oSIST prEN 13655:2024

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 soil disinfection are in the scope of EN 17098-1 [1] and EN 17098-2 [2].
The biodegradable mulch films intended to be incorporated in the soil after used are also not in the scope of this document. They are in the scope of EN 17033 [3]
This document 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 defines the criteria for design for recycling of mulch films and refer to WI 00249A5I  for the product lifecycle, including installation, use, removal and collection for end of life for management of the product after its usage.
NOTE: Mulch films can be highly soiled by organic and mineral residues at the end of their use life: the observed rates (or levels) of soilage of mulch films can vary from 70 % to 90 %, therefore the film thickness is a key factor on the rate of soilage, the thinnest films will be the mostly soiled, difficult, expensive to remove, recover and recycle.

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

Dieses Dokument legt die Anforderungen in Bezug auf Maßeigenschaften sowie die mechanischen, optischen und thermischen Merkmale thermoplastischer Folien für Mulchanwendungen in der Landwirtschaft und im Gartenbau fest.
Diese Mulchfolien sind dazu bestimmt, nach Gebrauch entfernt und nicht in den Boden eingearbeitet zu werden.
Diese Mulchfolien sind nicht für eine Nutzung im Rahmen einer Bodendesinfektion durch Begasung vorgesehen. Folien zur Desinfektion von Böden fallen in den Anwendungsbereich von EN 17098 1 und EN 17098 2.
Die biologisch abbaubaren Mulchfolien, die dafür vorgesehen sind, nach ihrer Verwendung in den Boden eingearbeitet zu werden, fallen ebenfalls nicht in den Anwendungsbereich dieses Dokuments. Sie fallen in den Anwendungsbereich von EN 17033.
Dieses Dokument legt eine Klassifikation bezüglich der Beständigkeit von Mulchfolien und der in diesem Dokument in Bezug genommenen Prüfverfahren fest.
Dieses Dokument 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 einer anderen Farbe bzw. in anderen Farben zur Unkrautbekämpfung (z. B. Grün, Braun).
Dieses Dokument definiert die Kriterien für das recyclinggerechte Design von Mulchfolien und verweist auf prEN 18109 für den Produktlebenszyklus, einschließlich Installation, Nutzung, Entsorgung und Sammlung am Ende des Lebenszyklus für das Management des Produkts nach seiner Nutzung.
ANMERKUNG   Mulchfolien können durch organische und mineralische Rückstände stark kontaminiert sein: Die beobachteten Grade (oder Niveaus) können zwischen 70 % und 90 % variieren. Daher ist die Foliendicke ein wichtiger Faktor für den Kontaminationsgrad; die dünnsten Folien werden am höchsten kontaminiert sein und ihr Rückbau, ihre Verwertung 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 du sol par fumigation. Les films pour la désinfection du sol font partie du domaine d’application de l’EN 17098 1 et de l’EN 17098 2.
Les films de paillage biodégradables destinés à être incorporés dans le sol après utilisation ne sont également pas dans le domaine d’application du présent document. Ils sont couverts par l’EN 17033.
Le présent document spécifie 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 les critères pour la conception en vue du recyclage des films de paillage et fait référence au prEN 18109 pour le cycle de vie du produit, incluant la mise en oeuvre, l’utilisation, la dépose et la collecte pour la gestion en fin de vie du produit après usage.
NOTE   Les films de paillage peuvent être fortement souillés par des résidus organiques et minéraux à la fin de leur vie : les taux (ou niveaux) de souillure observés sur les films de paillage peuvent varier de 70 % à 90 %. Par conséquent, l’épaisseur du film est un facteur clé pour le taux de souillure. Plus les films sont minces, plus ils seront souillés et plus il sera difficile et coûteux de les éliminer, valoriser et recycler.

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

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 15-Oct-2024
• ICS: 65.040.30 - Greenhouses and other installations
• ICS: 83.140.10 - Films and sheets
• Technical Committee: IPMA - Polimer materials and products
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 08-Aug-2024
• Due Date: 26-Dec-2024
• Mandate: M/584 - Plastics recycling and recycled plastics
• Ref Project: prEN 13655 - Plastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use, for use in agriculture and horticulture

Relations

• Revises: SIST EN 13655:2018 - Plastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use, for use in agriculture and horticulture
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2024
Polimerni materiali - Termoplastične folije za mulčenje, primerne za nadaljnjo
predelavo, za uporabo v kmetijstvu in vrtnarstvu
Plastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use, for use in agriculture and
horticulture
Kunststoffe - Nach Gebrauch rückbaubare thermoplastische Mulchfolien für den Einsatz
in Landwirtschaft und im Gartenbau
Plastiques - Films de paillage thermoplastiques récupérables après usage, pour
utilisation en agriculture et horticulture
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13655
ICS:
65.040.30 Rastlinjaki in druge naprave Greenhouses and other
installations
83.140.10 Filmi in folije Films and sheets
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2024
ICS 83.140.10 Will supersede EN 13655:2018
English Version
Plastics - Thermoplastic mulch films recoverable after use,
for use in agriculture and horticulture
Plastiques - Films de paillage thermoplastiques Kunststoffe - Thermoplastische Mulchfolien,
récupérables après usage, pour utilisation en abnehmbar nach dem Einsatz, für die Landwirtschaft
agriculture et horticulture und den Gartenbau
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 249.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13655:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Types and use . 8
5 Materials . 9
6 Durability . 9
7 Requirements . 10
7.1 General requirements . 10
7.2 Requirement for appearance . 15
8 Test methods . 15
8.1 Thickness . 15
8.2 Width . 15
8.3 Film length . 15
8.4 Tensile characteristics . 16
8.5 Impact resistance . 16
8.5.1 General. 16
8.5.2 Flat area . 16
8.5.3 Fold area. 16
8.6 Total luminous transmittance (transparent films) . 17
8.7 Solar radiation in PAR and NIR region . 17
8.7.1 Principle . 17
8.7.2 Apparatus . 17
8.7.3 Procedure . 18
8.7.4 Expression of results . 18
8.8 Solar reflectance . 18
8.9 Relative light transmission . 18
8.10 Resistance to artificial weathering . 18
8.10.1 Principle . 18
8.10.2 Exposure to xenon-arc lamps . 18
8.10.3 Procedure . 19
8.10.4 Calculation and expression of results . 19
9 Roll acceptance, storage and handling . 19
9.1 Delivery checking . 19
9.2 Storage and handling of rolls . 19
10 Designation . 20
11 Marking . 20
11.1 Marking of the film . 20
11.2 Marking on the packaging or label . 21
12 Instructions for storage, installation and use of mulch films . 21
13 Design for recycling and end of life of mulch films . 22
13.1 Design for mechanical recycling . 22
14 Removal and collection instructions of used mulch films . 23
15 Functions and factors of degradability of mulch films . 23
Annex A (informative) Exposure to other light sources . 24
Annex B (informative) Numerical correlation between durations of mulching films exposed
to artificial weathering and natural exposure . 28
Annex C (normative) Determination of solar reflectance . 30
Annex D (normative) Determination of the relative light transmission . 33
Annex E (informative) Guidance main functions of mulch films factors influencing
degradability . 34
Bibliography . 35

European foreword
This document has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”, the secretariat of
which is held by SIS.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13655:2018.
— Clause 5 on materials has been added;
— Clauses 10, 11 and 12 on designation, marking and instructions for storage, installation and use of
mulch films, respectively, have been modified;
— Clause 13 on the design-for-recycling of end of life of mulch films has been added;
— Clause 14 on removal and collection instructions of used mulch films has been modified, referring
to prEN 18109 for additional information;
— the informative Annex E has been modified, and previous Clauses E.3 and E.4 have been transferred
to prEN 18109;
— Details on functions and factors of degradability of mulch films have been transferred to Clause 15
in this document;
— the previous Annex F on the guidance for conditions for installation, use and removal of mulch films
has been transferred to prEN 18109.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
Under preparation
1 Scope
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 soil
disinfection are in the scope of EN 17098-1 and EN 17098-2.
The biodegradable mulch films intended to be incorporated in the soil after used are also not in the
scope of this document. They are in the scope of EN 17033.
This document 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 defines the criteria for design for recycling of mulch films and refer to prEN 18109 for
the product lifecycle, including installation, use, removal and collection for end of life for management
of the product after its usage.
NOTE Mulch films can be highly soiled by organic and mineral residues at the end of their use life: the
observed rates (or levels) of soilage of mulch films can vary from 70 % to 90 %, therefore the film thickness is a
key factor on the rate of soilage, the thinnest films will be the mostly soiled, difficult, expensive to remove, recover
...