BS EN 12697-40-2020 PDF

Full title and description

BS EN 12697-40:2020 — Bituminous mixtures — Test methods — Part 40: In situ drainability. This standard specifies a field test method to determine the in situ relative hydraulic conductivity (drainability) of a permeable road surfacing at specific locations and to derive an average value for a section from multiple determinations.

Abstract

The document describes the equipment, calibration, measurement procedure, calculation and reporting required to measure how effectively a laid surfacing (designed to be permeable, e.g. porous asphalt) drains water in situ. Measurements may be taken when the surface is wet or dry but must not be made if the surface is frozen; the method can be used both for initial compliance checks after construction and for monitoring change in drainability with time.

General information

• Status: Published (European standard adopted as a national standard; available as BS EN 12697-40:2020).
• Publication date: 2020 — national adoptions dated March–May 2020 (example: BS adoption listed 04 March 2020; DIN listing shows 01 May 2020).
• Publisher: CEN (European Committee for Standardization) — published and nationally adopted by bodies such as BSI (as BS EN) and national standards organizations.
• ICS / categories: 93.080.20 (Pavement and road engineering / bituminous mixtures).
• Edition / version: EN 12697-40:2020 (the 2020 edition of Part 40).
• Number of pages: Typically reported as about 14–16 pages depending on the national publication format.

Scope

This part of EN 12697 describes a field permeameter test to determine the in situ relative hydraulic conductivity at specified locations on a surfacing designed to be permeable. The procedure gives an estimate of the average drainability for a section from the mean of a number of point determinations; it defines required apparatus (permeameter, standing board, timing devices, thermometer, water), calibration procedures, locations and measurement steps, calculation, reporting and precision. The test requires a clean test area and is not valid on frozen surfaces.

Key topics and requirements

• Measurement of in situ relative hydraulic conductivity (drainability) of permeable surfacings.
• Specified apparatus: field permeameter, standing board, stopwatch, thermometer and controlled water supply.
• Calibration procedures for the permeameter and correction for leakage / series resistance (annex on apparatus calibration).
• Detailed measurement protocol: location selection, number of determinations per section, step-by-step measurement routine.
• Calculation method to obtain point values and mean section value, reporting requirements and precision statements.

Typical use and users

Used by highway authorities, pavement design and maintenance engineers, construction contractors, independent testing laboratories and researchers for acceptance testing of newly laid permeable surfacings (e.g., porous asphalt) and for periodic monitoring of drainability performance over time. The method is practical for site teams and accredited test laboratories performing field verification.

Related standards

Part of the EN 12697 series (Test methods for bituminous mixtures). Related parts cover laboratory and field tests for properties of bituminous mixtures (e.g., compaction, density, permeability, resistance tests) and other specific methods; users typically refer to multiple EN 12697 parts when specifying pavement mix and acceptance testing.

Keywords

in situ drainability; permeable surfacing; porous asphalt; hydraulic conductivity; permeameter; field test; EN 12697; bituminous mixtures; pavement drainage.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: BS EN 12697-40:2020 is the national adoption of EN 12697‑40:2020 — a test method for measuring the in situ drainability (relative hydraulic conductivity) of permeable bituminous surfacings.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the apparatus, calibration, measurement procedure, calculation, precision and reporting necessary to obtain point and section average values of drainability for surfacings designed to be permeable; it includes requirements for test conditions (clean surface, not frozen) and an annex on apparatus calibration.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Highway authorities, pavement engineers, contractors, field/independent testing laboratories and researchers involved in the specification, acceptance testing and monitoring of permeable road surfacings.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: EN 12697-40:2020 is the 2020 edition of Part 40 and is shown as published/adopted in 2020; national adoptions and translations (for example listings in 2020–2022) are available. No later superseding EN revision was identified as of 22 February 2026. (If you need an official confirmation for procurement or regulatory use, check the issuing national standards body or CEN catalogue for any amendments or corrigenda after 22 February 2026.)

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 40 of the EN 12697 series, which contains many other test methods for bituminous mixtures; users commonly reference multiple parts of EN 12697 when specifying and testing asphalt mixtures.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: In situ drainability, permeable surfacing, hydraulic conductivity, permeameter, porous asphalt, bituminous mixtures, EN 12697.