1. Implementation of CEN/TC 154 and TC 227 standards in Iceland
Icelandic Building Research Institute
Implementation of CEN/TC 154 and         TC 227 standards in Iceland
Pétur Pétursson
Icelandic Building Research Institute
CEN-NORD Seminar, Reykjavík

2. Relevant facts about Iceland
Population:
Coastline km
Area total: km2
land: km2
water: km2
desert/wasteland: km2
glaciers: km2
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
Agreement with the European Union to adopt European standards to remove barriers to trade

3. Climate
Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Gulf Stream; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Many freeze/thaw cycles (up to 100 each winter), especially in the southwest region
Use of de-icing salt is in urban areas is common practice

4. Geology

5. Road network and traffic
Roadways total: km paved: km unpaved: km
Low traffic rate
Long road network per capita
Many gravel pits along the road network
Few large producers
Heavy traffic load is increasing rapidly
Older roads not designed for increasing heavy traffic load
Results in basecourse stabilisation and more expensive surfacings
Requirements for produced aggregates need to be re-evaluated and upgraded

6. ICERA´s ~3000 gravel pits and quarries

7. This presentation in short:
Some aspects of the test standards from TC 154 and 227:
Sieving analysis
Humus content
Freeze/thaw test with salt
Petrographic analysis
Nordic abrasion
Harmful fines
Adhesion
Crushed and broken surfaces
New optional test method
Implementation of TC 154 standards in Iceland
Implementation of TC 227 standards in Iceland

8. Sieving analysis
We changed from ASTM aperture sizes to ISO in the late eighties
We have mostly taken up perforated plate sieves with > 4 mm aperture size, good experience
Sweden has been trying to include mechanical sieve shakers to more extent in the procedure of sieving as well as testing Flakiness Index
Iceland supports this request from Sweden

9. Humus content, EN 1744-1 The pass/fail requirement is questionable
According to the color scale used before, the reference color is too dark (equals approximately color no. 3 to 4 on the Nordic scale)
An option would be to test the loss on ignition, which is not really a part of the chemical test methods to test for humus
More research is needed on the comparison between the NaOH and loss on ignition methods
More humus categories are needed in order to cover all end uses, such as concrete, bituminous material, base course and wearing course aggregates
Ref. Color
solution

10. Freeze/thaw test, prEN 1367-6
Icelandic frost resistance test with salt water was developed in the years of 1985 to 1990
The test involved 70 freeze/thaw cicles, 10 per 24 hours with the temp. range from +4°C to –4°C
A strong correlation was found between test results and performance of aggregates in surface dressing
The test method was introduced to CEN/TC 154/TG 9 in the early 1990’s as a response to prEN , which was considered unsuitable for Icelandic aggregates and conditions (negligible degradation occurs)
A Nordic test method was developed in , based on Icelandic experience and with reference to prEN
The Nordic test method was issued as a NT BUILD standard in 1998
The FRAS co-operation was established in 2003 and finished in 2004
A draft freeze/thaw test method was written by TG 12 in 2005
The new method is at CEN enquiry stage at the moment

11. Petrographic analysis
Closeup of a gravel-pit. All basalt, but obviously not all the same.

12. Petrographic analysis
Iceland commented that the test standard for petrographic analysis was too simplified and that subdivision of basalt was necessary
Documented reply from TC 154 that each country can adjust the petrographic analysis to their needs if it does not conflict the European standard
Iceland commented that a minimum of particles needed to be analysed
A minimum of 150 particles was included in the test standard

13. Nordic abrasion test
Iceland has always supported the Swedish Ball Mill test
Icelandic research established good correlation between Nodic abrasion value and the former Dorry value
Some Nordic countries may like to have this test method also available for unbound aggregates

14. Harmful fines
Methylene Blue test and Sand Equivalent test are not traditional tests in Iceland,
The requirements regarding harmful fines in the ICERA guidelines are based on the plasticity as well as quantity of fines < 0,063 mm and additionally the quantity of fines < 0,02 mm (measured with hydrometer or laser method)
Laser method correlates well with hydrometer test

15. Adhesion No direct adhesion test from TC 154
Vialit Plate Test for surface dressing from TC 227/WG 2 adopted for emulsion surface dressing material here in Iceland but not for cutback surface dressing
The wet mix test (with constant binder) is still in use to test adhesion properties of aggregates for cutback surface dressing, based on long time tradition
Indirect tensile test for hotmix asphalt is not used in Iceland, nor any other adhesion test

16. Crushed and broken surfaces, example of requirements for basecourse material
Road type
Crushed gravel
Category
EN 13242
Crushed rock
A-B1
C50/10
C90/3
B2-B3
C1-C2
C50/30 D
CNR/50
CNR

17. Crushed and broken surfaces
Other categories:
C100/0
C95/1
C90/1
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Cnr/50
Cnr/70
C50/30
C50/10
C90/3