BS-EN-13655-2002.pdf

BRITISH STANDARD BS EN 13655:2002 Plastics Mulching thermoplastic films for use in agriculture and horticulture The European Standard EN 13655:2002 has the status of a British Standard ICS 83.140.10 ? Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI BS EN 13655:2002 This British Standard, having been prepared under the direction of the Materials and Chemicals Sector Policy and Strategy Committee, was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 October 2002 © BSI 31 October 2002 ISBN 0 580 40663 6 National foreword This British Standard is the official English language version of EN 13655:2002. The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee PRI/75, Plastic films and sheets, which has the responsibility to: A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary. Cross-references The British Standards which implement international or European publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Catalogue under the section entitled “International Standards Correspondence Index”, or by using the “Search” facility of the BSI Electronic Catalogue or of British Standards Online. This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application. Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations. aid enquirers to understand the text; present to the responsible international/European committee any enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the UK interests informed; monitor related international and European developments and promulgate them in the UK. Summary of pages This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, the EN title page, pages 2 to 16, an inside back cover and a back cover. The BSI copyright date displayed in this document indicates when the document was last issued. Amendments issued since publication Amd. No. DateComments Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM EN 13655 October 2002 ICS 83.140.10 English version Plastics - Mulching thermoplastic films for use in agriculture and horticulture Plastiques - Films thermoplastiques de paillage pour utilisation en agriculture et horticulture Kunststoffe - Thermoplastische Mulchfolien für den Einsatz in der Landwirtschaft und im Gartenbau This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 October 2001. 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 Management Centre 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 Management Centre has the same status as the official versions. CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom. EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36 B-1050 Brussels © 2002 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 13655:2002 E Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 2 Content FOREWORD3 1SCOPE 4 2NORMATIVE REFERENCES.4 3TERMS AND DEFINITIONS.4 4PLASTICS MATERIALS.5 5TYPES AND USE.5 6DURATION6 7REQUIREMENTS OF THE MULCHING FILMS7 8TEST METHOD 7 8.1APPEARANCE7 8.2THICKNESS7 8.3WIDTH7 8.4DETERMINATION OF TENSILE PROPERTIES.7 8.5DETERMINATION OF IMPACT RESISTANCE.7 8.6TOTAL LIGHT TRANSMISSION (TRANSPARENT AND DIFFUSING FILM).7 8.7IR EFFECTIVENESS (?IR).7 8.7.1Principle.7 8.7.2Apparatus.8 8.7.3Procedure.8 8.7.4Setting out the results .8 8.8RESISTANCE TO ARTIFICIAL WEATHERING.9 8.8.1Principle.9 8.8.2Apparatus.9 8.8.3Test conditions9 8.8.4Procedure.9 8.8.5Results 9 9DESIGNATION .9 10 MARKING.10 ANNEX A (NORMATIVE) MEASURE OF THE RELATIVE LIGHT TRANSMISSION.16 Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 3 FOREWORD This document (EN 13655:2002) has been prepared by. Technical Committee CEN /TC 249, “Plastics“ the secretariat of which is held by IBN. This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by April 2003, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at the latest by April 2003. According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following countries are bound to implement this document: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 4 1Scope This standard is applicable to transparent films, transparent clear and diffusing films (thermic) and black or black/white films based on polyethylene and its copolymers, which are designed to be used for mulching the vegetable, fruit and flower crops. This standard is intended to establish the basic requirements for the optical and mechanical characteristics of various types of film. From a detailed consideration of the different mulching plastics films used in agriculture and horticulture in the European market, different types of film are considered: - transparent films (normal) - transparent clear and diffusing films (thermic) - black and black/white films The range of thicknesses considered is from 10 ?m up to 250 ?m. 2Normative references This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated references, provisions from other publications. These normative references are cited at the appropriated places in the text and 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 (including amendments). EN 2155-5, Aerospace series - Test methods for transparent materials for aircraft glazing Part. 5 : Determination of visible light transmission EN ISO 527-1, Plastics - Determination of tensile properties - Part 1: General principles (ISO 527-1:1993 including corr. 1:1994) EN ISO 527-3, Plastics - Determination of tensile properties - Part 3: Test conditions for films and sheets (ISO 527- 3:1995) EN ISO 4892-2, Plastics - Method of exposure to laboratory light sources - Part 2: Xenon arc sources ISO 4591, Plastics - Film and sheeting - Determination of average thickness of a sample and average thickness and yield of a roll by gravimetric techniques (gravimetric thickness) ISO 4592, Plastics - Film and sheeting - Determination of length and width ISO 4593, Plastics - Film and sheeting - Determination of thickness by mechanical scanning ISO 7765-1, Plastics film and sheeting - Determination of impact resistance by the free falling dart method - Part 1: Staircase method 3Terms and definitions For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply: 3.1 width total width of the film when laid flat, given in millimetres. Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 5 3.2 nominal width width declared by the manufacturer in millimeters. 3.3 thickness given in micrometer. 3.4 nominal thickness thickness declared by the manufacturer in micrometers. 3.5 length of the roll largest dimension of the roll in mm. 3.6 longitudinal direction of the roll (MD) direction parallel to the length of the roll corresponding to the extrusion direction. 3.7 transverse direction of the roll (TD) direction parallel to the width (at right angles to the length). 4Plastics materials Mulching films are usually manufactured from: - low density polyethylene (PE-LD), linear low density polyethylene (PE-LLD) - ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (E/VAC) - ethylene butyl acrylate copolymers - blends of the above mentioned polymers and copolymers 5Types and use The different types of mulching films and their optical characteristics and use are shown in Table 1. Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 6 Table 1: Characteristics and use of mulching films TypeCharacteristicsUse NormalMedium transparencyWhen normal IR effectiveness is requested No influence on weeds growth Thermic clearHigh transparencyWhen high IR effectiveness is requested No influence on weeds growth Thermic diffusingDiffusing lightWhen high IR effectiveness and diffusing light is requested No influence on weeds growth Black or black/whiteVery low light transmissionPrevents weeds growth 6Duration The duration of a mulching film is declared by the manufacturer and is determined by testing the decrease of the tensile strain at break after artificial weathering (see 9.8).The film is classified as class N or A (see Table 2), depending on the time required to reduce the value of its tensile strain at break to the 50% of the initial value. Table 2 - Mulching films - Classification on the basis of the duration ClassDuration (hours) N? 400 A? 1 700 Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 7 7Requirements of the mulching films Table 3, 4 and 5 indicate the requirements of normal, thermic and diffusing, black and black/white films respectively. 8Test method 8.1Appearance This method is carried out as follows:first check the roll's winding. The free edges of the roll must be sealed with adhesive tape or by some other similar means, in order to prevent its unwinding.Then check if it has been wrapped onto the roll properly. The edges should be properly in line and there should be sufficient tension to prevent the various layers of the roll from transversal slipping while it is being handled (this should be done horizontally). Then unroll at least 2 m of film off the roll and examine it against the light, holding it tight at arms length in order to check its optical aspects.The film shall look homogeneous and free from visible defects which may affect its functionality. 8.2Thickness The thickness of the single points of the film shall be determined in accordance with ISO 4593 and average thickness shall be determined in accordance with ISO 4591. 8.3Width The width of the film shall be determined in accordance with ISO 4592. 8.4Determination of tensile properties The tensile properties shall be determined according to EN ISO 527-3 using a test specimen type 2 10 mm width with a test speed of 500 mm/min. Test procedure shall refer to EN ISO 527-1. 8.5Determination of impact resistance The determination of impact resistance (Dart drop test) shall be determined in accordance with ISO 7765-1 method A. Note - Films which are wider than 2000 mm are usually wound on a reel and folded lengthwise at least once.These folds are retained even when the film is laid out flat, and this may affect test results. Therefore, a distinction must be made between the sample sheets taken from the folds (“fold“ area) and sample sheets from areas which have not been folded (“flat“ area). 8.6Total light transmission (transparent and diffusing film) The total light transmission is determined in accordance with EN 2155-5 on five specimens cut from the mulching film. 8.7IR effectiveness (? ?ir) The IR effectiveness ?ir is the percentage of the total light transittance within wave numbers ranging from 1470 cm- 1 and 770 cm-1 8.7.1Principle The method consists of measuring the IR transmission spectrum of thermic film within wave numbers ranging from 1430 cm -1 to 770 cm -1 (between 7 ?m and 13 ?m wavelengths). Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 8 This range of wavelengths corresponds to the field of maximum emission of the energy irradiated by the earth's surface. 8.7.2Apparatus Infrared spectrophotometer allowing to measure and record continuously transmittance between 1500 and 700 cm- 1. Analytical balance with a 0,1 mg margin of error or planimeter. 8.7.3Procedure The measurement is done on 5 specimens taken from the film under test. Put each specimen to be checked on the specimen holder of the spectrophotometer and record the spectrum of transmission from 1500 cm-1 to 700 cm-1. Measure the area between 100% transmittance and the curve of the spectrum using the instruments software or with the help of a planimeter. Also the following weighing method can be used. Cut a sheet bearing the trace of the spectrum (or a copy of it) at 1430 cm-1 and 770 cm-1 and along the lines of 0% and 100% transmittance. Weigh this rectangle to an accuracy of 0,1 mg. This mass shall be stated as P100. Then cut along the outline of the spectrum and weigh the part representing the transmission. This second mass shall be stated as Pt. 8.7.4Setting out the results - According to the “planimeter method“ the percentage of the measured area of the spectrum in respect to the total area is the value of the IR effectiveness. - According to the weighing method, the IR effectiveness (?ir) in the range of wavelengths between 7 ?m to 13 ?m is given by the ratio: P 100 P t ?ir = _ x 100 P 100 Alternatively the IR effectiveness can be calculated by the instruments software. Licensed Copy: sheffieldun sheffieldun, na, Mon Oct 30 01:39:41 GMT+00:00 2006, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI EN 13655:2002 (E) 9 8.8Resistance to artificial weathering 8.8.1Principle This measurement involves determining the variation of tensile strain at break of the film after exposure to a Xenon arc light source that simulates the relative spectral irradiance of solar light in accordance with ISO 4892-2 or with other correlated methods. Depending on resistance to the artificial weathering the mulching films are classified in 2 categories (see table 2). A sample of the f