🔩 Liquid penetrant testing of investment castings — testing according to EN ISO 3452-1 on agreed surfaces, after cleaning without shot blasting (or with light shot blasting, with etching where there is a risk of closing discontinuities), viewing with the naked eye or at a magnification of at least 3×, classification of linear (LP, L ≥ 3 W), aligned (AP) and non-linear isolated (SP) or clustered (CP) indications in a 25 mm × 25 mm frame against the severity levels of Tables 1 and 2, PN-EN 1371-2

Materials and NDT PN-EN 1371-2

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of SIST EN 1371-2:2015 (text of EN 1371-2:2015, English): from the title page through the contents, foreword, introduction and Clauses 1–9 up to and including Table 1 with footnotes on page 9. Outside the sample remain Table 2 (linear and aligned indications), Table 3 (surface condition) and Annexes A–F (conversion of levels from the 1998 edition, nature of discontinuities, reference figures, test report model, technical changes).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 1371-2:2015 (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“Foundry technology” (secretariat DIN), working group WG 11 “Surface inspection”; CEN approved it on 12.12.2014, and it superseded EN 1371-2:1998. It is one of two standards on penetrant testing of castings — the other, EN 1371-1, covers sand, gravity die and low pressure die castings. Introduction: the standard complements the general principles of EN ISO 3452-1 with requirements for investment castings, taking account of the different dimension of the reference area and the different nature of discontinuities; penetrant testing, like any non-destructive examination, is part of the quality assessment agreed at the acceptance of the order. Scope (1): investment castings for general purposes, of all metals except copper-tin and copper-tin-lead alloy castings where copper is the major constituent. References (2): EN 1370, EN 4179, EN ISO 3059, EN ISO 3452-1, -2, -5, -6, EN ISO 9712. Conditions (3): the manufacturing stage, agreed surfaces and the percentage or number of castings are fixed at the time of ordering; for each area the type of discontinuity and severity level are stated; sensitivity depends on the method selected, surface condition, application of the casting and manufacturing stage, so the penetrants and method must detect the required level; conversion of the levels from Table 3 of the 1998 edition to Table 2 of this edition is in Table A.1. Method (4): testing according to EN ISO 3452-1, -2, -5 and -6, properties of penetrant materials according to specifications agreed by the parties; qualified personnel (e.g. EN ISO 9712 or EN 4179); surface clean, free from rust, scale, moulding residues, oil, grease, paint — mechanical, chemical or combined cleaning; shot blasting is not recommended, and if necessary — as light as possible so as not to close discontinuities, and where the risk is unacceptable — followed by chemical etching with the bath composition, concentration, temperature, time, neutralizing and rinsing recorded; surface condition according to Table 3, assessment with roughness comparators according to EN 1370 (recommended); viewing with the naked eye or at a magnification of at least 3, conditions according to EN ISO 3059. Criteria (5): non-linear (isolated SP or clustered CP), aligned (AP) or linear (LP) indications; the length L of the indication is assessed, not the real size of the discontinuity; LP — largest dimension at least three times the smallest (L ≥ 3 W); non-linear — L < 3 W; clustered — multiple indications cannot be separated by measurement; AP — linear when the distance is smaller than the length of the longest discontinuity in the alignment, or non-linear when the distance is less than 2 mm and there are at least three indications; severity levels for each type of indication are specified by the purchaser at ordering, and the manufacturer agrees; Tables 1 and 2 give the largest dimensions of the smallest indications to be considered and are independent of each other. Classification (6): a 25 mm × 25 mm frame is placed in the most unfavourable location; for castings smaller than 25 mm × 25 mm the criteria are in proportion to the area; the casting is non-conforming when the observed level is worse than ordered, conforming when equal or better; only the values of Tables 1 and 2 are binding, figures are informative; requirements written e.g. as “SP 2”, “LP 5”, “AP 5”; according to the notes level numbers are arbitrary and do not form one scale across tables. Retesting (7) and post-cleaning (8) — according to EN ISO 3452-1, corrosion protection if required; test report (9) — according to EN ISO 3452-1, trilingual model in Annex E. Table 1 (SP/CP, levels 1–8; levels 7 and 8 informative for specific dimensions): diameter of the smallest indication to be considered 0,3; 0,3; 0,5; 1; 1,5; 2; 3; 5 mm; maximum number of non-linear indications (SP + CP) 0; 2; 2; 2; 2; 2; 2; 1; maximum dimension of indication — SP 0,3; 1; 1,5; 2; 3; 5; 7; 10 mm, CP 0,3; 2; 3; 4; 6; 8; 11; 15 mm; indications can grow over time.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). The PKN search (term “PN-EN 1371-2”, 03.10.2026) shows 3 items: PN-EN 1371-2:2015-03 (English version, “Introduces: EN 1371-2:2015 [IDT]”) without a withdrawal note, and the withdrawn PN-EN 1371-2:2002 in the Polish version (replaced by PN-EN 1371-2:2015-03) and the English version. In the iTeh catalogue (read on 03.10.2026) EN 1371-2:2015 has the status “Published” and stage 90.93 “Decision to confirm — Review Enquiry” (start date 05.06.2025). Sand, gravity die and low pressure die castings are described in a separate entry on PN-EN 1371-1, and the general principles of penetrant testing in the entry on PN-EN ISO 3452-1.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read on 03.10.2026). The number 1371-2 appears in 10 records at 6 laboratories: AB 001 (5 records), AB 313, AB 608, AB 904, AB 1827, AB 1978. In the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026, issues from 23.04.2025 to 02.09.2026) the number appears in 10 rows of the same laboratories (AB 001 — 5, at five locations: Poznań, Warsaw, Płock, Kraków, Gliwice; the others 1 each). The form “PN-EN 1371-2:2015-03” (AB 001, AB 313, AB 1827, AB 1978) and “PN-EN 1371-2” without year (AB 608, AB 904 — flexible scope “E”); always together with PN-EN 1371-1, usually also with PN-EN ISO 3452-1 (at AB 904 also PN-EN ISO 3059, at AB 001 alongside PN-EN 571-1:1999). None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN 1371-2”) shows the same 6 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Castings (AB 001, AB 1827, AB 1978; at AB 313 “metal castings”, at AB 904 “castings” in scope “E”, at AB 608 “Odlewy / Castings” in scope “E”, bilingual) — discontinuities open to the tested surface, (external) surface discontinuities, penetrant method. No item distinguishes investment castings from sand castings — both parts of EN 1371 stand in one row. No measuring ranges are given; at AB 001 the items are marked with an asterisk (the laboratory issues opinions and interpretations).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With the surface: shot blasting can close discontinuities — it is not recommended, and if it is necessary and the risk of closing discontinuities is unacceptable — it is followed by etching with the parameters recorded (4.3). With requirements: the type of indication and level for each area are fixed at ordering — without them there is no acceptance criterion (3, 5.3.1). With classification: the 25 mm × 25 mm frame in the most unfavourable location; for small castings criteria in proportion to the area (6). With measurement: the size of the indication is assessed, not of the discontinuity (5.1.1, note). With scales: level numbers in Tables 1 and 2 are not comparable (6, note 1). With the material: not for copper-tin(-lead) alloy castings with copper as the major constituent (1).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not read Tables 2 and 3 (dimensions of linear and aligned indications, required surface condition), the conversion of levels from the 1998 edition, the nature of discontinuities, the reference figures or the test report model. Nor do we give penetrant process parameters from EN ISO 3452-1 (penetration and development times).

Method principle

After cleaning the surface (without shot blasting, or with shot blasting, followed by etching where there is a risk of closing discontinuities), the investment casting is penetrant tested according to EN ISO 3452-1 and viewed with the naked eye or at a magnification of at least 3× under EN ISO 3059 conditions. Indications are classified as linear (LP, L ≥ 3 W), aligned (AP) or non-linear isolated (SP) and clustered (CP) and compared in a 25 mm × 25 mm frame with the severity level agreed at ordering (Tables 1 and 2).

Applications

• Investment castings for general purposes — all metals except copper-tin(-lead) alloys with copper as the major constituent (1)
• Quality acceptance of castings according to SP/CP and LP/AP levels agreed in the order (3, 6)
• Castings, including metal castings — discontinuities open to the surface by the penetrant method in the accreditation scopes of 6 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 1371-2:2015-03

Title (PL)

Odlewnictwo — Badania penetracyjne — Część 2: Odlewy wykonane metodą wytapianych modeli

Title (EN)

Founding — Liquid penetrant testing — Part 2: Investment castings

Step-by-step procedure

1. Agreements

   Manufacturing stage, areas, percentage of castings, types of indications and severity levels fixed at ordering. PN-EN 1371-2:2015-03 without a withdrawal note (03.10.2026).

2. Surface preparation

   Mechanical or chemical cleaning; without shot blasting, or with shot blasting as light as possible, followed by etching where the risk of closing discontinuities is unacceptable (4.3).

3. Penetrant testing

   According to EN ISO 3452-1 (and -2, -5, -6) by qualified personnel.

4. Viewing and classification

   Naked eye or magnification ≥ 3×; LP, AP, SP, CP indications in a 25 mm × 25 mm frame.

5. Assessment and report

   Conforming when the level is equal to or better than ordered; report according to EN ISO 3452-1.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Penetrant materials and etching baths — according to safety data sheets; ventilation, skin and eye protection
• Shot blasting and mechanical treatment — hearing and eye protection

Frequently asked questions