02/04/2008
The CE mark was introduced for asphalt mixtures in the Netherlands on 1 January 2008. The consequence of the introduction of this marking is that existing asphalt mixtures have been given different names. Royal Haskoning is introducing a tool which can easily determine which new mixture name now applies to which old mixture and vice versa.
The European Asphalt Standards came into effect on 1 March. Asphalt products not bearing the CE ‘stamp’ (quality mark) may no longer be supplied to public bodies and companies in the EU. If they are, this would be an economic offence and severe penalties could be imposed. The implementation of the new standards is well under way. Contractors and asphalt producers are busy changing the new names and marketing the products according to the new standards. Specification writers and designers in public bodies and engineering firms are having to conform and are struggling with the new names, the more functional approach to design and the tight deadline that has to be met.
Royal Haskoning has developed a tool to help people get used to the new situation—the Asphalt Converter. The tool is suitable for everyone who is involved with asphalt and the new standards in design, implementation and production processes. The Asphalt Converter assists by converting the old and new names and gives extra information and explanation about asphalt mixtures designated according to the CE mark and about the transitional arrangement that applies.
The converter also has an advanced option that lets specification writers establish quickly and easily which asphalt mixtures are possible in different situations, what the accompanying specification description should then be and which functional asphalt properties (new tests, new parameters) have to apply to the mixture.
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