BRITISH STANDARD BS 598-101:2004

Sampling and
examination of
bituminous mixtures
for roads and other
paved areas —
Part 101: Methods for preparatory
treatment of samples for analysis

ICS 75.140; 93.080.20

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BS 598-101:2004

Committees responsible for this

British Standard
The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by Technical
Committee B/510, Road materials, to Subcommittee B/510/1, Coated macadam
and hot asphalt, upon which the following bodies were represented:

British Civil Engineering Manufacturers’ Association

County Surveyor’s Society
Department for Transport — Highways Agency
Highways Agency — Safety Standards and Research
Institute of Asphalt Technology
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Highways and Transportation
Mastic Asphalt Council Ltd.
MoD — UK Defence Standardization
Quarry Products Association
Refined Bitumen Association
Scottish Office — Roads directorate
Society of Chemical Industry
TRL — Transport Research Laboratory
United Kingdom Accreditation Service
Co-opted members

This British Standard was

published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and
Strategy Committee on
15 December 2004

© BSI 15 December 2004

First published as BS 598-2
August 1974
First published as BS 598-101
December 1987
Second edition December 2004 Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
British Standard:
Committee reference B/510/1

ISBN 0 580 44894 0

 BS 598-101:2004

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Preparatory treatment of samples of bituminous mixtures 1
Table 1 — Temperature of the oven for reheating samples prior to sample
reduction 2
Table 2 — Mass of material for each determination 3
Publications referred to 5

© BSI 15 December 2004 i

BS 598-101:2004

Foreword

This part of BS 598 has been prepared by Subcommittee B/510/1. It supersedes

BS 598-101:1987 which is withdrawn.
This new edition of BS 598-101 incorporates technical changes only. It does not
reflect a full review or revision of the standard, which will be undertaken in due
course.
This edition introduces a number of changes associated with the introduction of
the European standards for aggregates and the associated test method
standards. These changes include the use of new sieve sizes which are used both
for the definition of the actual mixtures and their size designations. This edition
of BS 598 has therefore been amended to align with BS EN 13043, which was
implemented in the UK on 01/01/2004. Detailed guidance and advice on the
changes may be found in PD 6682-2 and PD 6682-9.
Due to the different factors to be considered when sampling and testing mastics
for roads and other paved areas it has been decided to continue publishing the
requirements for mastics as a separate British Standard, i.e. BS 5284.
It has been assumed in the drafting of this part of BS 598 that the execution of its
provisions is entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people.
It is recognized that safety during sampling is of great importance. It should be
noted that the work of sampling may be subject to the provisions of the Health
and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 [1], the Factories Act 1961 [2] (as amended by
the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974) and in particular the Construction
Regulations 1961 [3].
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii
pages 1 to 5 and a back cover.
The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the
document was last issued.

ii © BSI 15 December 2004

 BS 598-101:2004

1 Scope
This part of BS 598 describes the methods for preparatory treatment necessary to provide test samples of
bituminous mixtures and coated chippings, but excluding mastics and slurry seal, that have been delivered
in bulk to the testing laboratory for analysis.
NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.

2 Definitions
For the purposes of this part of BS 598, the definitions given in BS 598-100 apply.

3 Preparatory treatment of samples of bituminous mixtures

3.1 Preliminary inspection and storage
On receipt inspect the sample and record its condition and mass.
If a sample consisting of a slab or a core cut from compacted material is to be stored prior to examination
or separation of courses, take care so as to minimize deformation or deterioration of the sample. Store slabs
on a clean, hard, flat surface with the final rolled surface at the bottom, preferably in a cool place.
NOTE Cores of well compacted materials made with high viscosity binders will normally keep well standing vertically upside down
on a clean bench in a cool room, but cores cut from less stable materials may require refrigeration.

3.2 Sample for water content

If it is desired to determine an accurate water content, for any necessary heat treatment before sample
reduction use only the minimum of heat that is needed to facilitate the breaking up of the sample.
3.3 Samples taken after laying
3.3.1 General. If possible record the average thickness (or thicknesses if there is more than one course) and
the presence of any extraneous material. Then remove all extraneous material. If complete removal is not
possible report this.
3.3.2 Coated chippings. If possible remove chippings by hand before starting the tests. If removal is not
possible (e.g. due to deep embedment) report this and proceed with the tests.
NOTE 1 Coated chippings may normally be removed with a suitable tool after warming the sample. For this purpose a temperature
approximately 40 °C below the appropriate maximum temperature given in Table 1 is suitable.
NOTE 2 It may be possible to identify and remove the chippings after extraction of the binder and if this is done an allowance for
the mass of the chippings should be made in the test and the fact recorded on the test report.

3.3.3 Surface dressings. Remove any surface dressing if possible. Report the presence of any visible
penetration of the surface dressing binder into the sample.
3.3.4 Tack coat or blinding grit. Report the presence of any tack coat or blinding grit.
3.3.5 Fractured aggregate. Report the presence of any fractured aggregate caused by sampling but do not
remove such aggregate.
3.3.6 Multicourse sample. If possible, use a circular stone cutting saw to separate courses, particularly
within core samples. In situations where this approach and other physical methods of cold separation are
impractical, adopt the following procedure.
Lay the sample upside down on a clean sheet metal tray and warm sufficiently in a conventional oven just
to soften the material so that the courses may be separated.
NOTE 1 In some cases insertion at the interface of the courses of a paint stripping knife with a wide blade, or similar tool, will assist
in the separation.
NOTE 2 Only in cases of extreme necessity should the separation of the courses of a sample that has broken be attempted. In such
cases if separation by hand picking is attempted, test results will be unreliable and this should be clearly stated in the test report.

© BSI 15 December 2004 1

BS 598-101:2004

3.3.7 Free water. If free water is visible on the sample, or if the sample feels wet to the touch or if there is
any reason to suppose that the sample may contain water that is unevenly dispersed, break the sample into
pieces, by warming if necessary, of such a size that the water can readily evaporate. Leave the broken
sample exposed in a thin layer on a clean, hard surface, in a warm laboratory for at least 24 h. Then treat
the sample as described in 3.4 or 3.5, as appropriate.
NOTE This process is not suitable if the determination of water content is required (see 3.2).

3.3.8 Binder drainage. Report if any binder drainage has occurred and collect and weigh the drained
material. When the sample has been reduced to a suitable size for testing (see 3.4), add a proportionate
representative weighed fraction of the drained material to the portion to be tested. Record if the drained
material cannot be collected.
3.4 Heat treatment before sample reduction
3.4.1 Heat samples that cannot be remixed by hand in accordance with 3.4.2 or 3.4.3.
3.4.2 Heat the entire sample or separated course in a suitable conventional oven at a temperature not
exceeding the appropriate value given in Table 1 until it is just sufficiently soft to be readily mixed and
divided. Do not leave the sample in the oven for more than 4 h.
NOTE The temperature constraint is to minimize loss of the volatile constituents of the binder.

3.4.3 Heat the sample in increments in a suitable microwave oven and at no time allow the temperature of
the oven to exceed the appropriate value given in Table 1.
WARNING. Do not place any metal objects, e.g. containers or trays, in a microwave oven.
Keep the heating time to a minimum (5 min is usually sufficient).
NOTE 1 Care should be exercised when using this microwave method as large aggregate particles may split.
NOTE 2 After heating in the microwave oven the increments awaiting bulking may be held in a conventional oven, subject to the
time and temperature constraints given in 3.4.2.
NOTE 3 This microwave method is not suitable if the determination of water content is required (see 3.2).
Table 1 — Temperature of the oven for reheating samples prior to sample reduction
Type of binder in sample Nominal characteristic of binder in sample Maximum temperature of oven
°C
Bitumen and Less than 200 s at 40 °C 60
cut-back bitumena 200 s to 500 s at 40 °C 70
Greater than 250 penetration at 25 °C 80
160-220 penetration at 25 °C 100
70 to 150 penetration at 25 °C 120
30 to 70 penetration at 25 °C 140
Less than 30 penetration at 25 °C 160
NOTE If modified binders are used the temperatures for reheating samples should be in accordance with supplier’s
recommendations.
a See BS EN 12597 for explanation of terms.

2 © BSI 15 December 2004

 BS 598-101:2004

3.5 Sample reduction for the determination of water content, binder content and grading
3.5.1 Weigh the whole of the sample, or each portion representing the separate courses, and place on a clean
hard surface, e.g. a sheet metal tray. Mix the sample thoroughly and reduce it to the quantity required for
test, as given in Table 2, either by using a riffle box, which may be heated or slightly oiled, in accordance
with 9.2 of BS EN 932-1:1997 or by quartering as described in 3.5.2, 3.5.3 and 3.5.4.
NOTE 1 The use of a riffle box for mixtures with D of 20 mm and larger is likely to be quicker and will provide a sample of accuracy
equal to or greater than that obtained by quartering.
NOTE 2 By assuming equal subdivision of the sample after each quartering process it is possible, by weighing the original sample,
to estimate whether the mass remaining after quartering will be within the appropriate range given in Table 2. If the estimated mass
is above the upper limit of the appropriate range given in Table 2 the mass of the original sample may be reduced by one quarter. This
should be done by quartering twice, rejecting two opposite quarters from the second quartering process, combining the remainder from
the second quartering process with the material put aside from the first quartering process and then carrying out the procedure
described in 3.5.2 to 3.5.3.

3.5.2 Mix the sample thoroughly by heaping it into a cone and turning it over to form a new cone three times
as described as follows.
Form a conical heap by depositing each shovelful of the material on the apex of the cone. Distribute any
material that rolls down the sides as evenly as possible, so that the centre of the cone is not displaced. Push
back to the edge of the heap any larger pieces of aggregate that may scatter round the base.
Table 2 — Mass of material for each determination
Type of material D Mass of sample for each determination
mm g
Bituminous mixture >32 3 000 to 5 000
32 2 500 to 3 500
20 1 000 to 2 000
14 800 to 1 600
10 500 to 1 000
6 300 to 600
k4 250 to 500
Coated chippings All sizes 2 000 to 3 000

3.5.3 Flatten the third cone formed from the mixed sample by repeated vertical insertions of the edge of a
shovel or board, commencing about the centre and working progressively round the cone, lifting the shovel
or board clear of the material after each insertion.
Ensure that the heap thus formed is reasonably uniform in thickness and diameter and that its centre
coincides with the centre of the cone from which it was produced.
3.5.4 Quarter the heap along two diameters that intersect at right angles. Combine one pair of diagonally
opposite quarters and discard the remainder.
3.5.5 Repeat 3.5.2, 3.5.3 and 3.5.4 until the mass remaining is about four times the mass of the sample
required for the test. Then, repeat 3.5.2, 3.5.3 and 3.5.4 once more and set aside for the estimations of
water content the quarters that would otherwise be discarded. However, if the water content is to be
calculated using the hot extractor method discard these quarters.
NOTE 1 The use of a quartering cross of wood or sheet metal, which can be forced through the heap, often facilitates quartering in
cases where the material tends to segregate.
NOTE 2 If drained binder was collected during the earlier treatment of the sample (see 3.3.8), a proportionate amount of binder
should be added to the samples taken for test.

© BSI 15 December 2004 3

4 blank
 BS 598-101:2004

Publications referred to

Standards publications
BS 598-100:2004, Sampling and examination of bituminous mixtures for roads and other paved areas —
Methods for sampling for analysis.
BS 5284:1993, Methods — Sampling and testing mastic asphalt and pitchmastic used in building.
BS EN 932-1:1997, Tests for general properties of aggregates, Part 1 — Methods of sampling.
BS EN 12597:2000, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Terminology.
PD 6682-2:2003, Aggregates — Part 2: Aggregates for bituminous mixtures and surface treatments for
roads, airfields and other trafficked areas — Guidance on the use of BS EN 13043.
PD 6682-9:2003, Aggregates — Part 9: Guidance on the use of European test method standards.
Other documents
[1] GREAT BRITAIN. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. London: The Stationery Office.
[2] GREAT BRITAIN. The Factories Act 1961. London: The Stationery Office.
[3] GREAT BRITAIN. The Construction Regulations Act 1961. London: The Stationery Office.

© BSI 15 December 2004 5

BS 598-101:2004

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