🔩 Liquid penetrant testing of sand, gravity die and low-pressure die castings — classification of non-linear isolated (SP) and clustered (CP), linear (LP) and aligned (AP) indications, severity levels from Tables 1 and 2 (e.g. SP 2, LP 5), assessment in a 105 mm × 148 mm frame (A6 format) at the most unfavourable location, observation by eye or at up to 3× magnification, PN-EN 1371-1

Materials and NDT PN-EN 1371-1

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN 1371-1:2012 (English version), in full (our translation of the Polish card text): “Penetrant testing of all castings (except castings of copper-tin and/or copper-tin-lead alloys, where copper is the main constituent) produced in conventional sand moulds, gravity dies and at low pressure, wherever their grades and casting technologies are used for producing castings, is specified. It does not apply to investment castings made by the lost-wax method and to pressure die castings”. We read the text of the standard in the preview of SIST EN 1371-1:2012 (EN 1371-1:2011) from the cover to Table 1 (page 9; table read from the page image); we do not have Tables 2 and 3 (linear and aligned indications, surface condition) or Annexes A–G.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 1371-1:2011 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–9, Table 1). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 190 “Foundry technology” (secretariat DIN), working group WG 11 “Surface inspection”; it superseded EN 1371-1:1997. It is one of two standards on penetrant testing of castings (the other — EN 1371-2, investment castings); the changes from the previous edition are given in Annex G. Introduction: the standard supplements the general principles of penetrant testing of EN 571-1 with requirements for castings; the testing is part of the quality assessment of a casting agreed between manufacturer and purchaser at the time of order. Scope (Clause 1): castings from conventional sand moulds, gravity die and low-pressure die casting, except investment castings and high-pressure die castings; all cast metals except copper-tin and/or copper-tin-lead alloys with copper as the major constituent. Normative references: EN 473 (qualification of NDT personnel), EN 571-1 (general principles of penetrant testing), EN ISO 3059 (viewing conditions). Conditions (Clause 3): the manufacturing stage(s) of testing are agreed at the time of order; the testing applies to the agreed surfaces and the agreed percentage or number of castings; for each area the type of discontinuity and the severity level are indicated; sensitivity depends on the test method and surface condition, so penetrants and method shall detect the required minimum level; the conversion of levels from EN 1371-1:1997 (Table 3 of that edition) to Table 2 of the present edition is given in Table A.1. Method (4.1): testing according to EN 571-1, the characteristics of the penetrant materials are checked according to specifications agreed between manufacturer and purchaser. Personnel (4.2): unless otherwise agreed, qualified according to EN 473 or an equivalent certification scheme. Surface preparation (4.3): clean, free from rust, sand, scale, moulding and mould coating residues, oil, grease, paint and other contaminants; shot blasting is not recommended before testing except for sand-moulded castings — if necessary, as light as possible so as not to seal discontinuities; if the risk of sealing is unacceptable, blasting is followed by chemical etching and the bath composition, concentration, temperature, time, neutralizing and rinsing are recorded; surface finish according to Table 3 unless otherwise specified in the order (note: assessment with a visual cast-surface roughness comparator according to EN 1370 is recommended). Viewing conditions (4.4): with the naked eye or at a magnification of up to 3×, conditions according to EN ISO 3059. Indications (5.1, 5.2): non-linear (isolated or clustered), aligned or linear; the testing does not determine the size of discontinuities, only the length L of the indication (the operator evaluates the size of the indication, not of the real discontinuity); symbols: L — length, W — width, P — penetrant, SP — non-linear isolated, CP — non-linear clustered, AP — aligned, LP — linear; linear (LP): largest dimension at least three times the smallest (L ≥ 3W); non-linear: L < 3W, isolated (SP) or clustered (CP — area of multiple indications whose distances cannot be measured); aligned (AP): linear ones with a distance smaller than the length of the longest discontinuity in the alignment, or non-linear ones less than 2 mm apart, at least three. Severity levels (5.3): according to Tables 1 and 2, testing on a surface with the finish of Table 3 depending on the level; the type of indications and the level are specified in the order by the purchaser depending on the use of the casting, with the manufacturer’s agreement; Table 1 — non-linear isolated and clustered, Table 2 — linear and aligned; the tables are independent; the reference figures in Annexes C, D and E are for guidance only. Classification (Clause 6): a 105 mm × 148 mm frame (A6 format) is placed at the most unfavourable location and the indications are compared with the equivalent or immediately better level (for castings smaller than the frame the criteria are proportional to the area); indications are equivalent with the same number of non-linear spots or the same length of linear indications of similar appearance; if for any type of indication the observed level is worse than ordered — the casting does not conform, if equal or better — it conforms; example of requirements: SP 2, LP 5 and AP 5; note: the level designations are arbitrary and do not form one progression across tables. Retesting (Clause 7), post-cleaning (Clause 8) and test report (Clause 9) — according to EN 571-1; a trilingual report model in Annex F. Table 1 — levels for non-linear indications (SP 01*, SP 02, SP 03, SP 1, SP 2, SP 3, SP 4, SP 5; CP 01*, CP 02, CP 03, CP 1, CP 2, CP 3; * — level reserved for particular uses): observation with magnifying glass or eyes at a magnification ≤ 3 only for level 01, for the others by eye (magnification 1); length of the smallest indication to be considered 0,3; 0,5; 1; 1,5; 2; 3; 5; 5 mm; maximum number of non-linear indications 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 12, 20, 32; maximum size of SP indication 1; 1; 1,5; 3; 6; 9; 14; 21 mm; CP indications (aluminium alloys only, maximum 2 per area) 3, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25 mm for CP 01…CP 3, none for SP 4 and SP 5 (dash); references to Figures C.1–C.5 and D.1–D.3; notes: only the values of the table are valid, sensitivity depends on the method, indications may grow over time. This is where the extract we read ends.

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN 1371-1:2012 (English version) has no “Withdrawn” header — the standard is CURRENT: published 31-01-2012, 26 pages, price group M, Metallurgy Sector, KT 301 Foundry, ICS 77.140.80 and 77.150.99, “Introduces: EN 1371-1:2011 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 1371-1:2002 – Polish version”. PN-EN 1371-1:2002 (Polish version, introduced EN 1371-1:1997) — withdrawn 31-01-2012. The standards referenced in the text are withdrawn today: PN-EN 571-1:1999 — withdrawn 06-08-2013, replaced by PN-EN ISO 3452-1:2013-08, which was withdrawn 03-12-2021 and replaced by PN-EN ISO 3452-1:2021-12 (current, English version; use of white light or UV-A 365 nm); EN 473 — there is no Polish card of PN-EN 473:2008 (404), PN-EN ISO 9712:2012 (Polish version) replaced PN-EN 473:2008 and was withdrawn 14-09-2022 in favour of PN-EN ISO 9712:2022-09 (current, English version). PN-EN ISO 3059:2013-06 (Polish version) — current.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 02.10.2026). The number 1371-1 appears in 13 records at 9 laboratories: AB 001 (5 — the same position at several sites), AB 313, AB 608, AB 904, AB 1336, AB 1425, AB 1505, AB 1827, AB 1978 (1 each). In the current scopes on the PCA website (read 02.10.2026, issues from 23.04.2025 to 02.09.2026) the number appears at all 9: with the year “2012” at AB 001, AB 313, AB 1336, AB 1425, AB 1505, AB 1827 and AB 1978, without a year at AB 608 and AB 904. No row is set in bold italics. The “Laboratories” tab searches entries BEGINNING WITH “PN-EN 1371-1” and shows all 9 laboratories and 13 positions — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (positions in PCA). Castings (metal) — external surface discontinuities open to the tested surface, penetrant method (PT). Almost everywhere the same position also lists PN-EN ISO 3452-1:2021-12 and PN-EN 1371-2:2015-03 (investment castings); AB 001 still lists PN-EN 571-1:1999 (withdrawn), AB 904 PN-EN ISO 3059; AB 313, AB 1336, AB 1425, AB 1505 next to forgings (PN-EN 10228-2) and tubes (PN-EN ISO 10893-4 and -5).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. In preparation: shot blasting can seal discontinuities — practically allowed only for sand castings and as light as possible, if needed with chemical etching; a “clean” surface without indications after heavy blasting does not prove the absence of defects. In surface condition: the severity level requires an adequate finish (Table 3) — on a surface that is too rough small indications are not detected. In assessment: the 105 × 148 mm frame is placed at the MOST UNFAVOURABLE location; Tables 1 and 2 are assessed independently and the casting does not conform if even one type of indication exceeds the ordered level; the size of the indication is evaluated, not of the discontinuity. In references: EN 571-1 and EN 473 have been replaced (PN-EN ISO 3452-1:2021-12, PN-EN ISO 9712:2022-09) — requirements for the process and personnel are taken today from the newer standards, and a scope with “PN-EN 571-1:1999” (AB 001) points to a standard withdrawn in 2013. In material: investment castings (PN-EN 1371-2) and high-pressure die castings are outside the scope.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have Table 2 (LP and AP levels), Table 3 (required surface condition), Annex A (conversion of levels from the 1997 edition), B (types of discontinuities), C–E (reference figures), F (report model) or G (changes) — we therefore give no levels for linear and aligned indications and no roughness requirements.

Method principle

The casting is tested by the penetrant method according to the general principles (today PN-EN ISO 3452-1) on a clean surface with a finish appropriate to the severity level; indications are observed by eye or at up to 3× magnification, divided into non-linear isolated (SP), clustered (CP), linear (LP, L ≥ 3W) and aligned (AP), and compared in a 105 × 148 mm frame placed at the most unfavourable location with the severity levels of Tables 1 and 2 ordered by the purchaser.

Applications

• Castings from sand moulds, gravity dies and low-pressure die casting of all metals except Cu-Sn and Cu-Sn-Pb alloys — discontinuities open to the surface (9 laboratories)
• Acceptance of castings according to the severity levels SP, CP, LP, AP agreed in the order
• Limit: investment castings (PN-EN 1371-2) and high-pressure die castings — outside the scope

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 1371-1:2012 (wersja angielska; EN 1371-1:2011 IDT)

Title (PL)

Odlewnictwo — Badania penetracyjne — Część 1: Odlewy wykonane w formach piaskowych, kokilach i pod niskim ciśnieniem

Title (EN)

Founding — Liquid penetrant testing — Part 1: Sand, gravity die and low pressure die castings

Step-by-step procedure

1. Agreements

   Manufacturing stage, surfaces tested, percentage of castings, type of indications and severity level for each area — at the time of order. PN-EN 1371-1:2012 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Surface preparation

   Removal of rust, sand, scale, moulding materials, oils and paints; shot blasting only for sand castings and as light as possible, if needed etching; surface condition according to Table 3.

3. Penetrant testing

   According to the general principles (EN 571-1, today PN-EN ISO 3452-1) by qualified personnel (EN 473, today PN-EN ISO 9712); observation by eye or at magnification ≤ 3×, conditions according to EN ISO 3059.

4. Classification of indications

   Division into SP, CP, LP, AP; 105 × 148 mm frame at the most unfavourable location; comparison with the level of Table 1 (non-linear) and Table 2 (linear, aligned) — independently.

5. Assessment and report

   Casting conforms when each type of indication has a level equal to or better than ordered; retesting, cleaning and report according to the general principles; report model — Annex F (NOT GIVEN).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Penetrant materials may be flammable and irritant, chemical etching baths corrosive; eye protection with UV-A; shot blasting — dust and noise; the extract of the standard we read contains no safety warnings
• TECHNICAL NOTE: the standards referenced in the text (EN 571-1, EN 473) are withdrawn — process and personnel according to PN-EN ISO 3452-1:2021-12 and PN-EN ISO 9712:2022-09; the size of the indication is evaluated, not of the real discontinuity

Frequently asked questions