This European Standard provides a framework for the specification of hard industrial bitumens used mainly in flooring, varnishes, mineral rubber, roofing and mastic. Within Europe several types of hard industrial bitumen are used, and dependent upon traditional practices, different grades may be used for the same purpose. The framework given in this European standard provides a basis for quality agreements to be established between supplier and client. The hard industrial bitumen products are graded by the limits of the ring and ball softening point values, expressed as multiples of 5, and are characterised by an H in front of the values.