Is Europe in harmony?
London, 13 March 2008
 |
| Harmonised standards have been a European goal with mixed results due to
less explicit drafting |
After several decades
of preparation, the CEN package
of asphalt standards has been
published. The specifications
will become ‘harmonised
standards’ in March 2008, by
which time all equivalent
national standards across Europe
must be withdrawn. In the UK,
the change took place over the
New Year holiday in order to
minimise confusion.
Although every country will
be using the same standards,
they are written in a less explicit
manner, with more options, but
little advice on their selection.
Instead, each country can provide
‘guidance’ on which options
should be used in their country.
However, the resulting guidance
documents cannot add or
subtract from the standards – so
none of the guidance may be
mandatory.
The Construction Materials
Group of the SCI, in collaboration
with the Institute of Asphalt
Technology and the Institution
of Highways and Transportation,
Event preview: Asphalt standards
has organised a new standards
seminar on Thursday, 13 March
2008. It will look at the
implications of the changes, and
how each former national
standard will need to be modified
to meet local conditions
(including contractual) within
the new common standards. In
particular, representatives from
France, Finland and Portugal, as
well as the UK, will explain how
the standards will be incorporated
into their national systems. Each
representative has been asked to
cover:
- 1. The contract types that are
used.
- 2. The mixture types and
aggregate sizes that are
commonly used.
- 3. Whether the fundamental or
empirical approach was used
for asphalt concrete.
- 4. The test options that will be
recommended.
- 5. What properties will not be
required and which classes
will be recommended for the
others.
- 6. How the advice is being
promulgated nationally.
In addition, speakers will discuss
the implications for test
equipment producers and also
hear the perspective of a major
UK purchaser to the new
standard. The seminar is aimed
at practising engineers and
technicians in the highway
industry who will be designing,
specifying, producing or laying
asphalt to these standards in the
UK and around Europe.
SCI Construction Materials
Group
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