23 June 1999

A suite of five new Euro Norms (ENs) are being introduced to cover plastic soil and waste piping systems, eventually superseding the existing well-known British Standards BS 5254, BS 5255 and BS 4514. Although all of the familiar UK soil and waste pipes and fitting will remain current, including imperial sizes, specifiers need to understand how the new Euro Norms affect their work. The British Plastics Federation (BPF) Pipes Group is issuing a series of seven technical bulletins, outlining all the information needed for a smooth transition from BSs to ENs.

The new ENs cover all of the different types of plastic materials familiar to British specifiers, with, unlike the old British Standards which was system standard, a separate standard for each material:

BS EN 1329-1: covers PVC-U and replaces BS 5255 for MUPVC thick-walled fittings

BS EN 1451-1: covers Polypropylene (PP) fittings and replaces BS 5254

BS EN 1455-1: covers ABS pipes and fittings previously under BS 5255

BS-EN 1519-1: covers Polyethylene(PE) products embraced by BS 5255 (Table 2 Sizes)

BS EN 1566-1: covers PVC-C items and replaces BS 5255 for MUPVC pipe and thin- walled fittings

In order to minimise confusion, UK manufacturers will continue to mark their products with imperial 1¼, 1½" and 2" sizes, along with the equivalent new size in millimetres from the appropriate EN, although the products themselves will not change.

The new standards also have a provision to allow manufacturers to produce products with different wall thickness for different locations and applications. Specifiers need to be certain that they specify a product with a sufficient wall thickness for their particular application. The BPF bulletin sheets cover this issue in detail.

In the UK, polypropylene systems have always been covered by two different standards, BS 5255 and BS 5254, a throwback to the old imperial copper system sizes. BS 5255 polypropylene systems have not been incorporated in the new ENs but BS 5254 products have been included in BS EN 1451-1 and will continue to be manufactured in this country under the new standards.

The new ENs are being published in tranches, starting in summer 1999 and supersede their British equivalents by June 2001. Until that time, specifiers can continue to use the existing British Standards or the new ENs.

Frank Jones, Director of the BPF Pipes Group comments, "The UK team on the European committees has worked hard to ensure that traditional British products are included in the new ENs and that imperial sizes are also incorporated." He continues, "The whole UK plastic pipes and fitting industry is working together to ensure that the changeover from the old British Standards to the new Euro Norms is as smooth and as painless as possible. Your usual supplier, or the BPF, will be pleased to answer specifiers' technical questions as the transition period proceeds."

The BPF Pipes Group is made up of the UK's leading plastic pipe and fitting manufacturers and covers rainwater, soil and waste, and underground drainage products. The group was set up to promote plastic and educate the building and construction industries about the benefits of using plastic pipes. Its members offer a full technical and advisory service for specifiers, installers and stockists of plastic pipe. Copies of BPF technical bulletins on the new standards can be obtained by calling Frank Jones on 0171 457 5024.

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