ISO 13802:2025

Overview

ISO 13802:2025 - Plastics - Verification of pendulum impact-testing machines specifies frequency and methods for verifying pendulum-type impact-testing machines used for the Charpy, Izod and tensile impact tests (referenced in ISO 179-1, ISO 180 and ISO 8256). The third edition updates procedures and acceptance criteria for the geometrical and physical properties of pendulum machines and is intended for use at installation, after repair or relocation, and during periodic checking. Verification of instrumented machines is covered only where their geometrical and physical properties are identical to non‑instrumented machines (force/work verification for instrumented machines is excluded).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and applicability: Pendulum‑type impact-testing machines of varied capacities/designs meeting the geometrical/physical properties in Clause 5.
• Verification procedures: Step‑by‑step methods for checking machine frame, pendulum bearings (axial and radial play), mechanism for holding/releasing the pendulum, free‑hanging position, contact between striker and specimen, and machine levelness.
• Kinematic and energy parameters: Definitions and verification of pendulum length (Lₚ), impact length (Lᵢ), release angle, impact velocity (vᵢ), potential energy (E) and impact energy (W).
• Energy indicating systems: Verification methods for analogue and digital indicating equipment and updated acceptance criteria for indicated absorbed energy.
• Losses and corrections: Procedures to determine losses due to friction, air resistance and bearing friction and to calculate total energy loss. Maximum permissible losses are specified.
• Frequency, reporting and documentation: Guidance on how often to verify machines and the required contents of a verification report.
• Annexes: Normative design requirements for Charpy, Izod and tensile machines and informative annexes covering frame mass ratios, pendulum deceleration and gauge plates for verification.

Practical applications and who uses it

ISO 13802:2025 is used by:

• Testing and calibration laboratories conducting Charpy, Izod or tensile‑impact testing.
• Manufacturers of pendulum impact‑testing machines for design verification and factory checks.
• Quality managers, R&D teams and compliance engineers ensuring reliable impact test results for plastics.
• Accreditation and inspection bodies performing on‑site verifications after installation, repair or relocation.

Using ISO 13802 helps ensure traceable, repeatable impact test setups, correct energy measurement, and compliance with international testing practice.

Related standards

• ISO 179‑1 / ISO 179‑2 (Charpy tests)
• ISO 180 (Izod test)
• ISO 8256 (Tensile‑impact) These normative references define the actual test methods that ISO 13802 supports through machine verification.