CEN/TS 16637-2:2014

Construction products - Assessment of release of dangerous substances - Part 2: Horizontal dynamic surface leaching test CEN/TS 16637-2:2014

Publication date:   Oct 17, 2014

Scope

(1) This Technical Specification specifies a Dynamic Surface Leaching Test (DSLT) which is aimed at determining the release per unit surface area as a function of time of inorganic and/or non-volatile organic substances from a monolithic, plate- or sheet-like product, when it is put into contact with an aqueous solution (leachant). The test method is not suitable for substances that are volatile under ambient conditions.
(2) This test is a parameter specific test focusing on identifying and specifying parameter specific properties tested under specified conditions. It is not aimed at simulating real situations. The application of results to specific intended conditions of use may be established by means of modelling (not included in this Technical Specification).
(3) The modification for granular construction products with low hydraulic conductivity (Annex A) applies for granular particles with so little drainage capacity between the grains that percolation in percolation tests and in practice is nearly impossible.
(4) The test method applies to more or less regularly shaped test portions consisting of monolithic test pieces with minimum dimensions of 40 mm in all directions (volume > 64 000 mm3 (64 cm3)). It also applies to plate- or sheet-like products with surface areas of minimum 10 000 mm2 (100 cm2) exposed to the leachant. Products designed to drain water (e.g. draining tiles, porous asphalt) and monolithic granular products according to CEN/TS 16637-1:2014, Table 1, are also tested by this test method. All products to be tested are assumed to maintain their integrity over a time frame relevant for the considered intended use.
(5) Metals, metallic coatings and organic coatings on metals are excluded from the scope of CEN/TS 16637-2 because the principles of this test (diffusion) are not obeyed by these products. Guidance on the need for testing of these products is under consideration.
(6) For some coatings (e.g. some renders with organic binders according to EN 15824) in intermittent contact to water, physical and chemical properties might be changed in permanent contact with water. For these products CEN/TS 16637-2 is not appropriate.
(7) Guidance on the applicability of the test method to a given product is outlined in CEN/TS 16637-1.
NOTE 1 This test method is only applicable if the product is chemically stable and the matrix does not dissolve. For construction products that may be used in contact with water this usually should not be the case as construction products should then be dimensionally stable. If a product may substantially wear in its intended use, the test cannot provide proper information. If the product contains a substantial amount of water-soluble compounds, e.g. gypsum or anhydrite, the matrix may (partially) dissolve and lead to dimensional instability of the test piece. In this case the test standard also cannot be used.
NOTE 2 Volatile organic substances include the low molecular weight substances in mixtures such as mineral oil.
NOTE 3 It is not always possible to optimise test conditions simultaneously for inorganic and organic substances and optimum test conditions may also vary between different groups of organic substances. Test requirements for organic substances are generally more stringent than those for inorganic substances. The test conditions suitable for measuring the release of organic substances will generally also be applicable to inorganic substances.

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