The services of the Kiwa Italia Plastic Materials Laboratory, accredited LAB No. 0001L by ACCREDIA, are aimed at manufacturers of plastic pipes, fittings and systems who need to verify (under extreme operating conditions) that, the declared characteristics meet the requirements of the Reference Standards.

The Thermal Cycle Resistance test according to Standard UNI EN ISO 13257 is a test method for determining the resistance to high temperature cycles, of thermoplastic piping systems for non-pressure applications, installed inside buildings.

The test consists of subjecting a system of pipes and fittings to a given pattern of thermal cycling, using alternating hot and cold water for a given number of cycles during which the tightness of the joints is tested and the failure of the pipes is checked against a certain limit of acceptability. Filling of the pipe and fitting system is not done by induced pressures but by gravity, so the system is not pressurized.

The Temperature Cycle Resistance test according to Standard UNI EN ISO 19893 is a useful test method for determining the temperature cycle resistance of joints for piping systems with rigid or flexible thermoplastic pipes. It is applicable to thermoplastic piping systems intended for use in hot and cold water applications.

The test involves subjecting a system of pipes and fittings to a given pattern of thermal cycles, using alternating hot and cold water under pressure, for a given number of cycles. Alternating hot and cold cycles occur every 15 to 30 minutes in order to thermally stress the pipe and thus test its resistance to thermal shock. In case there are any leaks or ruptures before the end of the number of cycles (where cycle means the combination of hot and cold cycle), the outcome of the test will be negative.