SIST EN 13100-3:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies methods for the manual ultrasonic examination of heated tool, electrofusion, extrusion and hot gas joints in plastics materials. It applies to joints in single wall pipes and plates. The range of thicknesses covered is from 10 mm to 100 mm.; This document does not specify acceptance levels of the indications.

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Jul-2025
• Publication Date: 13-Sep-2026
• ICS: 25.160.40 - Welded joints and welds
• ICS: 83.140.01 - Rubber and plastics products in general
• Technical Committee: IPMA - Polimer materials and products
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 04-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 09-Nov-2026
• Completion Date: 14-Sep-2026
• Ref Project: EN 13100-3:2026 - Non-destructive testing of welded joints in thermoplastics semifinished products - Part 3: Ultrasonic testing

• Revises: SIST EN 13100-3:2005 - Non destructive testing of welded joints in thermoplastics semi-finished products - Part 3: Ultrasonic testing
• Effective Date: 07-Aug-2024

Overview

SIST EN 13100-3:2026 outlines standardized procedures for manual ultrasonic testing of welded joints in thermoplastics semifinished products. Developed by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST), this standard addresses non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for joints in single wall pipes and plates made from plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and other thermoplastics. Specifically, it covers the ultrasonic examination of joints created by heated tool, electrofusion, extrusion, and hot gas welding processes, within a thickness range of 10 mm to 100 mm.

This standard aims to ensure reliable inspection of weld integrity without damaging the components. It is a vital reference for ensuring the quality and safety of welded thermoplastic products, particularly where regulatory or customer requirements specify NDT compliance.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability: The document applies to the ultrasonic testing of welded joints in single wall thermoplastics pipes and plates, including PE and related polymers, for wall thicknesses from 10 mm to 100 mm.
• Ultrasonic Testing Techniques: It describes methods for manual ultrasonic examination, covering normal incidence longitudinal wave, angled longitudinal wave, tandem, time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD), and creeping wave techniques.
• Personnel and Equipment: Requirements include using qualified personnel (in accordance with EN ISO 9712) and compliant ultrasonic testing instruments and probes (as per EN ISO 22232 series).
• Preparation and Performance: It stipulates requirements for joint preparation, probe selection, range and sensitivity settings, reference block use, and signal-to-noise management.
• Examination Volume and Surface Preparation: Guidance is provided on the volume to be examined and ensuring scanning surfaces are smooth, clean, and adequately prepared for effective coupling.
• Reporting: The standard details the minimum requirements for examination reporting, including test object identification, equipment, technique, results, and deviations.

Applications

Implementing SIST EN 13100-3:2026 is valuable in sectors where thermoplastic pipes and plates are joined by welding, particularly:

• Utility and Infrastructure: Water, gas, and sewage pipelines assembled from thermoplastic pipes frequently require ultrasonic NDT of electrofusion and butt-fusion welds to confirm joint integrity before commissioning.
• Chemical and Industrial Plants: Storage tanks, containment vessels, and process lines fabricated from plastic plates benefit from NDT to ensure welded seams meet quality requirements.
• Manufacturing and Fabrication: Pipe and plate fabricators use this standard for quality assurance during production, reducing the risk of failure in service and supporting traceability.
• Regulatory Compliance and Certification: The standard is essential for meeting European and international requirements regarding product safety, especially where product certification or third-party inspection is required.

Related Standards

For comprehensive compliance and optimal ultrasonic testing, the following standards are often referenced alongside SIST EN 13100-3:2026:

• EN ISO 9712: Qualification and certification of NDT personnel
• EN ISO 16811: Ultrasonic testing - Sensitivity and range setting
• EN ISO 22232 (Parts 1, 2, 3): Characterization and verification of ultrasonic test equipment
• EN ISO 16828: Ultrasonic testing - TOFD technique for detection and sizing of discontinuities
• ISO/TS 16943: Phased array ultrasonic testing for polyethylene electrofusion joints
• ISO/TS 22499: Phased array ultrasonic testing for polyethylene butt fusion joints

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By aligning procedures with SIST EN 13100-3:2026, organizations can enhance the reliability and safety of welded thermoplastics installations, support client and regulatory requirements, and ensure consistent quality in manufacturing and construction processes.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Neporušitveno preskušanje zvarjenih spojev plastomernih polizdelkov - 3. del:
Ultrazvočno preskušanje
Non destructive testing of welded joints in thermoplastics semifinished products - Part 3:
Ultrasonic testing
Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung von Schweißverbindungen thermoplastischer Kunststoffe - Teil
3: Ultraschallprüfung
Contrôle non destructif des assemblages soudés sur produits semi-finis en
thermoplastiques - Partie 3 : Contrôle par ultrasons
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 13100-3:2026
ICS:
25.160.40 Varjeni spoji in vari Welded joints and welds
83.140.01 Izdelki iz gume in polimernih Rubber and plastics products
materialov na splošno in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 13100-3
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
August 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 25.160.40; 83.140.01 Supersedes EN 13100-3:2004
English Version
Non-destructive testing of welded joints in thermoplastics
semifinished products - Part 3: Ultrasonic testing
Contrôle non destructif des assemblages soudés sur Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung von Schweißverbindungen
produits semi-finis en thermoplastiques - Partie 3 : an Halbzeugen aus thermoplastischen Kunststoffen -
Contrôle par ultrasons Teil 3: Ultraschallprüfung
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 19 July 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 13100-3:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 5
5 General. 6
6 Information required prior to examination . 6
6.1 Examination procedure . 6
6.2 Information required by the operator . 6
6.3 Written examination procedure . 6
7 Requirements for personnel and equipment . 7
7.1 Personnel qualifications . 7
7.2 Equipment . 7
7.3 Probe parameters . 7
7.3.1 Frequency . 7
7.3.2 Angles of incidence . 7
7.3.3 Focusing. 7
7.3.4 Wedge material . 7
7.3.5 Adoption of probes to curved scanning surfaces . 7
8 Examination volume . 8
9 Preparation of scanning surfaces . 8
10 Range and sensitivity setting . 9
10.1 General. 9
10.2 Reference level . 10
10.3 Evaluation levels . 11
10.4 Transfer correction . 11
10.5 Signal-to-noise ratio. 12
11 Examination technique . 12
11.1 Standard ultrasonic techniques. 12
11.1.1 General. 12
11.1.2 Normal incidence longitudinal (compression) wave examination . 12
11.1.3 Angled longitudinal (compression) wave examination . 13
11.1.4 Tandem examination. 13
11.1.5 Time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) examination . 14
11.1.6 Creeping wave examination . 14
11.2 Location of indications . 15
11.3 Evaluation of indications . 15
11.3.1 General. 15
11.3.2 Maximum echo amplitude . 15
11.3.3 Indication length . 15
11.3.4 Indication height . 15
11.3.5 Characterization of discontinuities . 15
12 Examination report . 15
12.1 General . 15
12.2 Equipment . 16
12.3 Technique . 16
12.4 Results . 16
Bibliography . 18

European foreword
This document (EN 13100-3:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 249 “Plastics”,
the secretariat of which is held by SIS.
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 February 2027, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by February 2027.
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 13100-3:2004.
— the referenced standards have been updated, the figure showing the examination volume for
electrofusion joints has been revised and it has been specified that the setting of range and sensitivity
shall be carried out if the temperature of the joints being examined changes by more than 10 °C.
The EN 13100 series, under the general title Non-destructive testing of welded joints in thermoplastics
semi-finished products, consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Visual examination;
— Part 2: X-ray radiographic testing;
— Part 3: Ultrasonic testing;
— Part 4: High voltage testing.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations 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.
1 Scope
This document specifies methods for the manual ultrasonic examination of heated tool, electrofusion,
extrusion and hot gas joints in plastics materials. It applies to joints in single wall pipes and plates. The
range of thicknesses covered is from 10 mm to 100 mm.
This document does not specify acceptance levels of the indications.
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 1330-2, Non destructive testing — Terminology — Part 2: Terms common to the non-destructive testing
methods
EN ISO 5577, Non-destructive testing — Ultrasonic testing — Vocabulary (ISO 5577)
EN ISO 9712, Non-destructive testing — Qualification and certification of NDT personnel (ISO 9712)
EN ISO 16811, Non-destructive testing — Ultrasonic testing — Sensitivity and range setting (ISO 16811)
EN ISO 16826, Non-destructive testing — Ultrasonic testing — Testing for discontinuities perpendicular to
the surface (ISO 16826)
EN ISO 16828, Non-destructive testing — Ultrasonic testing — Time-of-flight diffraction technique for
detection and sizing of discontinuities (ISO 16828)
EN ISO 22232-1, Non-destructive testing — Characterization and verification of ultrasonic test
equipment — Part 1: Instruments (ISO 22232-1)
EN ISO 22232-2, Non-destructive testing — Characterization and verification of ultrasonic test
equipment — Part 2: Probes (ISO 22232-2)
EN ISO 22232-3, Non-destructive testing — Characterization and verification of ultrasonic test
equipment — Part 3: Combined equipment (ISO 22232-3)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 1330-2 and EN ISO 5577 apply.
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 Symbols and abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the following symbols and abbreviated terms apply:
t thickness of reference block (mm)
D diameter of the component (mm)
a dimension of the wedge in the direction of examination (mm)
5 General
The purpose of this document is to describe general methods of ultrasonic examination for the most
commonly used welded joints in thermoplastics. The specific requirements specified by this document
cover the equipment, preparation, performance of the examination and reporting. Methods to be used for
ultrasonic assessment of indications and acceptance criteria shall be specified.
6 Information required prior to examination
6.1 Examination procedure
The following items shall be specified:
— method for setting the reference level;
— method to be used for evaluation of indications;
— acceptance levels;
— examination level;
— manufacturing and operation stage(s) at which the examination is to be carried out;
— qualification of personnel;
— whether or not a written examination procedure is required;
— requirements for written examination procedures.
6.2 Infor
...