SIST EN 13880-11:2026

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 is the Slovenian standard that adopts EN 13880-11:2026 from SIST/CEN. It specifies how to prepare asphalt test blocks for function testing of hot applied joint sealants and for checking compatibility with asphalt pavements, so laboratories can make specimens that are prepared in the same way for EN 13880-7 and EN 13880-9.

What does SIST EN 13880-11:2026 specify?

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 specifies a preparation method for asphalt test blocks made from hot mix asphalt of asphalt concrete type. The document covers the full sequence from selecting and reheating the asphalt to compacting it, cooling it, sawing the blocks to specimen size, storing them, and recording the preparation data.

The standard is organized into Clauses 1 to 11:

• scope
• normative references
• terms and definitions
• principle
• apparatus
• asphalt material
• preparation and conditioning of asphalt material
• preparation for compaction
• preparation of the asphalt test blocks
• storage
• report for asphalt blocks preparing

In practice, this means the document is a preparation method, not a sealant performance test. Its purpose is to make the asphalt blocks that other EN 13880 tests need.

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 13880-11:2026?

Clause 4 sets out the preparation principle

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 requires hot mix asphalt, either laboratory mixed or taken directly from an asphalt plant, to be filled, reheated, transferred hot into a moulding box, compacted, cooled, and then sawn to the required specimen shapes. The practical effect is that the block must be homogeneous and suitable for later testing, so handling and compaction matter as much as the asphalt recipe.

Clause 5 defines the equipment needed

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 requires a heating chamber, a sturdy moulding box, and compaction equipment that follows EN 12697-32 or EN 12697-33. The moulding box depth is controlled, and the other dimensions depend on how many specimens are needed for EN 13880-7 or EN 13880-9. For users, this means the equipment must be suitable for repeatable block preparation, not just general asphalt handling.

Clause 6 fixes the asphalt material basis

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 bases the blocks on asphalt concrete in line with EN 13108-1, using either laboratory mixing to EN 12697-35 or asphalt taken directly from a plant. Clause 6 also links the material to a defined mix composition using paving grade bitumen and graded aggregate from EN 13043. In practice, the block preparation is tied to a specific asphalt concrete recipe, so the source materials and mix design have to be controlled.

Clauses 7 and 8 control reheating and compaction

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 requires the asphalt to be reheated in its delivery boxes, with the boxes kept closed during heating, and then placed in the moulding box once the declared mixing temperature is reached. The compacted specimen has to reach a defined air void content. This matters because the test blocks must represent a controlled asphalt structure, not an irregular mass with trapped air or overheating damage.

Clause 9 defines the finished block preparation

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 requires the cooled block to be removed and water-cooled sawing to the specimen sizes needed for EN 13880-7 and EN 13880-9. This means the block is only an intermediate product, and the final test pieces are made by cutting it after cooling.

Clauses 10 and 11 cover storage and reporting

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 requires storage in a refrigerator-like condition to prevent blocks from sticking together until specimens are prepared, and Clause 11 requires a report with the mix composition, mixing temperature, compaction method, porosity reference, production time, aggregate grading, bitumen origin, storage history, and the preparator and laboratory. For users, this is the traceability record that links each specimen back to how it was made.

What terms does SIST EN 13880-11:2026 define?

• asphalt concrete - asphalt in which the aggregate particles are continuously graded or gap-graded to form an interlocking structure.
• hot mix asphalt - the asphalt material used to make the blocks, either mixed in the laboratory or taken directly from an asphalt plant.
• moulding box - the box that receives the heated asphalt before compaction and shaping.
• vibratory compactor - the compaction equipment option referred to in EN 12697-32.
• roller compactor - the alternative compaction equipment option referred to in EN 12697-33.
• porosity - the air void content of the compacted asphalt specimen that must be controlled during preparation.
• test block - the asphalt block prepared as the starting material for specimens used in EN 13880-7 and EN 13880-9.

Who uses SIST EN 13880-11:2026?

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 is used by testing laboratories, asphalt laboratories, and asphalt plants that prepare specimens for joint sealant testing. It is also relevant to sealant manufacturers, road materials specialists, and quality managers who need the same specimen-preparation method across different sites or projects.

What changed in SIST EN 13880-11:2026 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 replaces EN 13880-11:2003. The foreword states two main technical changes: asphalt material specifications were introduced according to EN 13108-1, and alternative compaction rules were added according to EN 12697-32 or EN 12697-33. It also says Clause 6 was revised to clarify the asphalt mix type and mixture recipe for preparing hot mixed asphalt test specimens from a laboratory or an asphalt plant.

Which standards are used with SIST EN 13880-11:2026?

What does the SIST EN 13880-11:2026 document contain?

SIST EN 13880-11:2026 contains a step-by-step preparation method, equipment requirements, an asphalt material basis, conditioning instructions, compaction guidance, block cutting instructions, storage conditions, and a reporting checklist. It is written for preparing blocks that will later be used in EN 13880-7 and EN 13880-9, so its main value is in producing consistent test specimens rather than in evaluating sealant performance itself.