The laboratory works on three product families — polyolefin pipes and fittings from 16 to 630 mm, polyethylene pipe, and unplasticized PVC pipe — performing 16 tests in total, each to a named national and international method standard. The table gives every test with its equipment range and reference.
| Product | Test | Applicable range | Method (reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyolefin pipes and fittings, 16 to 630 mm | Determination of dimensions | OD up to 850 mm, wall up to 100 mm | INSO 2412ISO 3126 |
| Determination of tensile properties | up to 20 kN, at 25, 50 and 100 mm/min | INSO 17140-1INSO 17140-3ISO 6259-1ISO 6259-3 | |
| Determination of resistance to internal pressure | up to 100 bar | ISIRI 12181-1ISIRI 12181-2ISO 1167-1ISO 1167-2 | |
| Determination of longitudinal reversion | — | INSO 17614ISO 2505 | |
| Determination of ring stiffness | up to 900 kgf | INSO 11436ISO 9969 | |
| Determination of melt mass-flow rate (MFR) | — | INSO 6980-1ISO 1133-1 | |
| Determination of oxidation induction time (OIT) | up to 232 °C | INSO 7186-6ISO 11357-6 | |
| Determination of the density of non-cellular plastics (Method A) | ρ ≥ 0.79 g/cm³ | INSO 7090-1 (Method A)ISO 1183-1 | |
| Determination of pendulum impact strength by the Charpy method | up to 15 J | ISIRI 12828-1ISIRI 12828-2ISO 9854-1ISO 9854-2 | |
| Polyethylene (PE) pipes | Determination of carbon black content by calcination and pyrolysis | — | INSO 19990ISO 6964 |
| Assessment of the degree of pigment or carbon black dispersion | — | INSO 20059ISO 18553 | |
| Susceptibility to environmental stress cracking induced by insert-type fittings | — | ISIRI 8988ISO 8796 | |
| Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) pipes | Resistance to external blows by the round-the-clock method | OD up to 250 mm, drop height up to 2 m, at 0 °C | INSO 22996ISO 3127 |
| Vicat softening temperature | — | INSO 6982ISO 2507 | |
| Determination of resistance to dichloromethane (DCMT) | — | ISIRI 10609EN 580 | |
| Determination of ash | — | ISIRI 10237-5 |
What each test catches
The list is not arbitrary; each test targets a specific failure. Dimensional measurement and resistance to internal pressure check that the pipe matches the pressure class it claims. MFR and density show the raw material is what it was said to be. Carbon black content and dispersion only mean something together — black that is not evenly dispersed does not protect the pipe against UV even at the right percentage. OIT measures the thermal stability of the compound and therefore its long-term life, and longitudinal reversion shows whether extrusion stresses were properly relieved or are still locked in the pipe.
What to ask of a test report
For any delivery, request the test report for that production batch. A report giving only the test name and the word "pass" cannot be assessed; it needs the method (standard number), the test conditions and the numerical result.