Istituto Italiano dei Plastici

The activity of laboratorio prove IIP  is mainly dedicated to plastic product in order to test their compliance with national (uni) and international (en, iso) standards

The updating of European and national standards related to plastic materials and products in the different application fields (building, packaging and others) needs a continuous adaptation of testing methodology and devices. IIP has installed a group of equipments in order to verify the main properties of thermoplastic pipes and fittings systems for fluids conveyance. Many of these equipments are prototypes in Europe. This initiative allows the interested Firms to test their production in advance as regard the coming into force of the new standards.

The IIP laboratory does not only operates for IIP Associates and for product certification scheme, but it is an open service for public or private operators (e.g. public contractor, plastic products manufacturers or users) interested to know the characteristics and performances of a wide range of products. The Institute and its laboratory are audited by the accreditation bodies: SINCERT  and SINAL (in compliance with EN ISO/IEC 17025 – accreditation n° 0097); this assures that IIP staff works in compliance with independence criteria and without conflict of interest.

IIP takes part in standardisation activity assuring to operators a timely up to date about standards, test methods and products evolution. IIP has started to collaborate with the equivalent European certification bodies and laboratories in order to reach a mutual recognition agreement in certifying and testing activities.

Testing facilities available include Resistance to internal pressure at constant temperature, Resistance to slow crack growth (S.C.G./notch test), Resistance to rapid crack propagation (R.C.P/S4), Resistance to external blows by the round the clock method and by the staircase method, Impact resistance of an assembled tapping tee, Dynamometric tests , Carbon black and pigment dispersion and distribution, Carbon black and ash content by T.G.A.,Oxidation induction time (O.I.T.) by DSC, Melt flow rate and Density (mass density).

Specific tests on pipe assemblies: Leaktightness and Watertightness tests of joints and elastomeric sealing for pipes and fittings for buried non-pressure and pressure applications. Resistance to elevated temperature cycling of pipes and fittings for soil and waste discharge inside the building.