Picture 1: Water absorption in order to define the foam quality

Quality testing with documentation is recommended during production or when laying plastic bonded pipes. The Fernwärme-Forschungsinstitut with its experience of more than 24 years is a neutral expert who offers pragmatic and cost conscious testing of product quality on the latest standard in order to avoid faults in time which may become very costly at a later stage.

Therefore, a representative choice of samples of each plastic bonded pipe of each production should undergo a quality testing according to the valid standards (EN 253, EN 448, EN 488, EN 489 as well as the guide line FW 401).

Main test conditions:

For an optimal solution the following procedure is recommended:

1. Selection and marking of the test specimen, which are provided by the manufacture, should be carried out by a qualified person or by the FFI team.

2. Two pipe ends of a min. 1,5 m length each from each pipe are needed.

3. For tests on formed components, armatures, and bows the whole object is needed as test specimen.

4. The chosen and marked test specimens together with all the necessary information should either be delivered to the FFI or may be collected by the FFI.

5. First inspection and measurement of the specific characteristics of the test specimens (foam quality and compound quality) is carried out which is followed by the requested quality testing.

6. The results will be delivered by letter, fax or e-mail. Noticeable findings will be passed on, and if necessary, further procedures will be recommended. A detailed result statement (report with pictures) and a test certificate may be issued on request.

Results:

The standard requirements of the foam quality in respect to 

• water absorption (picture 1),

• size of the cells (picture 2), 

• pressure resistance (picture 3) and

• foam density are determined (picture 4).

For test samples, which are delivered to the Institute before 11.00 a.m., a result is available at the same day.

Furthermore, on request the requirements of the compound quality in connection with the 

• axial shear density (picture 5) can be tested, as well as the

• coaxial tolerance (picture 6).

The geometric tolerances of the samples are tested, especially the

• wall thickness of the medium pipe / PE-jacket (picture 7) and the 

• positioning of the leak warning wires (picture 8).