EN 13655:2018

Plastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use, for use in agriculture and horticulture

This document specifies the requirements related to dimensional, mechanical, optical and thermal characteristics of thermoplastic films for mulching applications in agriculture and horticulture.
These mulch films are intended to be removed after use and not incorporated in the soil.
These mulch films are not intended to be used for soil disinfection by fumigation. Films for this application are in the scope of prEN 17098-1[1].
It specifies a classification for durability of mulching films and the test methods referred to in this document.
This document is applicable to thermoplastic mulch films, used for agriculture and horticulture in Europe, based on polyethylene and/or ethylene copolymers, of the following types:
-   transparent films;
-   black films;
-   reflective films (e.g. white films, black/white films and black/silver films);
-   films of other colour(s) for weed control (e.g. green, brown).
This document also defines installation, use and removal conditions of mulch films.
NOTE   Mulch films are considered as highly contaminated by soil and vegetal residues: the observed rates (or levels) of contamination of mulch films can vary from 70 % to 90 %. Therefore the film thickness is a key factor on the rate of contamination, the thinnest films (e.g. less than 25 µm) will be the mostly contaminated, difficult, expensive to remove, recover and recycle.

Kunstoffe - Nach Gebrauch rückbaubare thermoplastische Mulchfolien für den Einsatz in Landwirtschaft und im Gartenbau

Diese Europäische Norm legt die Anforderungen in Bezug auf die Maßeigenschaften sowie die mechanischen, optischen und thermischen Merkmale thermoplastischer Folien für Mulchanwendungen in der Landwirtschaft und im Gartenbau fest.
Diese Mulchfolien sollen nach der Nutzung entfernt werden und werden nicht in den Boden eingearbeitet.
Sie legt eine Klassifikation bezüglich der Beständigkeit von Mulchfolien und der in diesem Dokument in Bezug genommenen Prüfverfahren fest.
Diese Europäische Norm gilt für thermoplastische Mulchfolien der folgenden Typen, die aus Polyethylen und/oder Ethylen-Copolymeren bestehen und in Europa in der Landwirtschaft und im Gartenbau angewendet werden:
-   transparente Folien;
-   schwarze Folien;
-   reflektierende Folien (z. B. weiße Folien, schwarz/weiße Folien und schwarz/silberne Folien);
-   Folien in anderen Farben zur Unkrautbekämpfung (z. B. grün, braun).
Darüber hinaus legt diese Europäische Norm Bedingungen für die Anbringung, Anwendung und Entfernung von Mulchfolien fest.
ANMERKUNG   Mulchfolien werden als stark durch Erd- und Pflanzenrückstände kontaminiert betrachtet: die beobachteten Niveaus (oder Pegel) können zwischen 70 % und 90 % variieren. Daher ist die Foliendicke ein wichtiger Faktor für das Kontaminationsniveau; die dünnsten Folien (d. h. weniger als 25 μm) werden die am höchsten kontaminierten sein und ihr Rückbau, ihre Rückgewinnung und ihr Recycling wird kompliziert und teuer sein.

Plastiques - Films de paillage thermoplastiques récupérables après usage, pour utilisation en agriculture et horticulture

Le présent document spécifie les exigences relatives aux caractéristiques dimensionnelles, mécaniques, optiques et thermiques des films thermoplastiques à utiliser pour les applications de paillage en agriculture et en horticulture.
Ces films de paillage sont destinés à être retirés après utilisation et ne sont pas incorporés dans le sol.
Ces films de paillage ne sont pas destinés à être utilisés pour la désinfection des sols par fumigation. Les films destinés à cette application sont dans le domaine d’application du EN 17098 1[1].
Elle définit une classification pour la durabilité des films de paillage et les méthodes d’essai auxquelles il est fait référence dans le présent document.
Le présent document est applicable aux films de paillage thermoplastiques utilisés en agriculture et en horticulture en Europe, à base de polyéthylène et/ou de copolymères d’éthylène, des types suivants :
-   films transparents ;
-   films noirs ;
-   films réfléchissants (par exemple films blancs, films noirs/blancs et films noirs/argentés) ;
-   films d’autre(s) couleur(s) pour le contrôle des mauvaises herbes (par exemple verts, marrons).
Le présent document définit également les conditions de mise en œuvre, d’utilisation et d’élimination des films de paillage.
NOTE   Les films de paillage sont considérés comme hautement contaminés par le sol et les résidus végétaux : les taux (ou niveaux) de contamination observés dans les films de paillage peuvent varier entre 70 % et 90 %. Par conséquent, l’épaisseur du film est un facteur clé pour le taux de contamination. Les films les plus minces (par exemple moins de 25 µm) seront les plus contaminés et les plus difficiles et coûteux à retirer, à récupérer et à recycler.

Polimerni materiali - Termoplastične folije za mulčenje, primerne za nadaljnjo predelavo, za uporabo v kmetijstvu in vrtnarstvu

Ta evropski standard določa zahteve v zvezi z dimenzionalnimi, mehanskimi, optičnimi in toplotnimi značilnostmi plastomernih folij za mulčenje v kmetijstvu in vrtnarstvu.
Te folije za mulčenje je treba po uporabi odstraniti in jih ne zmešati v zemljino.
Določa razvrstitev za trajnost folij za mulčenje in preskusne metode iz tega dokumenta.
Ta evropski standard se uporablja za plastomerne folije za mulčenje, ki se v Evropi uporabljajo v kmetijstvu in vrtnarstvu, in so narejene iz polietilenskih in/ali etilenskih kopolimerov naslednjih tipov:
– prosojne folije,
– črni filmi,
– odsevne folije (npr. bele folije, črno/bele folije in črno/srebrni filmi),
– filmi drugih barv za nadzor plevela (npr. zeleni, rjavi).
Ta evropski standard določa tudi namestitev, uporabo in pogoje odstranjevanja folij za mulčenje.
OPOMBA Folije za mulčenje veljajo za zelo onesnažene z zemljino in rastlinskimi ostanki: ugotovljene stopnje (ali ravni) onesnaženja folij za mulčenje so v razponu od 70 % do 90 %. Zato je debelina folije ključen dejavnik pri stopnji onesnaženja. Najtanjše folije (npr. tanjše od 25 µm) bodo najbolj onesnažene, njihovo odstranjevanje obnavljanje in recikliranje pa bo težavno in drago.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 27-Feb-2018
• Withdrawal Date: 22-Sep-2025
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• ICS: 83.140.20 - Laminated sheets
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 249 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 249/WG 7 - Thermoplastic films for use in agriculture
• Current Stage: 9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
• Start Date: 20-Aug-2025
• Completion Date: 23-Sep-2025
• Ref Project: SIST EN 13655:2018 - Plastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use, for use in agriculture and horticulture

Relations

• Replaces: EN 13655:2002 - Plastics - Mulching thermoplastic films for use in agriculture and horticulture
• Effective Date: 07-Mar-2018
• Replaced By: EN 13655:2025 - Plastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use, for use in agriculture and horticulture
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Kunstoffe - Nach Gebrauch abnehmbare thermoplastische Mulchfolien für den Einsatz in Landwirtschaft und im GartenbauPlastiques - Films de paillage thermoplastiques récupérables après usage, pour utilisation en agriculture et horticulturePlastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use, for use in agriculture and horticulture83.140.10Filmi in folijeFilms and sheets65.040.30Rastlinjaki in druge napraveGreenhouses and other installationsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 13655:2018SIST EN 13655:2018en,fr,de01-maj-2018SIST EN 13655:2018SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 13655:20031DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 13655
February
t r s z ICS
z uä s v rä s r Supersedes EN
s u x w wã t r r tEnglish Version
Plastics æ Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after useá for use in agriculture and horticulture Plastiques æ Films de paillage thermoplastiques récupérables après usageá pour utilisation en agriculture et horticulture
Kunstoffe æ Nach Gebrauch abnehmbare thermoplastische Mulchfolien für den Einsatz in Landwirtschaft und im Gartenbau This European Standard was approved by CEN on
s r December
t r s yä
egulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alterationä Upætoædate lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN memberä
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CENæCENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versionsä
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austriaá Belgiumá Bulgariaá Croatiaá Cyprusá Czech Republicá Denmarká Estoniaá Finlandá Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedoniaá Franceá Germanyá Greeceá Hungaryá Icelandá Irelandá Italyá Latviaá Lithuaniaá Luxembourgá Maltaá Netherlandsá Norwayá Polandá Portugalá Romaniaá Serbiaá Slovakiaá Sloveniaá Spainá Swedená Switzerlandá Turkey and United Kingdomä
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Rue de la Science 23,
B-1040 Brussels
t r s z CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Membersä Refä Noä EN
s u x w wã t r s z ESIST EN 13655:2018

Exposure to other light sources . 19 A.1 Medium pressure mercury vapour lamps . 19 A.1.1 Durability classification . 19 A.1.2 Exposure to medium pressure mercury vapour lamps . 19 A.1.3 Procedure . 21 A.1.4 Calculation and expression of results . 21 A.2 Exposure to fluorescent UV lamps . 21 A.2.1 Durability classification . 21 A.2.2 Exposure to fluorescent UV lamps . 21 A.2.3 Procedure . 22 A.2.4 Calculation and expression of results . 22 Annex B (informative)
Numerical correlation between durations of mulching films exposed to artificial weathering and a natural exposure . 23 B.1 Exposure to xenon-arc lamps . 23 B.2 Exposure to medium pressure mercury vapour lamps . 24 B.3 Exposure to fluorescent UV lamps . 24 Annex C (normative)
Determination of solar reflectance . 25 C.1 Principle . 25 C.2 Terms and definitions . 25 C.3 Apparatus . 25 C.3.1 General . 25 C.3.2 Test specimens . 26 C.3.3 Procedure . 26 C.3.4 Calculation of the solar reflectance Rs . 26 Annex D (normative)
Determination of the relative light transmission . 28 D.1 Principle . 28 D.2 Apparatus . 28 D.3 Procedure . 28 D.4 Expression of results . 28 Annex E (informative)
Guidance for conditions for installation, use and removal of mulch
films . 29 E.1 Main functions of mulch films . 29 E.2 Factors for degradability . 29 E.3 Conditions for installation, use and removal . 29 E.3.1 Installation instructions . 29 E.3.2 Durability of mulching films . 30 E.4 Removal instructions . 30 Bibliography . 31
the standard is only applicable to thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use; —
modification of the minimum nominal thickness of the mulch films which conform to this standard, 20 µm instead of 10 µm; — the types of mulch films have been redefined; — the Table 2-Classification according to artificial weathering, has been modified; — the paragraphs for requirements, test methods, acceptance, storage and handling have been drafted in a new frame; — the paragraphs on functions and factors of degradability, instructions disposal of mulch films and end-of-life, have been added. According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. SIST EN 13655:2018

IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp 3.1 width total width of a film when laid flat Note 1 to entry: It is expressed in millimetres (mm). 3.2 nominal width width of a film, as declared by the manufacturer/supplier Note 1 to entry: It is expressed in millimetres (mm). 3.3 nominal thickness thickness of a film, as declared by the manufacturer/supplier Note 1 to entry:
3.4 roll length largest dimension of the film corresponding to the length of the unwinded roll Note 1 to entry: It is expressed in metres (m). 3.5 longitudinal direction of the film MD direction parallel to the roll length corresponding to the extrusion direction 3.6 transverse direction of the film TD direction parallel to the width (at right angles to the length) 3.7 radiant exposure H time integral of irradiance Note 1 to entry: It is measured in joules per square metre -2) [SOURCE: ISO 9370:2017, definition 3.27[2]] SIST EN 13655:2018

films exposed to artificial weathering and natural exposure is given in Annex B (informative). 7 Requirements 7.1 General requirements Transparent films, black films, reflective films and films of other colour(s) for weed control shall fulfil the requirements of Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. Table 3 — Requirements for transparent films Characteristics Unit Nominal thickness Test method Subclause
· 20a
· 35
Appearance - Shall conform to 7.2 7.2 Dimensional characteristics Tolerance of average thickness/nominal thickness % ±5 8.1 Tolerance of single point thickness/nominal thickness %
from - 20 to 25
from
« s w to
t w
8.1 Width tolerance/ nominal width % ±2 8.2 Tolerances of the roll length/nominal length %
«1 8.3 Mechanical characteristics of unexposed film Tensile stress at yield (MD, TD) MPa
· 9
8.4 Tensile stress at break (MD, TD) MPa
· 20
Tensile strain at break MD TD % %
· 250
· 350 Impact resistance Flat area Fold area g g
· 75
· 50
· 80
· 60 8.5 Optical characteristic of unexposed film Total luminous transmittance %
· 90 8.6 a 20
¶ nominal thickness < 35
· 20a
· 50b
· 100
Appearance - Shall conform to 7.2 7.2 Dimensional characteristics Tolerance of average thickness/nominal thickness % ±5 8.1 Tolerance of single point thickness/nominal thickness % from - 20 to 25 ±15 ±15 8.1 Width tolerance/ nominal width % ±2 8.2 Tolerances of the roll length/nominal length %
«1 8.3 Mechanical characteristics of unexposed film Tensile stress at yield (MD, TD) MPa
· 9 8.4 Tensile stress at break (MD, TD) MPa
· 20 Tensile strain at break
MD %
· 250 TD %
· 350 Impact resistance
8.5 flat area g
· 75
· 120
· 250 fold area g
· 50
· 60
· 120 Optical characteristic of unexposed film Relative light transmission %
¶ 10 «2
¶ 10 «2
¶ 10 «3 8.9 a 20
¶ nominal thickness < 50
b 50
¶ nominal thickness < 100
· 25a
· 60 Subclause Appearance - Shall conform to 7.2 7.2 Dimensional characteristics Tolerance of average thickness/nominal thickness % ±5 8.1 Tolerance of single point thickness/nominal thickness % from - 20 to 25 ±15 8.1 Width tolerance/ nominal width % ±2 8.2 Tolerances of the roll length/nominal length %
«1 8.3 Mechanical characteristics on unexposed film Tensile stress at yield (MD, TD) MPa
· 9 8.4 Tensile stress at break (MD, TD) MPa
· 20 Tensile strain at break
MD %
· 250 TD %
· 350 Impact resistance
8.5
Flat area g
· 80
· 150 fold area g
· 40
· 80 Optical characteristic of unexposed film Relative light transmission (for film with at least one black layer) %
¶ 1
¶ 0,1 8.9 Relative light transmission (for film without black layers) %
· 60
· 50 8.9 Solar reflectance (for film with at least one white layer) %
· 55
· 60 8.8 Solar reflectance (for film without white layers) % To be declared by the manufacturer To be declared by the manufacturer 8.8 a
¶ nominal thickness < 60
· 25 Subclause Appearance - Shall conform to 7.2 7.2 Dimensional characteristics Tolerance of average thickness/nominal thickness % ±5 8.1 Tolerance of single point thickness/nominal thickness % from - 20 to 25 8.1 Width tolerance/ nominal width % ±2 8.2 Tolerances of the roll length/nominal length %
«1
«1 8.3 Mechanical characteristics of unexposed film Tensile stress at yield (MD, TD) MPa
· 9 8.4 Tensile stress at break (MD, TD) MPa
· 20 Tensile strain at break
MD %
· 250 TD %
· 350 Impact resistance on flat area g
· 80 8.5 Optical characteristic of unexposed film Transmission of solar radiation in the photosynthesis active radiation (PAR)
Range 400 nm to 500 nm % < 25 8.7 Range 600 nm to 700 nm % < 20
Transmission of solar radiation in the near-infrared region (NIR) Range 850 nm to 1 100 nm % > 55 8.7 7.2 Requirement for appearance The free edges of the roll shall be sealed with adhesive tape or by some other similar means, in order to prevent its unwinding. The edges shall be properly in line and there shall be sufficient tension to prevent the layers of the roll from transversal slipping when it is handled. The film shall be homogeneous for the purpose of the application and check it by unrolling at least 2 m of the film and examining it against the light, holding it tight at arm length. SIST EN 13655:2018

Key 1 film roll 2 calibrated reel with a revolution counter 3 collection reel 4 deflection reel d diameter of the calibrated reel Figure 1 — Apparatus for the determination of the film length 8.4 Determination of tensile characteristics The tensile characteristics shall be determined according to EN ISO 527-1 and EN ISO 527-3 using five test pieces type 2
(see Figure 1 of EN ISO 527-3:1995) with a width of 10 mm, cut in each direction of the film [longitudinal direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD)], at a testing speed of 500 mm/min. SIST EN 13655:2018
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