PERFORMANCE OF REINFORCED BITUMEN SHEETS FOR WATERPROOFING OF CONCRETE BRIDGE DECKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EUROPEAN PRODUCT STANDARD

摘要

Bridges are vital links in our road networks. Hence, bridge policy and management have aconsiderable economic impact. In this context, waterproofing concrete bridge decks toprotect them against infiltrating water, entrained de-icing salt, etc. is essential with a viewto ensuring long service life. The implementation of the European Construction ProductsDirective has led, among other things, to the creation of a harmonized European standardon bitumen sheets for waterproofing of concrete bridge decks. This European standardstipulates the essential performance characteristics for the sheets and the test methods tobe used. With the financial support of the Belgian Federal Public Service “Economy”, theBelgian Road Research Centre has studied the implementation of the European standardand its implications for the Belgian regulations. Some test methods were new in Belgiumand had to be imported, while other Belgian methods had to be adapted. The test methodswere applied to various products in order to determine appropriate performance values.These values have been included in the Belgian technical approval guideline for theproducts concerned. Suggestions have been made to improve certain test methods.