EN 4261:2022

Aerospace series - Metallic materials - Rules for drafting and presentation of test method standards

This document specifies the rules for the drafting and presentation of test method standards.

Luft- und Raumfahrt - Metallische Werkstoffe - Regeln für die Erstellung und Gestaltung von Prüfverfahrensnormen

Dieses Dokument legt die Regeln für die Erstellung und Gestaltung von Prüfverfahrensnormen fest.

Série aérospatiale - Matériaux métalliques - Règles pour la rédaction et la présentation des normes de méthodes d'essais

Le présent document spécifie les règles de rédaction et de présentation des normes de méthodes d’essais pour les matériaux métalliques.

Aeronavtika - Kovinski materiali - Pravila za pripravo in predstavitev standardov o preskusnih metodah

Ta dokument določa pravila za pripravo in predstavitev standardov o preskusnih metodah.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 26-Apr-2022
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Oct-2022
• ICS: 49.025.05 - Ferrous alloys in general
• ICS: 49.025.15 - Non-ferrous alloys in general
• Technical Committee: ASD-STAN - Aerospace
• Drafting Committee: ASD-STAN/D 4 - Metallic
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 27-Apr-2022
• Completion Date: 27-Apr-2022
• Ref Project: SIST EN 4261:2022 - Aerospace series - Metallic materials - Rules for drafting and presentation of test method standards

Overview

EN 4261:2022 - Aerospace series: Metallic materials - Rules for drafting and presentation of test method standards (CEN) defines the mandatory structure, wording and presentation rules for test method standards used in aerospace metallic-materials work. Approved by CEN and published April 2022, this document ensures consistency across the EN aerospace series and guides authors, laboratories and regulators in preparing clear, uniform test methods.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose
  • Specifies rules for drafting and presenting test method standards applicable to metallic materials in aerospace.
• Mandatory structure
  • Prescribed clause order: Title; Introduction; 1 Scope; 2 Normative references; 3 Terms and definitions; 4 Health and safety; 5 Principle; 6 Testing requirements (resources, test samples/test pieces, testing procedures, expression of results); 7 Test report.
  • Supports multipart standards (Part 001 = general requirements; Part 002+ = specific procedures).
• Testing requirements (Clause 6)
  • 6.1 Resources: equipment/plant, materials/reagents, personnel qualifications (NDT personnel must comply with EN 4179; other tests require demonstrated competence).
  • 6.2 Test samples/test pieces: preparation, calibration samples and preservation.
  • 6.3 Test procedure: required level of procedural detail; option to reference specific parts (EN XXXX-x).
  • 6.4 Expression of results: units, calculation methods and presentation format; acceptance criteria are set in the related technical or material standard.
• Health & safety (Clause 4)
  • Tests must comply with applicable local regulations; precautions when hazardous reagents or processes are specified.
• Annexes
  • Informative Annex A: example equipment/plant descriptions.
  • Informative Annex B: example materials/reagents lists.

Applications and users

• Who uses EN 4261:2022
  • Standards writers and committees preparing aerospace metallic-materials test methods.
  • Test laboratories and quality control teams developing or implementing test procedures.
  • Procurement, inspection and certification bodies ensuring test-method conformity.
  • Design and materials engineers specifying test requirements on drawings and inspection schedules.
• Practical uses
  • Harmonizes test method presentation across EN standards to improve clarity and reduce interpretation risk.
  • Provides a template for drafting new test standards or revising existing ones (e.g., tensile, corrosion, NDT, chemical analysis, micrographic methods).
  • Ensures personnel qualification and reporting requirements are consistently specified.

Related standards

• EN 4258 - General organization of EN metallic-material standards (series framework)
• EN 4259 - Definition of general terms for metallic materials
• EN 4179 - Qualification/approval of personnel for non-destructive testing (referenced for NDT)

Keywords: EN 4261:2022, aerospace series, metallic materials, test method standards, testing requirements, test procedure, health and safety, NDT, EN 4179, EN 4258, EN 4259.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2022
Aeronavtika - Kovinski materiali - Pravila za pripravo in predstavitev standardov o
preskusnih metodah
Aerospace series - Metallic materials - Rules for drafting and presentation of test method
standards
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Metallische Werkstoffe - Regeln für die Erstellung und Gestaltung
von Normen über Prüfverfahren
Série aérospatiale - Matériaux métalliques - Règles pour la rédaction et la présentation
des normes de méthodes d'essais
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 4261:2022
ICS:
49.025.05 Železove zlitine na splošno Ferrous alloys in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 4261
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
April 2022
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 49.025.05; 49.025.15
English Version
Aerospace series - Metallic materials - Rules for drafting
and presentation of test method standards
Série aérospatiale - Matériaux métalliques - Règles Luft- und Raumfahrt - Metallische Werkstoffe - Regeln
pour la rédaction et la présentation des normes de für die Abfassung und Gestaltung von Prüfnormen über
méthodes d'essais Prüfverfahren
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 18 November 2019.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2022 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 4261:2022 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Framework and structure . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Required elements . 5
5 Content . 6
5.1 Title . 6
5.2 Introduction . 6
5.3 Clause 1: Scope . 7
5.4 Clause 2: Normative references . 7
5.5 Clause 3: Terms and definitions . 7
5.6 Clause 4: Health and safety . 8
5.7 Clause 5: Principle . 8
5.8 Clause 6: Testing requirements . 8
5.9 Clause 7: Test report . 10
Annex A (informative) Examples of equipment/plant descriptions to be included in
Subclause 6.1.1 . 12
A.1 Mechanical testing . 12
A.2 Non-destructive testing . 12
A.3 Macrographic/Micrographic . 13
A.4 Chemical . 13
A.5 Corrosion testing/stress corrosion testing . 13
Annex B (informative) Examples of materials/reagents to be included in Subclause 6.1.2 . 14
B.1 Mechanical testing . 14
B.2 Non-destructive testing . 14
B.3 Macrographic/Micrographic . 14
B.4 Chemical . 14
B.5 Corrosion testing/stress corrosion testing . 15

European foreword
This document (EN 4261:2022) has been prepared by the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association
of Europe — Standardization (ASD-STAN).
After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this Standard has
received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of
ASD-STAN, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2022, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by October 2022.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
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, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North
Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
Introduction
This document is part of the series of EN metallic material standards for aerospace applications.
The general organization of this series is described in EN 4258.
1 Scope
This document specifies the rules for the drafting and presentation of test method standards.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 4179, Aerospace series — Qualification and approval of personnel for non-destructive testing
EN 4258, Aerospace series —Metallic materials — General organization of standardization — Links
between types of EN standards and their use
EN 4259, Aerospace series — Metallic materials — Definition of general terms
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 Framework and structure
4.1 General
Where necessary, the test method standard may be subdivided into several parts (e.g. EN XXXX-001,
EN XXXX-002, etc.).
In such cases, all general requirements shall be incorporated in Part 001 (general part) and the specific
requirement in Part 002 onwards (specific parts).
4.2 Required elements
The test method standard shall include the following elements in the given order:
a) Title;
b) Introduction;
c) Clause – 1 Scope;
d) Clause – 2 Normative references;
e) Clause – 3 Terms and definitions;
f) Clause – 4 Health and safety;
g) Clause – 5 Principle;
h) Clause – 6 Testing requirements;

Published as ASD-STAN Standard at the date of publication of this document (see www.asd-stan.org).
6.1 Resources;
6.2 Test samples/test pieces;
6.3 Testing procedures;
6.4 Expression of results;
i) Clause – 7 Test report.
5 Content
Standard sentences, placed in a frame, are listed below for the different clauses of the test method
standard and are mandatory.
When necessary, further information is indicated in italics.
5.1 Title
The title shall give sufficient information to unambiguously identify the subject of the standard.
5.1.1 General part
Where necessary, the title should also identify the semi-finished products and the family(ies) of metallic
materials to which that test method applies.
EXAMPLE
Aerospace series
Metallic materials (except where the test method is applicable to a specific family of metallic
materials, in which case it shall be stated, e.g. steel.)
Test method
Complete with the type of test method, e.g. creep testing, eddy current test.
Part 001: General requirements
(when required if the test method comprises more than one part)
5.1.2 Specific part
EXAMPLE
Aerospace series
Metallic materials (except where the test method is applicable to a specific family of metallic
materials, in which case it shall be stated, e.g. steel.)
Test method
Complete with the type of test method, e.g. creep testing, eddy current test.
Part X (e.g. resources, test samples/test pieces, calibration procedure, tes
...