⛽ Determination of the resistance of bitumens and bituminous binders to hardening under the influence of heat and air by the RTFOT method (Rolling Thin Film Oven Test) — binder in glass containers on a rotating carriage (15 r/min) in an oven with a fan, with dried air blown at 4,0 l/min into each container, at the reference temperature of 163 °C for 75 min; assessment by change in mass or change in properties (penetration, softening point, viscosity) before and after conditioning, PN-EN 12607-1

Petrochemistry PN-EN 12607-1

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of SIST EN 12607-1:2025 (text of EN 12607-1:2024, English): from the title page through the contents, European foreword and Clauses 1–4 to the end of Clause 5 (apparatus) including Figure 1. Outside the sample remain Figures 2 and 3, calibration and verification (6), sampling (7), conditioning procedure and testing after it (8), calculation (9), expression of results (10), precision (11), test report (12) and Annexes A and B.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 12607-1:2024 (foreword, Clauses 1–5). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 336 “Bituminous binders” (secretariat AFNOR); CEN approved it on 16.09.2024, and it superseded EN 12607-1:2014. The foreword lists the changes: revised and expanded scope, a new clause with terms and definitions, the reference duration added to the principle, apparatus revised and completed with Figures 1–3, a new Clause 6 on calibration and verification (with the former requirements for the oven and thermometer), the former subclause 5.3 “Initial characteristics” removed, changed titles in the procedure, a revised test report and a new Annex B. Scope (1): conditioning of bitumen or bituminous binder to measure the combined effects of heat and air on a thin moving film, simulating the hardening during mixing in an asphalt mixing plant; the method is for paving grade bitumen; also applicable to other binders, with the caveat that the reference temperature can result in excessive hardening that does not resemble plant conditions; it may not represent the hardening of bitumen for warm mix asphalt; not for binders whose viscosity at the test temperature does not allow a moving film (the sample may creep out of the container onto the heating elements), nor for binders with volatile components — cutback bitumens and emulsions only after stabilisation, e.g. according to EN 13074-2. References (2): EN 58, EN 1425, EN 12594, EN 12597, EN 12735-1. Principle (4): a moving film of binder is heated in an RTFOT oven to a specified temperature for a given time with a constant supply of air; reference temperature 163 °C, reference duration 75 min; the effect is assessed by the change in mass or the change in binder properties, e.g. penetration according to EN 1426, softening point according to EN 1427, dynamic viscosity according to EN 12596 or EN 13302, before and after conditioning. Apparatus (5): RTFOT oven, rectangular, double-walled, electrically heated, interior (excluding the air plenum) height (340 ± 15) mm, width (405 ± 15) mm, depth (445 ± 15) mm; door window (320 ± 15) mm × (215 ± 15) mm with two layers of heat-resistant glass; upper heating element (25 ± 9) mm below the oven floor; air inlets (1 500 ± 100) mm2, outlets (1 000 ± 100) mm2; air plenum along the walls and ceiling (38 ± 3) mm; vertical circular aluminium carriage Ø (300 ± 10) mm with clips for eight glass containers, driven by a 20 mm shaft at (15,00 ± 0,25) r/min; squirrel cage fan Ø (135 ± 5) mm, thickness (75 ± 5) mm, (1 725 ± 100) r/min; thermostat maintaining the temperature within ± 0,5 °C over the entire periphery of the carriage; temperature measuring device at a defined position (25 mm below the carriage axle, 50 mm from the wall, 115 mm from the front of the carriage, each ± 5 mm); return to the test temperature within 10 min after insertion of the containers; air jet Ø (1,0 ± 0,1) mm on copper tubing according to EN 12735-1 with an external diameter of (8,0 ± 0,1) mm and a length of approximately 7,6 m, coiled on the oven floor, supplied with oil-free, dried and dust-free air, 5–10 mm from the container opening, along the container axis; flow meter (4,0 ± 0,2) l/min; temperature measuring device with a range of at least 150–200 °C, resolution 0,1 °C or better and maximum permissible error ± 0,5 °C or better, with a response time comparable to the former reference thermometer (Annex A); heat-resistant glass containers with concave or convex opening (Figure 3), up to eight, optionally with a ground-glass stopper; preparation container with a loose cover; balance with a maximum permissible error of ± 1 mg; desiccator; oven for preparing samples.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). The PKN search (term “PN-EN 12607-1”, 03.10.2026) shows 8 items: PN-EN 12607-1:2025-02 in the Polish and English versions (“Introduces: EN 12607-1:2024 [IDT]”) without a withdrawal note, and the withdrawn PN-EN 12607-1:2014-12 (Polish and English versions, replaced by PN-EN 12607-1:2025-02), PN-EN 12607-1:2009, PN-EN 12607-1:2007, PN-EN 12607-1:2004 and PN-EN 12607-1:2002. In the iTeh catalogue (read on 03.10.2026) EN 12607-1:2024 has the status “Published” (stage 60.60, 13.11.2024) and replaces EN 12607-1:2014. Penetration is described in a separate entry on PN-EN 1426, and softening point in the entry on PN-EN 1427.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read on 03.10.2026). The number 12607-1 appears in 11 records at 5 laboratories: AB 422 (3), AB 474 (1), AB 484 (1), AB 1486 (3), AB 1529 (3). In the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026, issues from 15.01.2026 to 09.09.2026) the number appears in 10 rows of 4 laboratories (AB 422, AB 1486 and AB 1529 3 each, AB 484 — 1); the AB 474 page in the PCA BIP (read on 03.10.2026) has no link to a scope document, so for AB 474 we give only data from the database copy. The form “PN-EN 12607-1:2025-02” (AB 422, AB 474, AB 484) and the withdrawn “PN-EN 12607-1:2014-12” (AB 1486, AB 1529); with penetration and softening point PN-EN 1426 and PN-EN 1427 stand alongside. None of the items in the PCA documents is suspended (AB 484 has a suspension in another part of its scope). The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN 12607-1”) shows the same 5 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA and in the database copy). Bitumens and bituminous binders (AB 1486, AB 1529; at AB 422 paving and modified bitumens), other petroleum products — paving and industrial bitumens and bituminous products (AB 474, AB 484). Characteristics: resistance to hardening under the influence of heat and air by the RTFOT method — change in mass (AB 422, AB 1529; at AB 484 range [(−0,20)–(+0,20)] % (m/m), at AB 474 (−0,10)–(+0,15) % (m/m)); change in penetration, retained penetration after RTFOT (AB 422, AB 1486, AB 1529; at AB 474 and AB 484 percentage of retained penetration, calculated); change or increase in ring and ball softening point after RTFOT (AB 422, AB 1486, AB 1529; at AB 474 and AB 484 calculated).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With temperature: thermostat ± 0,5 °C over the entire periphery of the carriage, measuring device at a strictly defined position and with a response time like the former reference thermometer — a faster sensor shows larger fluctuations than the binder experiences (5.1, 5.3); the oven must return to temperature within 10 min after insertion of the containers (5.1). With air: 4,0 l/min of dried, oil-free and dust-free air through tubing of approximately 7,6 m on the oven floor (5.1, 5.2). With rotation: (15,00 ± 0,25) r/min of the carriage and (1 725 ± 100) r/min of the fan (5.1). With the type of binder: the method is for paving grade bitumen; for other binders 163 °C can give excessive hardening, and binders that are too viscous or contain volatile components are unsuitable without preparation (1). With the edition: AB 1486 and AB 1529 cite the withdrawn PN-EN 12607-1:2014-12, while the 2025 edition moved the requirements for the oven and thermometer to the new clause on calibration and verification (foreword).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not read the calibration and verification requirements (6), the mass of the test portion, the course of conditioning and testing after it (8), the formulae (9), the expression of results (10), the precision data (11) or the content of the test report. Nor do we give requirements for bitumens after RTFOT from product standards.

Method principle

Bituminous binder in glass containers on a vertical carriage rotating at 15 r/min forms a thin moving film, which is heated in an oven with a fan to 163 °C for 75 min while dried air is blown into each container at 4,0 l/min. The effect of heat and air is assessed by the change in mass or the change in penetration, softening point or viscosity before and after conditioning.

Applications

• Paving grade bitumens — simulation of hardening during mixing in an asphalt mixing plant (1)
• Other bituminous binders — with the caveat of excessive hardening; cutback bitumens and emulsions after stabilisation (e.g. EN 13074-2) (1)
• Paving, modified and industrial bitumens — change in mass, retained penetration and increase in softening point after RTFOT in the accreditation scopes of 5 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 12607-1:2025-02

Title (PL)

Asfalty i lepiszcza asfaltowe — Oznaczanie odporności na starzenie pod wpływem ciepła i powietrza — Część 1: Metoda RTFOT

Title (EN)

Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of the resistance to hardening under influence of heat and air — Part 1: RTFOT method

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sample

   Sampling according to EN 58, preparation according to EN 12594. PN-EN 12607-1:2025-02 without a withdrawal note (03.10.2026).

2. Oven

   Heat to 163 °C; check carriage rotation, fan and air flow of 4,0 l/min.

3. Conditioning

   Containers with binder on the carriage, 75 min at 163 °C; return to temperature within 10 min.

4. Assessment

   Change in mass or change in penetration, softening point or viscosity before and after conditioning.

5. Result

   We do not give the details of the procedure, calculation and precision (Clauses 6–11).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Hot bitumen (163 °C) and fumes — risk of burns, work with extraction
• A binder of too low viscosity may flow out of the container onto the oven heating elements (1)

Frequently asked questions