ISO 15835-3:2018

Steels for the reinforcement of concrete - Reinforcement couplers for mechanical splices of bars - Part 3: Conformity assessment scheme

This document specifies rules for the certification and for the self-evaluation of couplers to be used for the mechanical splicing of steel reinforcing bars. It includes requirements for the control of the manufacturing process of the couplers and for the verification of their conformity in the form of mechanical splices.

Aciers pour l'armature du béton — Couplers d'armature destines aux raboutages mécanique de barre — Partie 3: Système particulier d'évaluation de la conformité

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Aug-2018
• ICS: 03.120.20 - Product and company certification. Conformity assessment
• ICS: 77.140.15 - Steels for reinforcement of concrete
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 17/SC 16 - Steels for the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 17/SC 16 - Steels for the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 09-Feb-2024
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 15835-3:2018 defines the conformity assessment scheme for reinforcement couplers used in mechanical splices of steel reinforcing bars. The document sets out rules for both product certification (third-party) and self-declaration (supplier) routes, and specifies requirements for manufacturing process control, qualification testing and verification of couplers assembled as mechanical splices.

This part of the ISO 15835 series complements the product requirements given in ISO 15835-1 and aligns with general conformity assessment standards such as ISO/IEC 17065 and ISO/IEC 17025.

Key Topics

• Scope and purpose: Rules for certification and self-evaluation of couplers for mechanical splicing of reinforcing bars; verification of conformity in assembled mechanical splices.

• Certification system (Clause 5):

  • Based on qualification testing, surveillance audits and factory production control.
  • Certification bodies operate in accordance with ISO/IEC 17065; tests are conducted by independent, accredited laboratories in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.
  • Manufacturers shall implement a quality management system (for example ISO 9001).
  • Qualification testing is required when material properties, geometry or manufacturing technology change.

• Documentation and user information:

  • Manufacturers must maintain datasheet files for each coupler type and provide detailed installation and preparation instructions for purchasers and testing laboratories.
  • Couplers must be marked for traceability and records maintained as part of factory production control.

• Sampling and testing:

  • Sampling plans are defined in the standard (Table 1) for qualification and ongoing surveillance.
  • For self-declared delivery lots, a test unit may represent up to 10 000 couplers, tested at level S-3 per ISO 2859-1 with an AQL of 2.5.
  • Fatigue and cyclic testing minimums are specified (see Table 2), e.g. at least three samples of the largest size for high-cycle fatigue testing.

• Surveillance audits:

  • Third-party surveillance is required at least annually; testing shall ensure coverage of all types and sizes within a five-year period.

• Certificate content (required items include):

  • certificate number, manufacturer name, manufacturing locations, products covered, approved types/sizes and coupler dimensions, applicable bar grades, tools/equipment, written installation instructions, marking and a statement of conformity with ISO 15835-1.

Applications

• Quality assurance for manufacturers of reinforcement couplers.
• Procurement and compliance verification by specifiers, contractors and testing laboratories.
• Risk reduction in construction through verified mechanical splice performance and traceable production control.

Related Standards

• ISO 15835-1 - Coupler performance requirements
• ISO 2859-1 - Sampling procedures (AQL schemes)
• ISO/IEC 17025 - Laboratory competence
• ISO/IEC 17065 - Product certification bodies
• ISO/IEC 17050 - Supplier's declaration of conformity

These linked standards and clauses in ISO 15835-3 ensure a practical framework for certifying and declaring conformity of couplers used in structural concrete reinforcement, supporting reliable mechanical splices in construction practice.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 15835-3
First edition
2018-09
Steels for the reinforcement of
concrete — Reinforcement couplers
for mechanical splices of bars —
Part 3:
Conformity assessment scheme
Aciers pour l'armature du béton — Couplers d'armature destines aux
raboutages mécanique de barre —
Partie 3: Système particulier d'évaluation de la conformité
Reference number
©
ISO 2018
© ISO 2018
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Evaluation of conformity . 2
5 System for certification. 2
5.1 General . 2
5.2 Documentation and user information . 2
5.3 Qualification testing . 2
5.4 Factory production control . 3
5.5 Surveillance audits . 3
5.6 Certificate of product conformity . 4
6 System for self-declaration of conformity . 4
6.1 General . 4
6.2 Extent of sampling and testing . 5
6.3 Declaration of product conformity . 5
Bibliography . 6
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 documents 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).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
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 17, Steel, Subcommittee SC 16, Steels for
the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete.
A list of all the parts in the ISO 15835 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 2018 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 15835-3:2018(E)
Steels for the reinforcement of concrete — Reinforcement
couplers for mechanical splices of bars —
Part 3:
Conformity assessment scheme
1 Scope
This document specifies rules for the certification and for the self-evaluation of couplers to be used for
the mechanical splicing of steel reinforcing bars.
It includes requirements for the control of the manufacturing process of the couplers and for the
verification of their conformity in the form of mechanical splices.
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.
ISO 2859-1:1999, Sampling procedures for inspection by attributes — Part 1: Sampling schemes indexed by
acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot inspection
1)
ISO 15835-1:— , Steels for the reinforcement of concrete — Reinforcement couplers for mechanical splices
of bars — Part 1: Requirements
ISO 16020, Steel for the reinforcement and prestressing of concrete — Vocabulary
ISO/IEC 17000, Conformity assessment — Vocabulary and general principles
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO/IEC 17050, Conformity assessment — Supplier’s declaration of conformity
ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and
services
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 15835-1, ISO 16020,
ISO/IEC 17000 and the following apply.
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 http:/ /www.e lectropedia. org/
1) Under preparation.
3.1
splice system
mechanical splice using a specific technology and made by the same manufacturer
Note 1 to entry: A splice system may include several splice types (3.2).
3.2
splice type
mechanical splices from the same splice system (3.1), of the same generic design, designed for the same
purpose and existing in different sizes suitable for specific bar diameters
4 Evaluation of conformity
Evaluation of the compliance of the products to the requirements of ISO 15835-1 may be done by one of
the following methods.
— Product certification, described in Clause 5, is made by a certification body who inspects the
manufacturing facility and collects test samples at regular periods.
— Verification of lots, described in Clause 6, is made by agreement between the supplier and the
purchaser, and involves only testing of the exact lot that is going to be delivered to the purchaser.
5 System for certification
5.1 General
The purpose of this clause is to provide rules for the product certification of couplers in accordance
with ISO/IEC 17065.
The certification is based on qualification testing and surveillance by the certification body, and
on factory production control by the manufacturer. Qualification and surveillance audits shall be
performed by the certification body at each manufacturing location listed in the certificate.
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