1. Introduction
The Hellenic Organization for Standardization (ELOT), recognizing the long-standing need of the country’s numerous plastic PVC pipe manufacturers’, established, in the end of 1985 the Plastic Pipe Testing Laboratory. Its establishment was made possible through funding by the MOP of Northern Greece, aiming at creating the necessary infrastructure for improving quality of the Greek products. The laboratory expanded its test activities to cover polymer and rubber materials, and after the completion of its infrastructure upgrade, funded by the Operational Programme (1994-1999), it was renamed, in 1999, into Polymers and Rubber Testing Laboratory.
The Polymers and Rubber Testing Laboratory of ELOT privately owned facilities of 800m2, based in the industrial area of Thessaloniki in Sindos, is very conveniently located at the crossroads of road and train transportation. It accommodates sample preparation, sample examination, pressure testing, mechanical testing, as well as heat and chemical testing sections, and is equipped with machinery of high quality standards and great precision.
The Polymers and Rubber Testing Laboratory was appointed by the Ministry of Development, in 1996, as the recognized body for conducting the necessary testing for enforcing standardization and product certification of unplastisized polyvinyl chloride (hard PVC) pipe systems. The laboratory has long established itself as an extremely competent supplier of pertinent services, covering the needs of public organizations, as well as private manufacturing companies.
The Laboratory is accredited by the Hellenic Accreditation System S.A. (ESYD), certificate nr. 54, according to the standard ELOT EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, thus officially ensuring independence, integrity, impartiality and technical competency for all testing covered by its scope of accreditation.
2. Services provided
1. Carrying out of testing according to International, European and National standards.
2. Issuing of test reports, assessing conformity of plastic pipes, within the framework of pertinent regulation.
3.“Type” testing, according to the ELOT Hellenic Conformity Mark for plastic pipe systems.
4. Testing, samples officially collected for the purpose of market surveillance.
5. Supply of technical assistance and information aimed at:
• Informing the technical and scientific community of standards regarding testing on materials and products covered by its scope of activities,
• Verifying conformity of technical specifications of the under supply plastic pipe systems, as required in the context of contract agreements,
• Carrying out of quality testing on plastic pipe systems, either in the case of long term testing , or in the case of absence of a similar testing facility at the manufacturer’s facilities,
• Providing information regarding the requirements of the Standards, related to the necessary measuring and testing equipment needed either throughout production or quality testing procedures,
• Disseminating knowledge to the manufacturers and users regarding the anticipated modifications of the standards, as foreseen through the participation of the technical Laboratory personnel to European/ international standardisation committees and European/international laboratory committees.
3. Technical capabilities
The Polymers and Rubber Testing Laboratory performs testing on raw material and final products (Plastic Pipe Systems constructed by unplastisized polyvinylchloride U-PVC), polyethylene (PE), cross linked polyethylene (XPE), polypropylene (ΡΡ), polyboutylene (ΡΒ) and other rubber products), according to pertinent International, European and National standards (ISO, EN, ELOT, BS, DIN, ASTM etc).
The main tests carried out in the Laboratory are the following:
• Resistance to, short and long term internal pressure according to ISO 1167, ELOT ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1452-2, ELOT ΕΝ 921, ELOT EN 12201-2, ELOT ΕΝ 1555-2, ELOT ΕΝ ISO 15875-2, DIN 8061, DIN 8075, DIN 16892, DIN 8078.
• Tightness according to ISO 3633, ELOT ΕΝ 1053, ELOT ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1055, ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1277, ELOT ΕΝ 13476-2.
• Tensile strength according to ELOT ΕΝ ISO 6259-1, 2, 3, ELOT ΕΝ 1555-2.
• Pendulum impact testing according to DIN 8061, DIN 8078.
• Resistance to falling weight impact according to ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1452-2, ELOT ΕΝ 13476-2, ELOT ΕΝ 744.
• Drop test according to ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 12061.
• Artificial weathering according to ISO 4892-2, ELOT ΕΝ 763, ASTM G154, BS 2782.
• Heat resistance according to ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1452-2, DIN 8075, DIN 8061, DIN 8078.
• Degree of gelation according to ELOT EN 580, ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1452-2.
• Vicat softening temperature according to ELOT ΕΝ 727, ELOT ΕΝ ISO 306, ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1452-2.
• Geometrical characteristics and appearance evaluation according to ELOT EN 12201-2, ELOT ΕΝ 1329-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1401-1, ELOT ΕΝ 1452-2, ELOT ΕΝ 1555-2, ELOT ΕΝ ISO 3127, DIN 8061, DIN 8075, DIN 8078.
• Melt flow index (MFI) according to ELOT EN ISO 1133, ELOT EN 12201-2, ELOT ΕΝ 1519-1
Expansion of above testing to large diameter plastic pipe systems (D >315mm), is accomplished through co-funding by the Operational Programme of”COMPETITIVENESS”
4. Legal frame
Greek legislation enforces compulsory conformance of plastic pipe systems constructed by unplastisized polyvinyl chloride (U-PVC), as following: those used for transportation of potable water and drainage to the Government law (KYA 14013), while those used for drainage systems in buildings to Government law (KYA 10347). Pertinent harmonized standards are ELOT EN 1401-1, ELOT EN 1452-2 and ELOT 1169-2 for potable water and drainage, and ELOT EN 1329-1 and ELOT 1256 drainage systems in buildings.
5. New Approach Directives-CE marking
The European Union proceeded to issuing new approach directives with the purpose of creating a common market of freely transported goods, services and people. In particular, these directives:
• Lay out the procedures for ensuring product conformity by the manufacturer,
• Specify the content of the technical file that documents product conformity, and
• Describe the conditions and manufacturers’ obligations in appending the CE mark on the manufactured products.
The CE marking is affixed visibly on the surface of the product that will circulate in the European Market and declares that the manufacturer certifies that the product:
1. is manufactured according to the pertinent harmonized European Standards that are compulsory to all countries of the European Union, as long as the product is covered by a corresponding New Approach European Directive, and
2. was subject to all necessary CE controls and testing, for conformity evaluation.
The plastic pipes and products made of plastic and rubber materials which adhere to the scope of Directive 89/106/EE for construction products, are covered by the Greek legislation by the Presidential Decretal 334/94.
6. Benefits from the cooperation with the Polymers and Rubber Testing Laboratory
1. Cooperation with an accredited Laboratory, by the Hellenic Accreditation System S.A. (ESYD), for numerous physical, dimensional and mechanical testing.
2. Years of experience in plastic pipes and their fittings testing.
3. Technical competency by a specialized staff.
4. Cooperation with international bodies, participation in international organizations and interlaboratory testing.
5. Free of charge, prompt and reliable information on the recent developments in the sectors of standardization/ quality/ safety.
6. Issuing test reports and results in English, when needed by the customer.
7. Minimal cost of testing, through member registration of ELOT.
7. Test performance procedure
1. Submission of a request for testing through an application obtained either at the laboratory premises, or through the web site of ELOT (www.elot.gr).
2. Shipment of a full set of samples to the Laboratory. Support is offered by specialized staff on the type, quantity, size etc, of samples necessary for each testing.
3. Carrying out of testing, payment of the invoice by the customer and delivery of the results.