindemittel - Ergänzende Produktspezifikationen -
Bitumenhaltige Bindemittel für den Straßenbau
Bitumes et liants bitumineux - Cadre de spécifications complémentaires relatives aux
performances
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18389
ICS:
75.140 Voski, bitumni in drugi naftni Waxes, bituminous materials
proizvodi and other petroleum products
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
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
August 2026
ICS 93.080.20
English Version
Bitumens and bituminous binders - Complementary
Performance-related Specification Framework
Bitumes et liants bitumineux - Cadre de spécifications Bitumen und bitumenhaltige Bindemittel - Ergänzende
complémentaires relatives aux performances Produktspezifikationen -Bitumenhaltige Bindemittel
für den Straßenbau
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 18389:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Abbreviated terms . 6
5 Sampling and sample preparation . 7
6 Characteristics and test methods . 7
6.1 General . 7
6.2 Short-term ageing . 7
6.3 Long-term ageing . 7
6.4 Characteristics and related test methods. 8
6.4.1 General . 8
6.4.2 Resistance to permanent deformation . 8
6.4.3 Resistance to low-temperature cracking . 8
6.4.4 Resistance to ravelling . 8
6.4.5 Resistance to fatigue cracking . 8
6.4.6 Temperature susceptibility . 8
6.4.7 Equi-stiffness temperature, phase angle and durability . 8
6.4.8 Mixing and handling temperatures . 9
6.4.9 Additional product characteristics . 9
6.5 Precision . 9
6.6 Tables presenting the classes of performance for product characteristics . 9
Annex A (informative) Guidance on the use of tables and selection of classes of performance
....................................................................................................................................................................16
Bibliography .19

European foreword
This document (prEN 18389:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 336 “Bitumens
and bituminous binders”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
Introduction
This document defines performance-related properties to better define the performance of bitumens and
bituminous binders in construction works, for example asphalt paving.
This document is designed to be complementary to other CEN/TC 336 product standards for bitumens
and bituminous binders, some of which are harmonized within the European construction product
regulation and cited in the Official Journal of the European Union. It aims to provide additional product
performance characteristics by addressing performance-related properties and critical ageing states and
does not overlap with other product standards for bitumens and bituminous binders. It is the outcome of
works carried out by CEN/TC 336/WG 1 on bitumens and bituminous binders future specifications.
At the time of publication of this document, adhesion performance is not addressed in CEN/TC 336
product standards, as this is determined by tests on the asphalt mix. However, this document does
address handling temperatures which are important in the production of notably asphalt mixtures.
This document is part of a family of CEN/TC 336 product standards for bitumens and bituminous binders
for paving applications, as shown in Figure 1, but can also apply to other uses.

Figure 1 — Mapping of European product standards for bitumens and bituminous binders for
paving applications
1 Scope
This document specifies a framework of additional characteristics and associated test methods for
bitumens and bituminous binders, which is complementary to other product standards for bitumens and
bituminous binders. This document is applicable to bitumens and bituminous binders suitable for use in
paving applications, but it is also applicable for other uses such as waterproofing membranes.
With regard to paving applications, the following characteristics are addressed:
— resistance to permanent deformation (rutting);
— resistance to low-temperature cracking;
— resistance to ravelling;
— resistance to fatigue cracking;
— temperature susceptibility;
— equi-stiffness temperature and phase angle;
— durability (evolution of equi-stiffness temperature and phase angle);
— mixing and handling characteristics (paving and compaction) temperatures;
— additional characteristics (e.g. solubility, elastic recovery and storage stability).
Not all the properties and characteristics established in the framework are universally relevant to all
binders. For example, elastic recovery is not relevant for unmodified binders.
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, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Sampling of bituminous binders
EN 1426, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Determination of needle penetration
EN 1427, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Determination of the softening point — Ring and Ball
method
EN 12592, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of solubility
EN 12594, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Preparation of test samples
EN 12597, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Terminology
EN 12607-1, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Determination of the resistance to hardening under the
influence of heat and air — Part 1: RTFOT method
EN 12607-2, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of the resistance to hardening under the
influence of heat and air — Part 2: TFOT method
EN 13302, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Determination of dynamic viscosity of bituminous binder
using a rotating spindle apparatus
EN 13398, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of the elastic recovery of modified bitumen
EN 13399, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of storage stability of modified bitumen
EN 13589, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Determination of the tensile properties of modified
bitumens by the force ductility method
EN 13702, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of dynamic viscosity of bitumen and
bituminous binders by the cone and plate method
EN 14769, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Accelerated long-term ageing conditioning by a Pressure
Ageing Vessel (PAV)
EN 14770, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of complex shear modulus and phase angle —
Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR)
EN 14771, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of the flexural creep stiffness — Bending
Beam Rheometer (BBR)
EN 16659, Bitumens and bituminous binders — Multiple stress creep and recovery test (MSCRT)
EN ISO 2592, Determination of flash and fire points — Cleveland open cup method (ISO 2592)
EN ISO 2719, Determination of flash point — Pensky-Martens closed cup method (ISO 2719)
EN ISO 4259-2, Petroleum and related products — Precision of measurement methods and results —
Part 2: Interpretation and application of precision data in relation to methods of test (ISO 4259-2)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12597 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/
4 Abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the following abbreviated terms are used in Tables 1 to 8:
— DV for “Declared Value” made available by the supplier or manufacturer of the bituminous binder;
— NR for “Not Required”, e.g. where a particular characteristic is not applicable to a certain type of
bituminous binder or has not been selected for the specification of a particular group of binders.
In Tables 1 to 8, for a given characteristic, performance can be defined by a declared value (DV), not
required (NR), a threshold (limit) or a class (range).
5 Sampling and sample preparation
Samples of bulk products, so called “laboratory samples”, shall be taken in accordance with EN 58.
Test samples shall be taken from the laboratory samples and prepared for testing, in accordance with
EN 12594. Additional requirements on the test samples or specimen preparation can be specified in the
related test methods.
6 Characteristics and test methods
6.1 General
European product standards cover a large variety of road materials for different applications, to
accommodate local traffic loads and climatic conditions. Therefore, this document covers a large range of
bitumens and bituminous binders to facilitate production and application for the intended use and the
designed paving.
This document provides a performance framework for the characteristics of bitumens and bituminous
binders which are selected from Tables 1 to 4 and Table 6 which are distributed as follows:
— Table 1 gives characteristics related to permanent deformation;
— Table 2 gives characteristics related to low-temperature cracking;
— Table 3 gives characteristics related to ravelling resistance;
— Table 4 gives characteristics related to fatigue cracking and temperature susceptibility;
— Table 6 gives characteristics related to durability.
Tables 5, 7 and 8 give details of product characteristics which are important in determining some aspects
of performance, safety or handling.
Guidance on the use of Tables 1 to 8 and subsequent reporting of performance classes is given in Annex A.
6.2 Short-term ageing
Short-term ageing, as used in Tables 1 to 6 and Table 8, means rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT)
conditioning in accordance with EN 12607-1. For soft binders, such as those described in
EN 12591:2009 [1], Tables 3A and 3B, short-term ageing is carried out by thin film oven test (TFOT)
conditioning in accordance with EN 12607-2.
The main test is the RTFOT at a temperature of 163 °C. In some cases (e.g. for highly viscous polymer-
modified bitumens or low-viscosity binders for reduced-temperature application), this temperature may
be modified when necessary to ensure that a moving film is generated and remains in the bottle.
Experience has shown that a temperature up to 180 °C can be necessary for high viscosity binders. For
low-viscosity binders, a temperature of 140 °C may be used, as long as a continuous moving film is
generated. If a temperature other than 163 °C is used, this shall be declared.
6.3 Long-term ageing
Long-term ageing as used in Tables 2 to 6 means RTFOT conditioning in accordance with EN 12607-1 or
TFOT in accordance with EN 12607-2, followed by pressure ageing vessel (PAV) conditioning in
accordance with EN 14769. PAV conditioning shall be carried out at a temperature T of 100 °C, a
pressure P of 2,1 MPa and for a duration t of 20 h ± 10 min.
6.4 Characteristics and related test methods
6.4.1 General
The characteristics of bitumens and bituminous binders as well as related test methods shall be selected
from the performance classes given in Tables 1 to 8. When tested by the methods given in Tables 1 to 8,
the various performances shall conform to the classes or thresholds specified in Tables 1 to 8 unless DV
or NR is selected.
6.4.2 Resistance to permanent deformation
Resistance to permanent deformation shall be indicated by the percentage recovery, %R, and non-
recoverable compliance, J , at a stress level of 3,2 kPa of short-term aged binders as defined in Table 1. A
nr
single test temperature value within the range 40 °C to 80 °C shall be selected according to regional
conditions and the intended use of the binder.
6.4.3 Resistance to low-temperature cracking
Resistance to low-temperature cracking shall be indicated by the critical stiffness temperature, critical
m-value temperature and the parameter ΔT of long-term aged binder as defined in Table 2. ΔT is defined
c c
as the difference between the temperatures at which the binder stiffness S = 300 MPa and the
m-value = 0,3.
6.4.4 Resistance to ravelling
Ravelling resistance shall be indicated by the total cohesion energy and elongation to break of long-term
aged binder as defined in Table 3.
Total cohesion energy is defined as the total area under the curve of the force-extension graph until
...