Registrations for the 2026 program will open Wednesday 18 February 2026
AfPA and its members have been conducting proficiency testing since 2004. Proficiency testing involves the determination of laboratory performance by means of interlaboratory comparisons. AfPA proficiency testing involves participating laboratories to undertake selected asphalt, bitumen and/or aggregate tests, and their results are compared to those of other participating laboratories. Apart from the benefits to individual laboratories in terms of improving consistency, the results have enabled AfPA to propose improvements to test methods nationally. The 2026 round will again be a national undertaking, providing all AfPA members and stakeholders the opportunity to be part of the industry drive to continually improve consistency and confidence in test results. Testing in this round will cover the below streams. All applicable asphalt, RAP, binder and aggregate samples will be provided for the testing.
- Stream 1 – Asphalt Testing
- Stream 2 – Bitumen Testing
- Stream 3 – Coarse Aggregates
- Stream 4 – Resilient Modulus
- Stream 5 – Wheel Tracking
- Stream 6 – Moisture sensitivity (TSR)
- Stream 7 – Polymer Modified Binder Testing
- Stream 8 – Fine Aggregate and Filler
- Stream 9 – RAP Binder Recovery
- Stream 10 – Superpave Gyratory Compaction
- Stream 11 – Hamburg Wheel Tracking
Key Dates:
- Registrations open : Wednesday 18 February
- Registrations close : Wednesday 18 March
- Testing period: May 2026 – July 2026. Final data submission date to be confirmed. Note: NO EXTENSIONS or changes to data will be granted after final submission date has passed.
- Draft report release: September 2026
- Final results and report released: October 2026
*Dates subject to change
Test Details
- 1. Asphalt Testing
- Bitumen content and grading AS/NZS 2891.3.1, or AS/NZS 2891.3.3
- Max density AS/NZS 2891.7.1
- Marshall compaction AS/NZS 2891.5
- Marshall Stability and flow AS/NZS 2891.5
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 2. Bitumen Testing
- Determine viscosity using DSR, ATM-T192
- Capillary Viscosity at 60 °C of bitumen sample, AS/NZS 2341.2
- Penetration at 25 °C, AS/NZS 2341.12
- Dynamic Viscosity using a Rotational Viscometer at 135 °C AS/NZS 2341.4
- Capillary Viscosity at 60 °C after RTFO AS/NZS 2341.10 or ASTM D2872 and AS/NZS 2341.2
- Viscosity at 60 °C, % of Original
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 3. Coarse Aggregates
- Particle density and water absorption AS1141.6.1 or AS1141.6.2
- Particle Size Distribution AS1141.11.1
- Average least dimension (ALD) nominal 10 mm and greater direct measurement AS 1141.20.1
- Average least dimension (ALD) calculation by nomograph AS1141.20.3
- Flakiness Index AS1141.15
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 4. Resilient Modulus
- Maximum Density AS/NZS 2891.13.1 (maximum density provided)
- Maximum Density AS/NZS 2891.13.1
- Bulk Density AS/NZS 2891.9.2 (pre-saturation)
- Resilient Modulus AS/NZS 2891.13.2 (pre-saturation)
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 5. Wheel Tracking
- Maximum Density AS/NZS 2891.13.1 (maximum density provided)
- Maximum Density AS 2891.7.1
- Bulk Density AS/NZS 2891.9.2 (pre-saturation)
- Marshall Stability and flow AS/NZS 2891.5
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 6. Moisture Sensitivity (TSR)
- Maximum Density AS/NZS 2891.13.1 (maximum density provided)
- Stripping Potential – TSR ATM-232
- Procedure to prepare Gyratory briquettes AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk Density AS/NZS 2891.9.2 (pre-saturation)
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 7. Polymer Modified Binder
- Viscosity Brookfield AS/NZS 2341.4
- Torsional recovery ATM-122
- Softening point AGPT/T131 (AS2341.18)
- Stress ratio AGPT/T125
- Consistency and stiffness AGPT/T121
- Segregation AGPT/T108
- Mass change or Loss on heating after RTFO ATM-103
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 8. Fine Aggregate and Filler
- Particle density and water absorption AS 1141.5
- Particle Density and Voids in Dry Compacted Filler Both Test Methods (AS/NZS 1141.7, AS/NZS 1141.7)
- Methylene Blue Value AS 1141.66 or RMS T659
- Marshall Stability and flow AS/NZS 2891.5
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 9. RAP Binder Recovery
- Binder extraction ATM-107, ASTM D5404, or ASTM D1856
- Viscosity of RAP binder using DSR ATM-192
- Capillary Viscosity at 25°C AS/NZS 2341.2
- Marshall Stability and flow AS/NZS 2891.5
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 10. Superpave Gyratory compaction
- Superpave Gyratory compaction AGPT-T212-21
(NEW 2026) - Max density AS/NZS 2891.7.1
- Marshall compaction AS/NZS 2891.5
- Marshall Stability and flow AS/NZS 2891.5
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
- 11. Hamburg Wheel Tracking
- Hamburg Wheel Tracking (slabs & cores)- AASHTO T324
(NEW 2026) - Max density AS/NZS 2891.7.1
- Marshall compaction AS/NZS 2891.5
- Marshall Stability and flow AS/NZS 2891.5
- Gyratory compaction AS/NZS 2891.2.2
- Bulk density (presaturation) AS/NZS 2891.9.2
- Density of Bitumen using a Density Bottle (partial filling method) AS 2341.7
- Storage Stability ATM-104
- Consistency 6% using the DSR ATM-120 (contact AfPA for test method)
- Multiple Stress Creep Recovery
AASHTO T350-19
(NEW 2026)
How to Order Samples
*** M stands for Member & NM stands for Non-Member in the payment form.
To register, please select the number of samples per stream you would like to receive using the form below. Registrations will be confirmed once payment is received. Please ensure that the contact details submitted are those for the person responsible for receiving samples and submission of data.
The sample prices below include:
– Quantity of material required to complete 1 suite of tests for given stream
– Shipping within Australia. If you are located outside Australia and would like to place an order, please contact proficiency@afpa.asn.au and indicate streams of interest and number of samples required.