Historically the creation of 'standards' to control the use of pipe products in specific applications has been a matter for national standardisation bodies such as BSI (British Standards Organisation) in the UK and DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) in Germany. More recently, the European Union Competition Commission has expressed concerns that national standards could be a restriction to trade and have therefore promoted the harmonisation of national standards into EN (European Normalisation) and ISO (International Standards Organisation) standards. Although this process has not yet been completed for piping systems in hot and cold water applications, it can be expected that in future, the performance of piping systems will be measured and approved according to EN and/or ISO standards.
In due course therefore, accreditation bodies in individual European countries such as DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas und Wasserfaches) in Germany, KIWA (Keuringinstituut voor wasserleidingartikelen) in the Netherlands, and BSI (British Standards Organisation) in the UK will grant approvals based on pipe performance measured against these EN/ISO standards.

With respect to determining the suitability of Polybutene-1 piping systems for hot and cold water applications, the following standards are applicable. In some cases the ISO standards have been or are in the process of being accepted as EN standards. In such instances, the ISO number is followed by (EN).

ISO 1167

ISO 1167-1 Thermoplastics pipes, fittings and assemblies for the conveyance of fluids -- Determination of the resistance to internal pressure -- Part 1: General method

ISO 1167-2 Thermoplastics pipes, fittings and assemblies for the conveyance of fluids -- Determination of the resistance to internal pressure -- Part 2: Preparation of pipe test pieces

ISO 1167-3 Thermoplastics pipes, fittings and assemblies for the conveyance of fluids -- Determination of the resistance to internal pressure -- Part 3: Preparation of components

ISO 1167-4 Thermoplastics pipes, fittings and assemblies for the conveyance of fluids -- Determination of the resistance to internal pressure -- Part 4: Preparation of assemblies
 

ISO 12230

Polybutene (PB) pipes - Effect of time and temperature on the expected strength This standard provides Arrhenius-type reference lines illustrating the maximum allowable wall stress at a given time and temperature. Equations with parameters describing these reference lines can be used when applying Miner’s rule when a profile with more than one temperature or pressure is to be applied.
 

ISO 10508

Thermoplastic pipes and fittings for hot and cold water systems Performance requirements are based on specific temperature profiles, representative for various hot water applications using Miner's rule ISO 13760. Test methods for thermal cycling, cyclic pressure shock, resistance to pullout of assembled joints and to bending of joints are now given in separate standards (ISO 19892, ISO 19893 and EN 12294). The reference lines for Polybutene-1 as given in ISO 12230 are applicable.
 

ISO 9080 (EN)

Plastics piping and ducting systems - Determination of long-term hydrostatic strength of thermoplastics materials in pipe form by extrapolation This standard describes a method for the statistical treatment of burst stress failure (measured according to ISO 1167) to obtain the expected strength and its standard deviation at different values of time and temperature by extrapolation. The calculations are very complicated necessitating the use of an approved computer programme In practice, problems have occurred with the detection of a knee; this is being handled in working group ISO TC138/SC 5/WG 10. It will be possible to adhere less strictly to the prescribed procedures.
 

Thermoplastics materials for pipes and fittings for pressure applications – Classification and designation – Overall service (design) coefficient Classifies polymers on the basis of the lower confidence limits of extrapolated wall strength data, rounded down to the next smaller value of a Renard series (ISO 497) to get the MRS value, usually at 20° C/50 years and gives minimum design coefficients by which the stress values are reduced. Application standards may, and sometimes should, apply larger factors. The standard is being extended to include CRS (categorized required strength, like MRS but at a specified temperature, e.g. 70° C) and to better define the design coefficient.
 

ISO 13760 (EN)

Plastic pipes for the conveyance of fluids under pressure - Miner's rule - Calculation method for cumulative damage When pipes are subjected to varying temperature and/or pressure profiles, the dimensioning of the system cannot be done using only a set of performance reference lines. Miner's rule is a method of combining the effect of varying conditions into a single value for the maximum allowable wall stress. The standard contains an example of the calculation
 

ISO 15876 (EN)

(Formerly known as EN 12319) Plastic piping systems for hot and cold water installation - Polybutylene (PB) A comprehensive systems standard applicable to all Polybutene-1 piping systems covering all aspects of specification and performance including water quality testing, fitness for purpose, installation practice and ongoing conformity. Performance assessment is based on the reference lines of Polybutene-1 (ISO 12230) temperature profiles and other requirements of ISO 10508
 

The standards described above are considered to be the main standards used in determining the mechanical long-term suitability of Polybutene-1 piping systems for hot and cold water applications. There are however many other standards which may be utilised to determine more specific performance associated with the application of Polybutene-1 piping systems.

Additional Polybutene-1 related standards with brief explanations
  

ISO 3

Quantities and units - Part 0: General principles Rules for using the ISO system of treating quantities, units, equations, symbols, etc, including the use of prefixes like mega and nano, the use of italics and a guide to the rounding of numbers in an informative annex
 

ISO 497

Guide to the choice of series of preferred numbers and of series containing more rounded values of preferred numbers Listing the so-called Renard numbers, a geometrical series used, i.e. for pipe dimensions, MRS-values, etc.
 

ISO 1133

Determination of the melt mass-flow rate (MFR) and the melt volume-flow rate (MVR) of thermoplastics
 

ISO 2505

Thermoplastics pipes - Longitudinal reversion - Test methods and parameters Shrinkage on heating is measured and may be used as an indication of frozen-in stresses
 

ISO 6259

ISO 6259-1 Thermoplastics pipes -- Determination of tensile properties -- Part 1: General test method
ISO 6259-3 Thermoplastics pipes -- Determination of tensile properties -- Part 3: Polyolefin pipes
 

ISO 8986

Plastics - Polybutene (PB) moulding and extrusion materials - Part 1: Designation system and basis for specification; Part 2: preparation of test specimens and determination of properties Deals with general properties of PB, such as melt flow rate and oxidation induction time, not specifically applicable to pipe extrusion grades
 

ISO 11357

Plastics - Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) - Part 6: determination of oxidation induction time The oxidation induction time (OIT) is to be used for checking the concentration of stabilizers and the conditions for fusion. It is definitely not to be used for predicting operating life at much lower temperatures. Adaptation to pipes is under discussion.
 

ISO 11922

Thermoplastics pipes for the conveyance of fluids - Dimensions and tolerances
 

ISO 19892

Pressure cycling test for hot water systems (= EN 12295). Referred to in ISO 15876
 

ISO 19893

Temperature cycling test for hot water systems (= EN 12293). Referred to in ISO 15876
 

Plastics piping and ducting systems - Plastics pipes and fittings - Measurement of dimensions and visual inspection of surfaces
 

EN 496

Plastics piping and ducting systems - Plastics pipes and fittings - Measurement of dimensions and visual inspection of surfaces
 

EN 713

Plastics piping systems - Mechanical joints between fittings and polyolefin pressure pipes - Test method for leak-tightness under internal pressure of assemblies subjected to bending
 

EN 743

Plastics piping and ducting systems - Thermoplastics pipes - Determination of the longitudinal reversion
 

EN 921

Plastics piping systems - Thermoplastics pipes - Determination of resistance to internal pressure at constant temperature Similar (not identical) to EN ISO 1167
 

EN 1264-4

Floor heating - Systems and components - Part 4: Installation Contains requirements on wall thickness of PB pipes for floor heating
 

EN 12107

Plastics piping systems - Injection-moulded thermoplastics fittings, valves and ancillary equipment - Determination of long-term hydrostatic strength of thermoplastics materials used for injection-moulded piping components Similar (not identical) to EN ISO 1167 (revision being prepared)
 

EN 12293

Plastics piping systems - Thermoplastics pipes and fittings for hot and cold water - Method of test for the resistance of piping systems to thermal cycling Adopted by ISO as ISO CD 19893; Referred to in EN ISO 15876
 

EN 12294

Plastics piping systems for hot and cold water - Method of test for leak-tightness under vacuum Referred to in EN ISO 15876
 

EN 12295

Plastics piping systems - Thermoplastics pipes and fittings for hot and cold water - Method of test for resistance of piping systems under pressure cycling Adopted by ISO as ISO CD 19892; Referred to in EN ISO 15876r