🔩 Determination of the tensile properties of polyolefin pipes (polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutene) — stress at yield and elongation at break — according to the general method of ISO 6259-1 on test pieces of the full pipe wall thickness: die-cut (recommended for walls up to 12 mm) or machined (recommended above 12 mm); type 1 test piece (as 1B of ISO 527-2), type 2 (as type 2 of ISO 6259-2) or type 3 (as type B of ISO 13953), chosen according to wall thickness, PN-EN ISO 6259-3

Materials and NDT PN-EN ISO 6259-3

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in two iTeh samples: SIST EN ISO 6259-3:2015 (English text) — title page of EN ISO 6259-3:2015, European foreword, ISO foreword and introduction — and ISO 6259-3:2015 (French version) — from the title page to Table 2 (dimensions of type 2 test pieces) on page 3 inclusive. Outside the samples remain the dimensions of type 3 test pieces (Table 3), preparation of test pieces (6.2), cutting (6.3), machining (6.4), conditioning (7), test speed (8), procedure (9), expression of results (10), test report (11) and Annexes A–D (basic specifications for PE, PE-X, PP and PB pipes).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF ISO 6259-3:2015 AND THE FOREWORD OF EN ISO 6259-3:2015. The standard was prepared by ISO/TC 138 “Plastics pipes, fittings and valves for the transport of fluids”, Subcommittee SC 5 “General properties of pipes, fittings and valves of plastic materials and their accessories — Test methods and basic specifications”, in collaboration with CEN/TC 155 “Plastics piping systems and ducting systems” (secretariat NEN); CEN approved EN ISO 6259-3:2015 on 21.02.2015 without modification to ISO. The second edition replaces the first (ISO 6259-3:1997) as a technical revision; the ISO 6259 series has parts: 1 — general test method, 2 — PVC-U, PVC-C and PVC-HI pipes, 3 — polyolefin pipes. Introduction: the method can provide data for further testing for research and development; it cannot be regarded as significant for applications in which the conditions of force application differ considerably from those of the test — such applications require impact, creep and fatigue tests; tensile tests are principally regarded as tests of material in the form of pipe, and the results can be useful for material process control but are not a quantitative assessment of long-term pipe performance; ISO 6259 was drawn up on the basis of ISO 527, but ISO 527 applies to materials in sheet form and ISO 6259 to materials in pipe form; since pipes are tested as supplied, without reduction in thickness (which may exceed 50 mm), the choice of test pieces was changed — for thin-walled pipes the test piece can be die-cut, for thick pipes only machined; basic specifications of the materials are given in informative annexes. Scope (1): method for determining the tensile properties of polyolefin pipes (polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutene) and the following properties: stress at yield and elongation at break; Annexes A–D give the corresponding basic specifications for information. References (2): ISO 527-1:2012 and ISO 6259-1:2015. Terms (3): according to ISO 6259-1. Principle (4) and apparatus (5): according to ISO 6259-1:2015, Clauses 4 and 5. Test pieces (6.1): obtained by die cutting or machining; according to the note die cutting is preferable for wall thickness up to and including 12 mm, machining above 12 mm; care is recommended in die cutting to avoid damaging the test piece or producing non-parallel sides. Dimensions (6.1.2): type 1 (Figure 1, Table 1), type 2 (Figure 2, Table 2) or type 3 (Figure 3, Table 3) test piece, chosen according to the wall thickness of the pipe (6.2); according to the note type 1 is identical to type 1B of ISO 527-2, type 2 to type 2 of ISO 6259-2, and type 3 to type B of ISO 13953; to avoid slipping in the grips it is recommended to increase the end width B in proportion to the thickness en according to B = en + 15 mm. Type 1 (Table 1): overall length min. 150 mm, end width 20 ± 1 mm (may be larger according to the formula), length of the parallel-sided portion 60 ± 1 mm, its width 10 ± 0,2 mm, radius 60 ± 1 mm, gauge length 50 ± 1 mm, initial grip distance 115 ± 5 mm, thickness equal to that of the pipe. Type 2 (Table 2): overall length min. 115 mm, end width 25 ± 1 mm, length of the parallel-sided portion 33 ± 2 mm, its width 6 mm (+0,4/0), small radius 14 ± 1 mm, large radius 25 ± 2 mm, gauge length 25 ± 1 mm, initial grip distance 80 ± 5 mm, thickness equal to that of the pipe.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). The PKN search (term “PN-EN ISO 6259-3”, 03.10.2026) shows PN-EN ISO 6259-3:2015-08 in the Polish and English versions (both “Introduces: EN ISO 6259-3:2015 [IDT], ISO 6259-3:2015 [IDT]”) without a withdrawal note. In the iTeh catalogue (read on 03.10.2026) ISO 6259-3:2015 has the status “Published”, stage 90.92 (standard to be revised) since 18.09.2026.

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 6259-3 appears in 5 records at 5 laboratories: AB 005, AB 163, AB 237, AB 414, AB 1256. In the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026, issues from 26.11.2025 to 20.07.2026) the number appears in 5 rows — one at each; in each of the five documents the number of page markers equals the number of PDF pages, without repetitions; a search of all 1291 PCA documents downloaded from BIP on 03.10.2026 found no laboratories outside the database copy (17 laboratories on the list have no link to a scope document on BIP). At all of them the form “PN-EN ISO 6259-3:2015-08”, always together with PN-EN ISO 6259-1:2015-05 (at AB 237 and AB 1256 also with PN-EN ISO 6259-2:2021-03, at AB 005 and AB 163 — with parts of PN-EN ISO 527). None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (term “PN-EN ISO 6259-3”) shows 3 laboratories: AB 163, AB 237 and AB 414; AB 005 is under “PN-EN ISO 527-1” and AB 1256 under “PN-EN ISO 6259-1”, because those designations come first for them — checked with tab queries on the production server labcoda.pl on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Object: plastics, polymer composites, rubber, plastic pipes (AB 005), pipes, fittings and other plastic products (AB 163), thermoplastics pipes (AB 237, AB 1256), thermoplastics (AB 414). Characteristics: tensile strength and relative elongation at break, maximum load 300 kN, elongation up to 800 % (AB 005); tensile strength, yield point, relative elongation, maximum load 100 kN (AB 163); yield stress and elongation at break, maximum specimen load 15 kN (AB 237); elongation at break, tensile strength, yield point, machine range up to 10 kN (AB 414); elongation at break and at yield, yield stress, tensile strength, specimen load (25–30000) N (AB 1256).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With the test piece: the wall is not reduced — the test piece has the thickness of the pipe (Tables 1 and 2). With the cutting method: die cutting for walls up to 12 mm, machining above; die cutting easily causes damage and non-parallel sides (6.1.1). With the type of test piece: the type depends on wall thickness (6.1.2, 6.2). With slipping: wider ends according to B = en + 15 mm (6.1.2). With conclusions: the result concerns material in pipe form and process control, not pipe durability over time (introduction).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not read the dimensions of the type 3 test piece, the rules for choosing the type according to wall thickness, preparation and machining of test pieces, conditioning, test speed, procedure, calculation or the report (6.1.2 from Table 3, Clauses 6.2–11), nor the basic specifications of Annexes A–D.

Method principle

Dumb-bell test pieces with a thickness equal to the pipe wall are cut from the pipe — die-cut for walls up to 12 mm or machined for thicker walls — and stretched according to the general method of ISO 6259-1. Stress at yield and elongation at break are determined. The type of test piece (1, 2 or 3) is chosen according to wall thickness.

Applications

• Polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutene pipes (1)
• Process control of material in pipe form; data for further research and development testing (introduction)
• Pipes, fittings and thermoplastics — items in the accreditation scopes of 5 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 6259-3:2015-08

Title (PL)

Rury z tworzyw termoplastycznych — Oznaczanie właściwości przy rozciąganiu — Część 3: Rury poliolefinowe

Title (EN)

Thermoplastics pipes — Determination of tensile properties — Part 3: Polyolefin pipes

Step-by-step procedure

1. Choice of test piece

   Type 1, 2 or 3 according to wall thickness; die cutting or machining (6.1). PN-EN ISO 6259-3:2015-08 without a withdrawal note (03.10.2026).

2. Cutting

   Full wall thickness; ends widened according to B = en + 15 mm if slipping is likely (6.1.2).

3. Conditioning and tensile loading

   According to Clauses 7–9 (not read) and the general method of ISO 6259-1.

4. Result

   Stress at yield and elongation at break; expression of results and report according to Clauses 10–11 (not read).

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Test piece rupture under load — guarding of the grip area
• Cutting die and machine tool — guards and hand protection

Frequently asked questions