⛏️ Aggregates for railway ballast — grading, shape, particle length, Los Angeles, impact, micro-Deval, freeze-thaw resistance and requirement categories; test conditions for ballast in Annexes C–G, PN-EN 13450

Construction PN-EN 13450

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We have two previews: EN 13450:2002 (via SIST EN 13450:2003) — from the title page to Clause 8 (page 10), and EN 13450:2013 (via SIST EN 13450:2013) — up to 5.2.1 (page 10). The Polish standard PN-EN 13450:2004 introduces the 2002 edition. Scope (Clause 1, 2002 edition): the properties of aggregates obtained by processing natural or manufactured materials or recycled crushed unbound aggregates for use in the construction of railway track — the aggregate is called railway ballast here; the standard provides for the evaluation of conformity of the products. Note to the scope: the requirements are based on experience with aggregate types with an established pattern of use; care is needed with aggregates without such a pattern (recycled, from certain industrial by-products), which could have characteristics outside the standard. Railway ballast is an aggregate where 100 % of the surface of the particles can be described as totally crushed.

REQUIREMENTS AND METHODS — 2002 EDITION (Clauses 4–8 of the preview). Sampling according to EN 932-1; advice on sampling from a wagon or from the track is given in Annex A, interpretation of results of such samples in Annex B. Natural railway ballast is not produced by blending material from different geological sources. Ballast size: D = 50 or 63 mm, d = 31.5 mm; grading according to EN 933-1 in categories A–F (Table 1: sieves 80, 63, 50, 40, 31.5 and 22.4 mm; 0–3 % passes the 22.4 mm sieve, in category F 0–7 %; the requirement for the 22.4 mm sieve applies to ballast sampled at the place of production). Fine particles (passing the 0.5 mm sieve) — categories 0.6 and 1.0 %; fines (passing the 0.063 mm sieve) — 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 %. Shape — flakiness index according to EN 933-3 as the reference test (categories ≤ 15, ≤ 20, ≤ 35) or shape index according to EN 933-4. Particle length (6.7) — with a gauge or calipers; the result is the percentage by mass of particles at least 100 mm long in a sample larger than 40 kg, categories A–D: ≤ 4, ≤ 6, ≤ 8, ≤ 12 %. Resistance to fragmentation (7.2) — Los Angeles coefficient according to EN 1097-2:1998, Clause 5, under the conditions of Annex C; this is the reference test, categories LARB 12, 14, 16, 20, 24; or impact value SZRB according to EN 1097-2:1998, Clause 6, under the conditions of Annex D (categories 14, 18, 22 %). Resistance to wear (7.3) — micro-Deval coefficient MDERB according to EN 1097-1 under the conditions of Annex E (categories 5, 7, 11, 15). Durability (7.4) — freezing and thawing according to EN 1367-1 under the conditions of Annex F or the magnesium sulfate test according to EN 1367-2 under the conditions of Annex G; the standard notes that there is limited experience with both tests on ballast and refers to Annex H (also to water absorption as a screening test). Particle density and water absorption — EN 1097-6:2000, Annex B; "Sonnenbrand" of basalts — EN 1367-3; ballast shall not contain components other than those specified in the standard (Clause 8).

2013 EDITION — WHAT CHANGED AND WHY ANNEX LETTERS MUST BE READ CAREFULLY. According to the foreword of the 2013 edition: the normative references were updated (EN 932-5 deleted, EN 1367-6 and EN 16236 added), the definition of recycled ballast was modified, Tables 1–9 were changed (new category names, e.g. GC RB A, FIRB 15, LARB), new subclauses 7.3 (freeze-thaw resistance) and 7.4 (electrical conductivity) were added and the subclause on "Sonnenbrand" was modified. The assignment of the annexes also changed: in the 2013 edition Annex C gives the conditions of the magnesium sulfate test (EN 1367-2) and D those of freezing and thawing (EN 1367-1), whereas in the 2002 edition C concerns Los Angeles and D the impact test. The note "Annex C" therefore means something different in each edition.

STATUS (state of the cards on 29 September 2026). The card of PN-EN 13450:2004 (Polish version) has no "Withdrawn" header — the standard is CURRENT: published 27-02-2004, 34 pages, price group Q, Construction and Building Structures Sector, KT 108 for Aggregates and Building Stone, ICS 91.100.15, "Introduces: EN 13450:2002 [IDT]", "Directive: 305/2011/EU", "Replaces: PN-B-11114:1996 - Polish version", corrigendum PN-EN 13450:2004/AC:2004 in the fields "Corrections and errata" and "Additional elements". The card of PN-EN 13450:2013-09 (English version, EN 13450:2013): "Withdrawn", published 11-09-2013, "Withdrawal date: 29-04-2014", without a "Replaced by" field — so the Polish edition of the current CEN text existed for less than eight months, and the 2004 edition remained in the PN collection.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation-scope database, data loaded up to 17 September 2026, read on 29 September 2026). All notations of the number 13450: 23 entries at 11 laboratories, always the 2004 edition, at 6 laboratories with corrigendum AC:2004 (AB 298, AB 687, AB 1344, AB 1511, AB 1605, AB 1853). The "Laboratories" tab searches for notations BEGINNING WITH "PN-EN 13450" and shows all 11 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 29 September 2026: 11. Current scopes on the PCA website (read on 29 September 2026, issues from 10.12.2024 to 16.09.2026): all entries stand in the valid issues and none is suspended.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST ACCORDING TO THIS STANDARD. The subject is always "aggregates". Particle length (6.7) — AB 298, AB 687, AB 1107 (with "p. 6.7"), AB 1344, AB 1511, AB 1853. Los Angeles with Annex C, alongside PN-EN 1097-2:2020-09 — AB 1344, AB 1470, AB 1527, AB 1605, AB 1783. Micro-Deval with Annex E, alongside PN-EN 1097-1:2024-05 — AB 1344, AB 1470, AB 1750 (AB 1750 also the 2011 edition). Freeze-thaw resistance in water alongside PN-EN 1367-1:2007 — with Annex F: AB 1107, AB 1344, AB 1470, AB 1527; without a letter: AB 687 (temperature range from −17.5 to +20 °C) and AB 1511. Sampling with Annex A.3, alongside PN-EN 932-1:1999 p. 8.8 — AB 1605 (two entries). NOTE: AB 1750 combines "Los Angeles method" with "Annex D", whereas in the 2004 edition (EN 13450:2002) Annex D gives the conditions of the impact test, not of Los Angeles.

ALONGSIDE THIS STANDARD. The same entries hold the test standards the standard refers to: PN-EN 1097-2:2020-09 (6 laboratories), PN-EN 1367-1:2007 (6), PN-EN 1097-1:2024-05 (3; AB 1750 also :2011) and PN-EN 932-1:1999 (AB 1605) — each of them has a separate entry in the Knowledge Base. The conditions of this standard change these tests: Los Angeles, impact, micro-Deval and freeze-thaw are tested on ballast under the conditions of the annexes, not under the general conditions.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — an annex letter without the edition: "Annex C" means Los Angeles in the 2002 edition and magnesium sulfate in the 2013 edition; a laboratory that tested according to a different edition than the client will give a correct number of a different test. Second — the general test instead of the ballast test: a Los Angeles or micro-Deval coefficient obtained under the general conditions of the test standard is a true number, but not comparable with the LARB and MDERB categories. Third — the sampling place: part of the requirements (22.4 mm sieve, fine particles, fines) applies to ballast sampled at the place of production, not from a wagon or track.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. Both previews end before the annexes, so we do not give the ballast test conditions of Annexes C–G (2002 edition) or C–D (2013 edition) — e.g. size fractions, numbers of revolutions and sample masses — nor the content of Annexes A, B and H; we also do not give the evaluation of conformity, designation and marking (Clauses 9–11 of the 2002 edition) or the changes made by corrigendum AC:2004, whose text we did not have.

Method principle

The standard does not describe one method but requirements for railway ballast aggregate: for each property it names the aggregate test standard (EN 932, EN 933, EN 1097, EN 1367), the way of expressing the result and the categories, and for the mechanical and durability tests — conditions suited to the large ballast particles, collected in annexes (2002 edition: C — Los Angeles, D — impact, E — micro-Deval, F — freezing and thawing, G — magnesium sulfate). The only test described in the standard itself is particle length (6.7): it is measured with calipers or a gauge and given as the percentage by mass of particles at least 100 mm long in a sample of more than 40 kg.

Applications

• Tests of crushed aggregate for railway ballast — in the scopes of 11 laboratories (23 entries)
• Conformity assessment against categories: grading, fines, shape, particle length, Los Angeles, impact, micro-Deval, freeze-thaw
• Tests of samples taken at the place of production and from a wagon or from the track (Annexes A and B)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 13450:2004 (wersja polska; EN 13450:2002 IDT) z poprawką PN-EN 13450:2004/AC:2004

Title (PL)

Kruszywa na podsypkę kolejową

Title (EN)

Aggregates for railway ballast

Step-by-step procedure

1. Status and edition

   In Poland PN-EN 13450:2004 (EN 13450:2002) with AC:2004; PN-EN 13450:2013-09 withdrawn on 29-04-2014. The report and the order give the edition together with the annex letter.

2. Sampling

   According to EN 932-1; from a wagon or track — advice in Annex A (AB 1605 cites A.3), interpretation — Annex B.

3. Particle length

   Measurement with calipers or a gauge; percentage by mass of particles ≥ 100 mm in a sample larger than 40 kg (6.7).

4. Mechanical and durability tests

   Los Angeles (EN 1097-2, Clause 5, Annex C), impact (Clause 6, Annex D), micro-Deval (EN 1097-1, Annex E), freezing and thawing (EN 1367-1, Annex F) or magnesium sulfate (EN 1367-2, Annex G); we DO NOT GIVE the content of the annexes.

5. Assessment

   The result is assigned to a category from the tables of the standard (e.g. LARB 16, MDERB 11) or given as a declared value.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Ballast samples are heavy (tens of kilograms) — handle and sieve them with auxiliary equipment; the Los Angeles drum is guarded during operation
• SUBSTANTIVE NOTE: annex letters differ between the 2002 and 2013 editions — the note "Annex C" without the year of the edition does not say which test was performed

Frequently asked questions