EN ISO 14577-3:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies a method for the calibration of reference blocks to use for the indirect verification of testing machines for the instrumented indentation test as specified in ISO 14577-2.; Reference materials, where it is necessary to prepare a surface before the test in a manner that removes surface layers are excluded from this standard.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 26-May-2026
• ICS: 77.040.10 - Mechanical testing of metals
• Technical Committee: ECISS/TC 101 - Test methods for steel (other than chemical analysis)
• Drafting Committee: ECISS/TC 101 - Test methods for steel (other than chemical analysis)
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 27-May-2026
• Completion Date: 27-May-2026
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 14577-3:2026 - Metallic materials - Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters - Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks (ISO 14577-3:2026)

• Replaces: EN ISO 14577-3:2015 - Metallic materials - Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters - Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks (ISO 14577-3:2015)
• Effective Date: 18-Jan-2023
• Refers: ISO 14577-1:2015 - Metallic materials — Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters — Part 1: Test method
• Effective Date: 08-Jul-2026
• Refers: ISO 376:2011 - Metallic materials — Calibration of force-proving instruments used for the verification of uniaxial testing machines
• Effective Date: 08-Jul-2026
• Refers: ISO 14577-2:2015 - Metallic materials — Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters — Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines
• Effective Date: 08-Jul-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO 14577-4:2007 - Metallic materials - Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters - Part 4: Test method for metallic and non-metallic coatings (ISO 14577-4:2007)
• Effective Date: 03-Jun-2026
• Consolidated By: ISO 14577-3:2026 - Metallic materials — Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters — Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks
• Effective Date: 12-Feb-2026

Overview

EN ISO 14577-3:2026 (Metallic materials - Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters - Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks) is a European and International Standard developed by CEN and ISO. It outlines the requirements and procedures for calibrating reference blocks used in the indirect verification of instrumented indentation testing machines, as detailed in ISO 14577-2. These calibrations are crucial for ensuring the accuracy and consistency of hardness and material parameter measurements on metallic materials using instrumented indentation tests.

The standard does not apply to reference materials that require surface layer removal prior to testing. It is part of a broader set of ISO 14577 standards that collectively address instrumented indentation testing methods, machine verification, and specialized applications.

Key Topics

EN ISO 14577-3:2026 covers several important aspects related to the calibration of reference blocks for instrumented indentation testing:

• Manufacture of Reference Blocks:

  • Emphasizes the need for blocks with high uniformity, homogeneity, and structure stability.
  • Specifies minimum thicknesses based on testing ranges (nano, micro, macro).
  • Requires blocks to be free from magnetic influences and surface scratches.
  • Details on marking block thickness and unique identification for traceability.

• Calibrating Machine Requirements:

  • The machine must be directly calibrated and verified at least every 24 months.
  • Includes precise calibration of test force, verification of indenter geometry, and calibration of displacement measurement systems.
  • Instruments used must be traceable to national standards.

• Calibration Procedure:

  • Specifies the number of indentations required per block based on the testing range.
  • Details on temperature control and general testing conditions during calibration.
  • Provides procedures for data collection and analysis to confirm uniformity.

• Reference Block Uniformity:

  • Defines how to assess the homogeneity and consistency of hardness and modulus values across the reference block.
  • Outlines acceptance limits for variations in measured values.

• Identification and Documentation:

  • Blocks must be clearly marked and accompanied by a detailed certificate including calibration data, test conditions, results, and analysis.

• Validity of Reference Blocks:

  • Calibration validity is recommended to be limited to five years.
  • Emphasizes the need to use blocks only under the calibrated conditions.

Applications

EN ISO 14577-3:2026 is vital for:

• Testing Laboratories: Ensuring calibration traceability and reliability of instrumented indentation hardness tests in metallic materials.
• Metrology Institutes: Standardizing calibration processes and maintaining reference materials used for indirect verification of testing machines.
• Instrument Manufacturers: Designing and validating instrumented indentation testers according to international calibration protocols.
• Quality Control in Industry: Maintaining consistency in hardness and material parameter measurements in the production and research of metals.

By following this standard, users can achieve accurate, repeatable, and comparable results in nano, micro, and macro hardness testing, supporting material development, process control, and regulatory compliance.

Related Standards

This standard is part of a broader set of ISO/EN standards for hardness testing and calibration, including:

• ISO 14577-1: Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters - Test method.
• ISO 14577-2: Verification and calibration of testing machines.
• ISO 14577-4: Test method for metallic and non-metallic coatings.
• ISO 6507-3: Vickers hardness test - Calibration of reference blocks.
• ISO 376: Calibration of force-proving instruments for uniaxial testing machines.
• ISO 4287: Surface texture - Profile method.

These standards collectively ensure reliable mechanical testing of metals, robust calibration practices, and ongoing quality in material property assessments.

---

By implementing EN ISO 14577-3:2026, organizations reinforce the reliability and credibility of their hardness testing processes and support the global harmonization of mechanical testing procedures.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2026
Kovinski materiali - Instrumentirano vtiskanje pri preskušanju trdote in drugih
lastnosti materialov - 3. del: Kalibracija referenčnih etalonov (ISO 14577-3:2026)
Metallic materials - Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters
- Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks (ISO 14577-3:2026)
Metallische Werkstoffe- Instrumentierte Eindringprüfung zur Bestimmung der Härte und
anderer Werkstoffparameter- Teil3: Kalibrierung von Referenzproben(ISO 14577-3:2026)
Matériaux métalliques - Essai de pénétration instrumenté pour la détermination de la
dureté et de paramètres des matériaux - Partie 3: Étalonnage des blocs de référence
(ISO 14577-3:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 14577-3:2026
ICS:
77.040.10 Mehansko preskušanje kovin Mechanical testing of metals
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN ISO 14577-3
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 77.040.10 Supersedes EN ISO 14577-3:2015
English Version
Metallic materials - Instrumented indentation test for
hardness and materials parameters - Part 3: Calibration of
reference blocks (ISO 14577-3:2026)
Matériaux métalliques - Essai de pénétration Metallische Werkstoffe- Instrumentierte
instrumenté pour la détermination de la dureté et de Eindringprüfung zur Bestimmung der Härte und
paramètres des matériaux - Partie 3: Étalonnage des anderer Werkstoffparameter- Teil3: Kalibrierung von
blocs de référence (ISO 14577-3:2026) Referenzproben(ISO 14577-3:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 27 April 2026.

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, Türkiye 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
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14577-3:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3

European foreword
This document (EN ISO 14577-3:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 164
"Mechanical testing of metals" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 459/SC 1 “Test
methods for steel (other than chemical analysis)” the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
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 November 2026, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by November 2026.
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.
This document supersedes EN ISO 14577-3:2015.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
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, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14577-3:2026 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 14577-3:2026 without any
modification.
International
Standard
ISO 14577-3
Third edition
Metallic materials — Instrumented
2026-05
indentation test for hardness and
materials parameters —
Part 3:
Calibration of reference blocks
Matériaux métalliques — Essai de pénétration instrumenté pour
la détermination de la dureté et de paramètres des matériaux —
Partie 3: Étalonnage des blocs de référence
Reference number
ISO 14577-3:2026(en) © ISO 2026

ISO 14577-3:2026(en)
© ISO 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO 14577-3:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Manufacture of reference blocks . 1
5 Calibrating machine . 2
5.1 General .2
5.2 Calibration of the test force .3
5.3 Verification of the indenter .3
5.3.1 General .3
5.3.2 Vickers indenter .3
5.3.3 Berkovich, modified Berkovich and corner cube indenters .4
5.3.4 Ball indenters, and spheroconical indenters .4
5.4 Calibration of the displacement measuring device .4
5.5 Testing cycle requirements .5
6 Calibration procedure . 5
7 Number of indentations . 6
8 Uniformity of the reference blocks . 6
9 Marking . . 7
10 Validity . 8
Annex A (informative) Example procedure for measuring elasticity of reference materials with
pulse echo method with traceability. . 9
Bibliography .11

iii
ISO 14577-3:2026(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 164, Mechanical testing of metals, Subcommittee
SC 3, Hardness testing, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical
Committee CEN/TC 459/SC 1, Test methods for steel (other than chemical analysis, in accordance with the
Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 14577-3:2015), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— Specification of the shape of the reference block.
— Modifications in the procedure for the verification of the indenter.
— Testing cycle requirements.
— Changing the conditions for the verification of the uniformity of the reference blocks.
— Annex A was added.
A list of all parts in the ISO 14577 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
ISO 14577-3:2026(en)
Introduction
Hardness has typically been defined as the resistance of a material to permanent penetration by another
harder material. The results obtained when performing Rockwell, Vickers, and Brinell tests are determined
after the test force has been removed. Therefore, the effect of elastic deformation under the indenter has
been ignored.
ISO 14577 (all parts) has been prepared to enable the user to evaluate the indentation of materials by
considering both the force and displacement during plastic and elastic deformation. By monitoring
the complete cycle of increasing and removal of the test force, hardness values equivalent to traditional
hardness values can be determined. More significantly, additional properties of the material such as its
indentation modulus and elasto-plastic hardness can also be determined. All these values can be calculated
without the requirement to measure the indent optically. Furthermore, by a variety of techniques, the
instrumented indentation test allows to record hardness and modulus depth profiles within a, probably
complex, indentation cycle.
ISO 14577 (all parts) has been written to allow a wide variety of post test data analysis.

v
International Standard ISO 14577-3:2026(en)
Metallic materials — Instrumented indentation test for
hardness and materials parameters —
Part 3:
Calibration of reference blocks
1 Scope
This document specifies a method for the calibration of reference blocks to use for the indirect verification
of testing machines for the instrumented indentation test as specified in ISO 14577-2.
Reference materials, where it is necessary to prepare a surface before the test in a manner that removes
surface layers are excluded from this standard.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 376, Metallic materials — Calibration of force-proving instruments used for the verification of uniaxial
testing machines
ISO 14577-1, Metallic materials — Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters —
Part 1: Test method
ISO 14577-2, Metallic materials — Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters —
Part 2: Verification and calibration of testing machines
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology 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 Manufacture of reference blocks
4.1 The block shall be specially prepared and the attention of the manufacturer drawn to the requirement
to use a manufacturing process that gives the necessary homogeneity, uniformity, and stability of structure.
When the reference block is used for certifying hardness then it shall have a constant hardness over the
range of indentation sizes for which it is certified.
NOTE Variation in hardness with variation in indentation size occurs when the microstructural length scale of the
material is within an order of magnitude of the indentation size. Microstructural length scale is in this circumstance
the combined frequency of all length scales in the material, for example grain size, precipitate spacing, layer thickness
et cetera.
ISO 14577-3:2026(en)
4.2 Each block being calibrated shall be of a thickness greater or equal to that given in Table 1.
Table 1 — Thickness requirements for reference blocks
Range according to ISO 14577-1:2026, 1. Thickness
mm
Nano 2
Micro up to 500 mN 3
Micro up to 2 N 5
Macro up to 60 N 6
Macro up to 1 kN 12
Macro up to 30 kN 16
4.3 The reference blocks shall be free from magnetism. The manufacturers should ensure that the blocks
are demagnetized at the end of the manufacturing process.
4.4 The reference block shall be constructed such that it can be mounted in the testing machine.
For bottom mounted samples, the reference block shall have a flat bottom surface such that the sample to
stage interface contact does not contribute an additional frame compliance e.g. by deformation of asperities.
The sample bottom surface shall be perpendicular to the indentation direction when mounted and parallel
to the top surface so that the indentation tilt limits of ISO 14577-1 are met.
NOTE A 1° tilt is a slope of 0,175 mm per 10 mm sample length.
4.5 There shall be only one test surface on the block and the test surface shall be free from scratches that
interfere with the measurement of the indentations. Indentations between scratches are permitted.
The surface rou
...