DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
ICS: 93.080.20  
 
© EAC 201 9                                                                                                                                       First  Edition 201 9 
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD  
 
Bitumen and Bituminous binders  –Part 2:  Cutback bitumen  --
Specification s 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  COMMITTEE DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD                                          DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
 
i 
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ii 
 Foreword  
Development of the East African Standards has been necessitated by the need for harmonizing 
requirements governing quality of products and services in the East African Community. It is 
envisaged that through harmonized standardization, trade barriers that are encountered when 
goods and services are exchanged within the Community will be removed.  
The Community has established an East African Standards Committee (EASC) mandated to 
develop and issue East African Standards (EAS).  The Committee is composed of representatives 
of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, together with the representatives from the 
public and private sector organizations in the community.  
East African Standards are developed through Technical Co mmittees that are representative of 
key stakeholders including government, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other 
interested parties. Draft East African Standards are circulated to stakeholders through the 
National Standards Bodies in the Part ner States. The comments received are discussed and 
incorporated before finalization of standards, in accordance with the Principles and procedures 
for development of East African Standards.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep pace with technological advances. Users 
of the East African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they always have the latest 
versions of the standards they are implementing .  
The committee responsible  for this document is Technical Committee EASC/ TC 021, Building 
and Civil Engineering .  
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be subject 
of patent rights. EAC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
iii 
 INTRODUCTION  
The use of cutback materials in road works is considered to have challenges of safety, 
environmental and cost concerns relatively to the bitumen emulsions. The EASC/TC021 after 
consultation with experts and stakeholders is recommending the preference in th e use of 
bitumen emulsion for primarily in priming and other uses as they are cost effective, safe, 
sustainable and environmentally friendly.  
Though cutback -based primers are primarily used in East Africa n for road works, it’s our 
recommendation th at Partner States to advocate the use of emulsion based bituminous 
materials that are safer to handle and environmentally friendly.    COMMITTEE DRAFT  EAST AFRICAN STANDARD                                          DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
 
1                                                                                                                       ©EAC 201 9 – All rights reserved               
 
 Bitumen and Bituminous binders —Cutback  bitumen 
Specifications.    
 
1 Scope    
This East African Standard applies to bituminous materials and covers the requirements for cutback  
bitumen types suitable for road construction and similar purposes . 
 
2 Normative references    
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. 
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest 
edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) app lies.  
    
 
 
ISO 2592 , Petroleum and related products - Determination of  flash and fire points - Cleveland 
open cup method  
 
ASTM D92 , Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester  
 
ASTM D36M , Standard test method for softening point of bitumen (ring -and-ball apparatus)  
 
ASTM D93,  Standard test methods for flash -point by Pensky -Martens closed cup tester.  
 
ASTM D95,  Standard test method for water in petroleum products and bituminous materials by 
distillation.  
 
ASTM D140,  Standard practice for sampling bituminous materials.   
 
ASTM D40 2, Standard test method for distillation of cutback asphaltic (bituminous) products.   
 
ASTM D2170,  Standard test method for kinematic viscosity of asphalts (bitumen).   
 
ASTM D8 , Standard terminology related to materials for roads  
 
ASTM D4402,  Standard test  method for viscosity determination of asphalt at elevated 
temperatures using a rotational viscometer.  
 
CD T153 2018 - Penetration grade bitumen specifications.  
 
 
3 Definitions and abbreviations  
For the purposes of this document, the definitions and abbreviations  given  in ASTM D8 and the 
following apply.  
 
 
 
  
DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD                                                               DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
                                                                                                                               
6 
 3.1 Definitions  
 
3.1.1  Bitumen or Asphalt Cement    
non-crystalline solid or viscous mixture of complex hydrocarbons  that possesses 
characteristic Non-crystalline solid or viscous mixture of complex hydrocarbons that 
possesses characteristic agglomerating properties, softens gradually when heated, is 
substantially soluble in trichloroethylene and or N -Propyl bromide, and is obtained from 
crude petroleum by refining processes . 
    
3.1.2   Cracked Bitumen   
bitumen that has been treated either thermally, catalytically or by the addition of hydrogen at high 
pressure and elevated temperature, resulting in the large hydrocarbon molecules breaking down into 
smaller molecules  
3.1.3  Cutback Bitumen     
penetration grade bitumen blended with a small quantity of volatile solvents to reduce 
viscosity for ease of handling and application, which, after the volatile  solvents have 
evaporated, essent ially reverts to the penetration -grade bitumen base   DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
 
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3.1.4  Curing  
the process of evaporation of the volatile petroleum oils from bitumen in cut -back bitumen  
 
3.1.5  cutback bitumen  
are blend of penetration grade bitumen with volatile solvents such as Naphtha kerosene , or diesel  
   
3.1.6   Lot  
that quantity of cutback bitumen of the same batch identification, from one manufacturer , 
submitted at any one time for inspection and testing    
   
3.2 Abbreviations    
ASTM : American Society for Testing and Materials.   
EAC:  East African Community  
NSB:  National Standardization Bureau  
      
    
4 Requirements    
4.1 General     
The cutback bitumen shall be homogeneous, free from visible water and other impurities, and shall 
not foam when heated to application temperature. The solvent used in the preparation of cutback 
bitumen shall comply with the “relevant national legislation”.  
    
4.2 Base bitumen    
    
The cutback bitumen s hall be made from a penetration grade bitumen base that complies with all 
the requirements of DEAS 982 – 1: 2019  (see clause 2) except that, if cutback bitumen that is 
made from thermally or catalytically cracked bitumen is acceptable, the bitumen need not  comply 
with the requirement for the n -heptane -xylene equivalent.  
   
4.3 Grade requirements  
      
4.3.1  The cutback bitumen shall comply with the requirements relevant to the grade designation 
specified by the purchaser (see annex A) and given in the appropriate columns of either table 1 , 2 
or 3 depending on the type specified by the purchaser or supplier .  
  
4.3.2  Consumers whose equipment or conditions of use necessitate a viscosity grade other than 
as given in table 1 , 2 and 3  should consult the supplier of the cutback bitumen, and any specific 
viscosity requirement shall be the subject of agreement   between the purchaser and the supplier 
(see annex A).   DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
 
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Table 1 — Cutback bitumen -rapid curing (RC) grades  
Requirements  
Property  Type and grade designation  
Test method  
  RC-70 RC-250 RC-800 RC-3000  
    Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max  
Kinematic viscosity @ 
60°C,cSt      70 140 250 500 800 1600  3000  6000  ASTM D2170 / AASHTO T201  
Flash Point ( Tag Open - 
Cup), °C      - - 26.7   26.7   26.7   ASTM D1310 / AASHTO T79  
Distillate to 360°C   
to 190°C  
   10 - - - - - - - 
ASTM D402 / AASHTO T55  to 225°C      50 - 35 - 15 - - - 
to 260°C      70 - 60 - 45 - 25 - 
to 315°C      85 - 80 - 75 - 70 - 
Residue from Distillation 
to 360°C, Volume % by 
difference  test on residue 
from distillation      55 - 65 - 75 - 80 - 
Tests on residue from distillation:  
Penetration @25deg 
C,100g 5s, (0.1 mm)      80 120 80 120 80 120 80 120 ASTM D5 / AASHTO T49  
Viscosity at 60°C, Pa · s                        
Ductility at 25°C      100 - 100 - 100 - 100 - ASTM D113 / AASHTO T51  
Solubility in 
trichloroethylene or n -
Propyl Bromide      99 - 99 - 99 - 99 - ASTM D2402 ASTM D7553 / AASHTO T44  
Water by volume      - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 ASTM D95 / AASHTO T55  
 
  
  
COMMITTEE DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD                                        DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
                                                                                                                               
©EAC 201 9 – All rights reserved                                                                                                                                        3 
  
Table 2 — Cutback Bitumen —medium  curing (MC) grades  
                         Requirements  
Property  Type and grade designation  
Test method  MC-30 MC-70 MC-250 MC-800 MC-3000  
Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max 
Kinematic viscosity @ 60°C,cSt  30 60 70 140 250 500 800 1600  3000  6000  ASTM D2170 / AASHTO T201  
Flash Point ( Tag Open - Cup), °C  38 - 38 - 65.5 - 65.5 - 65.5 - ASTM D1310 / AASHTO T79  
   Distillate to 360°C  
ASTM D402 / AASHTO T55  to 190°C  - - - - - - - - - - 
to 225°C  - 25 - 20 - 10 - - - - 
to 260°C  40 70 20 60 15 55 - 35 - 15 
to 315°C  75 93 65 90 60 87 45 80 15 75 
Residue from Distillation to 360°C, Volume % by 
difference test on residue from distillation  50 - 55 - 67 - 75 - 80 - 
Tests on residue from distillation:  
Penetration @25deg C,100g 5s, (0.1 mm)  120 250 120 250 120 250 120 250 120 250 ASTM D5 /  AASHTO T49  
Viscosity at 60°C, Pa · s  30 120 30 120 30 120 30 120 30 120 ASTM D2170 / AASHTO T201  
Ductility at 25°C  100 - 100 - 100 - 100 - 100 - ASTM D113 / AASHTO T51  
Solubility in trichloroethylene or n -Propyl Bromide  99 - 99 - 99 - 99 - 99 - ASTM D2402 /ASTM D7553 / AASHTO 
T44 
Water by volume  - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 - 0.2 ASTM D95 / AASHTO T55  
 
NOTE 1  — If the ductility at 25 °C is less than 100, the material will be acceptable if its ductility at 15 °C is more than 100.  
  
  
COMMITTEE DRAFT EAST AFRICAN STANDARD                                        DEAS 982 -2: 2019  
                                                                                                                               
©EAC 201 9 – All rights reserved                                                                                                                                        4 
 Table 3 — Cutback bitumen -slow curing (SC) grades  
                      Requirements  
Property  Type and grade designation  
Test method    SC-70 SC-250 SC-800 SC-3000  
Mi
n Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max 
Kinematic viscosity @ 60°C,cSt      70 140 250 500 800 1600  3000  6000  ASTM D2170 / AASHTO T201  
Flash Point ( Cleaveland Tag Open - Cup), °C      66 - 79   93   107   ASTM D1310 / AASHTO T79  
  Distillate to 360°C  
ASTM D402 / AASHTO T55  Residue from Distillation to 360°C, Volume % by diffrence 
test on residue from distillation      10 30 4 20 2 12   5 
Kinematic viscosity on distillation residue at 60°C, cSt      400 700 800 10000  2000  16000  4000  35000  ASTM D2170 / AASHTO T201  
Asphalt Redisue                        
Residue of 100 penetration, %      50   60   70   80   ASTM D5 / AASHTO T49  
Ductility of 100 penetration residue at 25°C, cm      100 - 100 - 100 - 100 - ASTM D113 / AASHTO T51  
Solubility in trichloroethylene or n -Propyl Bromid      99 - 99 - 99 - 99 - ASTM D2402 ASTM D7553 / AASHTO T44  
Water, %      - 0.5 - 0.5 - 0.5 - 0.5 ASTM D95 / AASHTO T55   
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 5 Packaging and marking    
  
5.1 Packaging    
    
The condition of each drum and tanker into which the penetration grade bitumen is packed shall be such 
that it will have no detrimental effect on the quality of the product during normal transport and storage.  
 
5.1   Marking     
    
The following information shall appear in legible and indelible marking on each drum or, when the bitumen 
is supplied in tankers, on the relevant consignment documents:   
 
a) the manufacturer's identification;  
b) a description of the contents;  
 
c) the type and grade designation;  
 
d) manufacture date ; 
 
e) the batch identification;  
 
f) the quantity; and     
 
g) when relevant, that the product contains cracked bitumen.   
 
6 Sampling and compliance  
 
6.1 General      
  
This clause applies to the sampling for inspection and testing before acceptance or rejection of  single lots 
(consignments) in cases where no information about the implementation of quality control or testing 
during manufacture is available to help in assessing the quality of the lot. It is also used as the procedure 
for adjudicating in cases of dispute.   
    
6.2  Sampling    
    
The relevant sampling procedure as described  in ASTM D140 shall be applied in determining whether a 
lot complies with the appropriate requirements of this East African Standard. The samples so drawn shall 
be deemed to represent the lot.   
  
6.3 Compliance    
     
The lot shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this East African Standard if, after inspection 
and testing, the sample taken in accordance with 6.2 is found to comply with all the appropriate 
requirements of this East African Standard.   
 
    
7 Test methods  
 
Use the methods listed in either table 1 , 2 or 3 depending on the type of cutback you are dealing with .  
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Annex A   
(informative)   
    
Notes to purchasers   
    
A.1 The following requirement shall be specified   in tender invitations and in each order or contract: the 
grade designation (see 4.3.1)    
  
A.2 The following requirement shall be agreed upon between the purchaser and the supplier when 
relevant, the supply of a special viscosity grade (see 4.3.2)   
     
A.3 Information  on currently valid national and international standards can be obtained from the NSBs 
Office .  
 
    
© EAC 201 9 – All rights reserved