BRITISH STANDARD BS EN

727:1995
BS 2782-11:
Method
1103V:1995

Plastics piping and

ducting systems —
Thermoplastics pipes
and fittings —
Determination of Vicat
softening temperature
(VST)

The European Standard EN 727:1994 has the status of a

British Standard

UDC 621.643.06:621.642.2-036.073:620.1:536.421.2
BS EN 727:1995

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted to Technical

Committee PRI/61, Plastic piping systems and components, upon which the
following bodies were represented:

British Gas plc

British Plastics Federation
British Plumbing Fittings Manufacturers’ Association
British Valve and Actuator Manufacturers’ Association
Department of the Environment (British Board of Agrément)
Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment)
Department of the Environment (Property and Buildings Directorate)
Department of Transport
Electricity Association
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Health and Safety Executive
Institute of Building Control
Institute of Materials
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Gas Engineers
Institution of Water and Environmental Management
National Association of Plumbing, Heating and Mechanical Services
Contractors
Pipeline Industries Guild
Plastics Land Drainage Manufacturers’ Assocociation
Society of British Gas Industries
Society of British Water Industries
Water Companies Association
Water Services Association of England and Wales

The following bodies were also represented in the drafting of the standard,
through subcommittees and panels:

ERA Technology Ltd.

Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association
RAPRA Technology Ltd.
This British Standard, having
been prepared under the direction
of the Materials and Chemicals
Sector Board, was published
under the authority of the
Standards Board and comes
into effect on
15 June 1995
Amendments issued since publication

© BSI 08-1999 Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference PRI/61
Draft for comment 92/41378 DC

ISBN 0 580 23986 1

 BS EN 727:1995

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
National foreword ii
Foreword 2
1 Scope 3
2 Normative references 3
3 Principle 3
4 Apparatus 3
5 Test pieces 3
6 Conditioning 4
7 Procedure 4
8 Test report 5
Figure 1 — Schematic diagram of apparatus for the determination of the
Vicat softening temperature 4
List of references Inside back cover

© BSI 08-1999 i
BS EN 727:1995

National foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of Technical
Committee PRI/61, and is the English language version of EN 727:1994 Plastics
piping and ducting systems — Thermoplastics pipes and fittings — Determination
of Vicat softening temperature (VST), published by the European Committee for
Standardization (CEN).
It is incorporated into BS 2782 Methods of testing plastics —
Part 11: Thermoplastics pipes, fittings and valves, as Method 1103V:1995, for
association with related test methods for plastics materials and plastics piping
components.
This test method has been prepared for reference by other standards under
preparation by CEN for specification of plastics piping systems and components.
It has been implemented to enable experience of the method to be gained and for
use for other fresh applications.
It is also for use for the revision or amendment of other national standards as
practicable, but it should not be presumed to apply to any existing standard or
specification which contains or makes reference to a different test method until
that standard/specification has been amended or revised to make reference to this
method and adjust any requirements as appropriate.
Cross-reference

International Standard Corresponding British Standard

ISO 306:1987 BS 2782 Methods of testing plastics

Part 1. Thermal properties
Methods 120A, 120B, 120D and 120E:1990
Determination of Vicat softening temperature of
thermoplastics

WARNING. This British Standard, which is the English language version of

EN 727:1994, does not necessarily detail all the precautions necessary to meet
the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Attention
should be paid to any appropriate safety precautions and the method should be
operated only by trained personnel.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN title page, pages 2 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 08-1999
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 727
NORNE EUROPÉENNE
August 1994
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

UDC 621.643.06:621.642.2-036.073:620.1:536.421.2

Descriptors: Plastic tubes, thermoplastic resins, pipe fittings, softening tests, softening point

English version

Plastics piping and ducting systems —

Thermoplastics pipes and fittings —
Determination of Vicat softening temperature (VST)

Systèmes de canalisations et de gaines Kunststoff-Rohrleitungs- und

plastiques — Tubes et raccords Schutzrohrsysteme — Rohre und Formstücke
thermoplastiques — Détermination de la aus Thermoplasten — Bestimmung der
température de ramollissement Vicat (VST) Vicat-Erweichungstemperatur (VST)

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This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1994-08-22. 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 Central Secretariat 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
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and
United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels

© 1994 Copyright reserved to CEN members

Ref. No. EN 727:1994 E
EN 727:1994

Foreword
This standard was prepared by CEN/TC 155,
Plastics piping systems and ducting systems.
This standard is based on ISO 2507:1982
Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and
fittings — Vicat softening temperature — Test
method and specification, published by the
International Organization for Standardization
(ISO). It is a modification of ISO 2507:1982 for
reasons of applicability to other plastics materials
and/or other test conditions and alignment with
texts of other standards on test methods.
The modifications are:
— no material is mentioned;
— the test force and the loading procedure have
been aligned with those of ISO 306:1987.
— test parameters, except those common to all
plastics, are omitted;
— no material-dependent requirements are
given;
— editorial changes have been introduced;
The material-dependent parameters and/or

ｗｗｗ．ｂｚｆｘｗ．ｃｏｍ
performance requirements are incorporated in the
System Standard(s) concerned.
No existing European Standard is superseded by
this standard.
This standard is one of a series of standards on test
methods which support System Standards for
plastics piping systems and ducting systems.
This standard has been prepared under a mandate
given to CEN by the Commission of the European
Communities and the European Free Trade
Association, and supports essential requirements of
the EC Directive(s).
In accordance with the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations, the following countries are bound to
implement this European Standard: Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, United Kingdom.

2 © BSI 08-1999

1 Scope
This standard specifies a method for determining
the Vicat softening temperature (VST) of pipes and
fittings (see note) of thermoplastics materials, based
on method B of ISO 306:1987, i.e. using a force
of (50 ± 1) N and a rate of temperature increase
of 50 °C/h.
A measure of the temperature is obtainable only for
those thermoplastics for which the softening
becomes rapid.
NOTE The term “fittings” is intended to also cover valves and
other ancillaries made of thermoplastics material(s).
2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or
undated references provisions from other
publications. These normative references are cited
at the appropriate places in the text and the
publications are listed hereafter. For dated
references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions
of, any of these publications apply to this European
Standard only when incorporated in it by
amendment or revision. For undated references, the
latest edition of the publication referred to applies.
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ISO 306:1987, Plastics — Thermoplastics
materials — Determination of Vicat softening
temperature.
3 Principle
The temperature at which a standard indenting tip
(see note 1 to 4.1) under a constant force
of (50 ± 1) N, penetrates 1 mm into the surface of a
test piece cut from the wall of the pipe or fitting is
determined when the temperature is raised at a
uniform rate.
The temperature at 1 mm penetration is quoted as
VST in degrees Celsius.
NOTE 1 It is assumed that the following test parameters are
set by the standard making reference to this standard:
a) if necessary, the temperature and time for predrying the
test pieces (see 4.2 and clause 6);
b) if necessary, the temperature to be used to flatten the lower
segment of a test piece (see 5.2.3);
c) if necessary, for testing a pipe or fitting, or a homogeneous
layer therefrom, with a wall thickness less than 1,2 mm, the
method of test piece preparation and mounting (see 5.2.3
and 7.2);
d) for structured-wall pipes and fittings, the method of test
piece preparation and mounting (see 5.2.3 and 7.2).
NOTE 2 It is assumed that the significance of results from
measurements which vary by more than 2 °C will be dealt with
by the referring standard.
© BSI 08-1999
EN 727:1994
4 Apparatus
4.1 Apparatus conforming to clause 4 of
ISO 306:1987 as necessary for testing in accordance
with method B when using a heating rate
of (50 ± 5) °C/h. For a schematic diagram,
see Figure 1.
NOTE 1 ISO 306:1987 specifies the indenting tip as follows.
Indenting tip, preferably of hardened steel, 3 mm long, of circular
cross section, and area (1,000 ± 0,015) mm2, fixed at the bottom
of the rod. The lower surface of the indenting tip shall be plane
and perpendicular to the axis of the rod and free from burrs.
NOTE 2 The uniform rate of temperature rise can be obtained
by controlling the heat either manually or automatically,
although the latter is strongly recommended. If a cooling coil is
used in the liquid of the heating bath, in order to reduce the time
required to lower the temperature between two consecutive tests,
it is necessary to remove or drain such a coil before starting a new
test, as boiling of residual coolant can affect the rate of
temperature rise.
4.2 Oven with air circulation or other appropriate
apparatus, if applicable (see clause 6), capable of
maintaining the temperature specified by the
referring standard, for predrying and/or annealing
the test pieces.
5 Test pieces
5.1 Sampling
5.1.1 Pipes
The test pieces shall consist of segments of rings,
removed from the pipe, limited by cross sections and
having the following dimensions:
— length: approximately 50 mm;
— width: between 10 mm and 20 mm.
5.1.2 Fittings
The test pieces shall consist of segments of rings
removed from the socket(s) or the spigot(s) of the
fitting, limited by cross sections with a length as
long as possible with a maximum of 50 mm. Where
a fitting has no socket or spigots then the test piece
shall be taken from a convenient section of the
fitting.
The width of each test piece shall be between 10 mm
and 20 mm.
The test pieces shall be cut from a zone which does
not include a weld line, injection point or an insert.
5.2 Preparation
5.2.1 Wall thickness greater than 6 mm
For a wall thickness greater than 6 mm, reduce the
thickness to 6 mm by machining the outer surface
only of the pipe or fitting, using a technique which
does not cause tangible heating of the non-planar
surfaces of the test piece.
NOTE Reduction to 6 mm (not 4 mm as given in ISO 306) is
considered sufficient for the purposes of this standard.
3
EN 727:1994

If the socket of the fitting is threaded, machine the
threaded part until a smooth surface is obtained.
5.2.2 Wall thickness between 2,4 mm and 6 mm
Test pieces of wall thickness between 2,4 mm
and 6 mm shall be tested using the full wall
thickness.
5.2.3 Wall thickness less than 2,4 mm
If the wall thickness of the pipe or fitting is less
than 2,4 mm but not less than 1,2 mm, each test
piece shall comprise two ring segments
superimposed so as to obtain an overall thickness of
at least 2,4 mm. Flatten the lower segment, which
will serve as a base (see 7.2), by heating it to the
specified temperature [see item b) of note 1 to
clause 3] for 15 min, while resting a thin metal plate
on it. The upper segment shall not be flattened.
If the wall thickness of the pipe or fitting is less
than 1,2 mm, the preparation and mounting of the
test piece shall be as specified in the referring
standard.
5.3 Number of test pieces
Use two test pieces for each test, but provide
additional test pieces, in case the difference between
the results is too great (e.g. > 2 °C, see 7.7).

6 Conditioning

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If required by the referring standard, predry and/or
anneal and/or condition the test pieces as specified
in the referring standard [see item a) of note 1 to
clause 3, and 4.2].

7 Procedure
7.1 Raise the heating bath to a temperature
about 50 °C lower than that anticipated for the VST
of the product under test (see note 2 to 4.1).
Maintain this temperature constant.
7.2 Mount the test piece horizontally under the
indenting tip of the unloaded rod (see Figure 1) so
that the tip rests on the concave face of the test
piece. Ensure that the interface between the base of
the apparatus and the test piece, i.e. the underside
of a stacked test piece (see 5.2.3) or the line of
contact of a single test piece, is continuous.
Key
A Dial gauge micrometer
(Hence, in the case of pipes and fittings with a wall
thickness of less than 2,4 mm, the indenting tip will
B Interchangeable weight
rest on the concave surface of the non-flattened
C Load-carrying plate segment, the latter being placed on the flattened
D Assembly of rod and indenting tip supporting the segment.) The indenting tip shall at no point be less
load- carrying plate than 3 mm from the edge of the test piece.
E Approximate level of liquid 7.3 Immerse the assembly in the heating bath
F Indenting tip (see 7.1). The bulb of the thermometer or sensitive
G Test piece part of the temperature-measuring instrument
shall be at the same level as, and as close as possible
H Flattened lower segment (see 5.2.3)
to, the test piece.
Figure 1 — Schematic diagram of apparatus
for the determination of the Vicat softening
temperature

4 © BSI 08-1999

7.4 After 5 min, with the indenting tip still in
position, add the weight to the load-carrying plate
(see Figure 1) so that the total thrust on the test
piece is (50 ± 1) N. Then note the reading of the
micrometer dial gauge (or other
indentation-measuring instrument) (see Figure 1)
or set the instrument to zero.
7.5 Increase the temperature of the bath at a
uniform rate of (50 ± 5) °C/h; stir the liquid well
during the test.
7.6 Note the temperature of the bath at which the
indenting tip has penetrated into the test piece
by (1 ± 0,01) mm beyond its starting position, as
noted or set in accordance with 7.4, and record it as
the Vicat softening temperature (VST) of the test
specimen.
7.7 Express as the VST, in degrees Celsius, of the
pipe or fitting under test the arithmetic mean of the
VSTs of the test pieces tested. If the difference
between the two results exceeds 2 °C, record the
individual results [see item f) of clause 8] and repeat
the test once using a further set of at least two test
pieces (see 5.3).
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© BSI 08-1999
EN 727:1994
8 Test report
The test report shall include the following
information:
a) a reference to this standard and to the
referring standard;
b) a complete identification of the pipe or fitting
tested;
c) the thickness of the test pieces and, if
applicable (see 5.2.3), whether they consisted of
two parts or were otherwise specified by the
referring standard;
d) the liquid or other heat-transfer medium;
e) if any, the method(s) of predrying, annealing
and conditioning used (see clause 6);
f) the Vicat softening temperature (VST) (the
average of the results) obtained for the pipe or
fitting or, if the difference between results for
single test pieces exceeded 2 °C, the result for
each of the test pieces and the results of the
repeat test;
g) any alterations in the appearance of the test
pieces before and after their immersion;
h) any factors which may have affected the
results, such as any incidents or any operating
details not specified in this standard;
i) the date of test.
5
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6 blank
 BS EN 727:1995

List of references

See national foreword.

© BSI 08-1999
BS EN
727:1995
BS 2782-11: BSI — British Standards Institution
Method
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1103V:1995 British Standards. It presents the UK view on standards in Europe and at the
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