What Is Pipe?
Pipe tests are a set of experiments that verify carrier and transmission function. Internal pressure resistance and long-term hydrostatic behavior in pressure pipes (EN ISO 1167), ring rigidity and flexibility in wastewater pipes (EN ISO 9969, EN ISO 13968), impact resistance in all pipes, dimensional control and sealing at joints are measured.
Purpose of Pipe
The aim is to show that the pipe withstands the service pressure, soil load and installation conditions and maintains its tightness.
Which Products Is Pipe Applied To?
- PVC-U, PE and PP wastewater pipes
- PE and PP-R drinking water and plumbing pipes
- Composite and multilayer pipes
- Concrete and boulder pipes
- Fittings and seals
In Which Sectors Is Pipe Used?
Standards Related to Pipe
- TS EN ISO 1167-1…-4 (resistance to internal pressure)
- TS EN ISO 9969 (determination of ring stiffness)
- TS EN ISO 13968 (ring flexibility)
- TS EN 744 / EN ISO 3127 (darbe direnci)
- TS EN 1401-1 (PVC-U underground waste water pipes)
- TS EN 12201 series (PE water pipes)
- TS EN ISO 13844/13845 (joint sealing with elastomer gasket)
Pipe Conditions
- Internal pressure test
- At defined temperature, pressure and time combinations
- Ring stiffness
- Calculated from the measured force at a defined diameter change rate
- Darbe deneyi
- Standard defined drop height and low temperature
- Conditioning
- Samples are brought to equilibrium at the experimental temperature.
Equipment for Pipe
- Internal pressure test baths and pressure units
- Ring stiffness press
- Falling weight impact mechanism and cooling cabinet
- Leak tightness test equipment
- Dimension and wall thickness measurement systems
Sample Requirements for Pipe
- Pipe samples in number and length defined in the standard
- Pipe material, diameter, SDR/SN class must be declared
- Gaskets and additional parts should be sent for additional sealing testing.
- Samples must be undamaged and representative of the production batch.
Duration of Pipe
Dimension, ring stiffness and impact tests take a short time. Internal pressure tests are carried out for periods defined in the standard (from short-term stages to very long-term stages) and determine the total schedule.
Pipe Procedure
- 1Size and wall thickness are measured.
- 2Samples are conditioned at the test temperature.
- 3Internal pressure tests are applied at defined pressures and times.
- 4Ring stiffness and flexibility are measured.
- 5The impact test is performed at low temperature.
- 6Leaking tests are carried out at the joints.
Pipe Acceptance Criteria
Product standards (EN 1401, EN 12201 etc.) define dimensional tolerances, ring stiffness classes (SN), pressure classes and impact criteria. The required class is determined in the project according to the burial depth, traffic load and service pressure. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.
Evaluation of Results
The ring stiffness class determines the behavior of the pipe under the ground: the pipe with an insufficient class selected becomes oval over time and the tightness is lost at the joints. In internal pressure tests, short-term results do not guarantee long-term behavior; That's why standards stipulate different time-temperature levels.
Pipe Report
- Pipe material, diameter, wall thickness and class
- Applied standards
- Size measurement results
- Internal pressure test conditions and results
- Ring stiffness and flexibility values
- Impact and sealing results
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011
- (EU) 2020/2184 (for drinking water contact products)
Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Pipe test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.
What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.
The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.
Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.
Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.
Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.
Method groups in this field
Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.
Commonly confused in this field
- REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
- A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
- A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
- A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
- ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.
Which decisions these results support
- Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
- Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
- On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
- Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
- Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Pipe
Is additional analysis required in the drinking water pipe?
It is necessary. In addition to mechanical tests, the health suitability of the material in contact with water (material migration, odor and taste, microbial growth) is also evaluated; (EU) 2020/2184 foresees harmonization at EU level in this area.
How should we choose the SN class?
The burial depth is determined by the backfill material, compaction quality and overhead traffic load. Class selection should not be made without a project account; Insufficient grade will produce deformation and leakage in the long run.