TS EN 12597

TS EN 12597 is a terminology standard for bitumen and bituminous binders. It brings together the terms and definitions used for bituminous materials in road works, waterproofing and related industrial uses, helping technical users speak about the same material family with less ambiguity.

According to its scope, this standard is confined to the field of CEN/TC 336, meaning bitumens and binders derived from bitumen. It does not extend to non-petroleum hydrocarbon binders such as coal tar and its derivatives, or to natural asphalts; however, some definitions for excluded materials and related terms are included where they are needed to understand product or process definitions. In other words, the document is primarily a common language reference rather than a product specification.

How the terminology supports technical use

In general technical context, bitumen is a petroleum-derived material whose viscosity and handling characteristics vary strongly with temperature. Bituminous binders is a broader expression that can cover neat bitumen as well as modified or formulated binders used to achieve particular application properties. Distinguishing these terms matters in procurement, formulation, laboratory work and project documentation, where precise wording affects how materials are described and compared.

As a vocabulary standard, TS EN 12597 does not serve as a test method or a performance grade document. Its role is to align names, product families and process terms so that users across engineering, manufacturing and supply chains can interpret bitumen-related language consistently.

• Provides shared terminology for paving and industrial bitumen contexts.
• Clarifies the naming of binders derived from bitumen.
• Keeps the scope focused on bitumens and bituminous binders.
• May also define selected excluded materials and related terms where clarification is necessary.