Bitumen Testing
Accurate, independent testing of Bitumen to Irish and European standards.
BHP Laboratories is the largest independent materials testing laboratory in Ireland providing a wide range of engineering & scientific measuring, testing and analysing services to numerous industries throughout Ireland and the UK. We provide a comprehensive range of testing and monitoring solutions for testing bituminous mixtures. This includes a combination of site and laboratory sampling, testing, and advising services.
Bitumen testing is broken down into a series of specific materials, of which we undertake testing of the following:
- Asphaltic Concrete Products (AC)
- Hot Rolled Asphalt Products (HRA)
- Stone Mastic Asphalt Products (SMA)
- Porous Asphalt Products
- Surface Treatment Products
- Miscellaneous Products
- Reclaimed Asphalt
All testing is carried out by experienced technicians in our INAB ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, with results delivered to agreed turnaround times. We also provide on-site sampling and testing, with a fleet of fully equipped vehicles and field operatives covering all of Ireland.
Some of the services provided by our Bitumen Testing service include:
- Binder Content and Grading by Ignition Method
- Binder Content and Grading by Solvent Method
- Flakiness Index of HRA Pre-Coated Chippings
- Hot Sand Test of HRA Pre-Coated Chippings
- Extraction of Bitumen from Mixture (Standard Materials or RAP)
- Softening Point
- Penetration
- Assessment of raw RAP – Bitumen Content, PSD, Penetration, Softening Point, Coal Tar
- Determination of Bulk Density
- Determination of Maximum Density
- Determination of Air Voids
- Determination of Refusal Air Voids
- Determination of Stiffness
- Determination of Resistance to Permanent Deformation (Wheel Track)
- Determination of Water Sensitivity
- PAH & Phenols
- Coal Tar
- WAC Analysis for Waste Classification
- PAK Test


