BS EN ISO 12629-2022 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN ISO 12629-2022 — Thermal insulating products for building equipment and industrial installations — Determination of water vapour transmission properties of preformed pipe insulation. This is the 2022 (second) edition of ISO 12629 adopted as a BS/EN/ISO national publication, providing the steady‑state test method, apparatus and reporting requirements for measuring water‑vapour transmission through preformed pipe insulation products.

Abstract

This standard specifies the equipment and procedure for determining water vapour transmission properties in the steady state under specified test conditions for test specimens of preformed pipe insulation used in building equipment and industrial installations. It is intended primarily for homogeneous materials and is also applicable to products that have integral skins or adhered facings of a different material. The standard defines specimen preparation, test chamber conditions, desiccant/dry‑cup technique, weighing/measurement procedures, calculations (rate, permeance, permeability where applicable) and reporting requirements.

General information

• Status: Published / Current (international standard; adopted nationally as BS EN ISO 12629:2022).
• Publication date: ISO edition published 8 August 2022; national adoption as BS EN ISO 12629:2022 published (BSI adoption edition) in 2022 (national publication date commonly shown as 31 October 2022 for the BSI adoption).
• Publisher: International: ISO (International Organization for Standardization). National adoption/publisher: British Standards Institution (BSI) for the BS EN ISO version.
• ICS / categories: 91.100.60 — Thermal and sound insulating materials.
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2022).
• Number of pages: 14 pages (ISO edition; national/adopted publications may include additional national forewords or annexes).

Scope

The standard covers the steady‑state determination of water‑vapour transmission properties of preformed pipe insulation specimens under specified laboratory conditions. It applies to thermal insulating products for building services and industrial installations and is intended for homogeneous materials and for products with integral skins or adhered facings. Test results are specific to the specimen thickness tested; for homogeneous materials water‑vapour permeability may be derived, while for non‑homogeneous products results are reported as specimen permeance or transmission rate.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of test principle — desiccant (“dry‑cup”) steady‑state assembly and periodic weighing to determine vapour transmission rate.
• Required apparatus and materials — desiccant specification (e.g., anhydrous calcium chloride), balance accuracy, vapour‑tight foil and sealing, controlled test chamber with specified temperature and relative humidity and recommended air circulation rates.
• Specified test conditions — nominal laboratory temperature and relative humidity control (typical conditions referenced in the standard) and conditioning/pre‑equilibration of specimens.
• Specimen preparation and dimensions — minimum specimen lengths and treatment of integral skins/facings; representative sampling and handling instructions.
• Number of specimens and repeatability — sampling requirements (minimum number of replicates and use of dummy specimens to correct for non‑diffusive weight changes).
• Calculation methods — conversion of mass change to water‑vapour transmission rate, permeance and (where appropriate) permeability; expression of results with units and test thickness noted.
• Uncertainty and reporting — required information in test reports, including environmental conditions, apparatus details, specimen description, calculations, and statement of measurement uncertainty when appropriate.
• Applicability limits — guidance on homogeneous materials vs. layered or faced products and on when alternative test methods (e.g., tests on flat specimens) are appropriate.

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers of preformed pipe insulation, independent testing laboratories, conformity assessment and certification bodies, product specification engineers (HVAC, refrigeration, industrial piping), building physicists and R&D groups developing or benchmarking insulation products. The standard supports product performance claims, regulatory compliance and technical specifications for building services and industrial installations.

Related standards

Related documents and earlier/supplementary methods include ISO 12629:2011 (superseded), ISO 12628 (dimensions, squareness and linearity of preformed pipe insulation), ISO 29768 (determination of linear dimensions of test specimens), ISO 9346 (vocabulary for mass‑transfer physical quantities), and relevant EN test methods such as EN 12086 (water vapour transmission properties for certain insulation products). The standard sits within the broader ISO/TC 163 series of standards for thermal insulating products for building equipment and industrial installations.

Keywords

water vapour transmission, permeance, permeability, preformed pipe insulation, thermal insulation, desiccant cup, dry cup, steady‑state test, specimen preparation, HVAC insulation, ISO 12629, BS EN ISO

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 12629:2022 (adopted as BS EN ISO 12629:2022) is a laboratory test method that specifies how to measure water‑vapour transmission properties of preformed pipe insulation using a steady‑state desiccant (dry‑cup) technique. It provides apparatus, procedure, calculation and reporting requirements.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers specimen preparation, required test apparatus and materials, environmental test conditions, measurement procedure (periodic weighing), calculation of transmission rate, permeance and (where applicable) permeability, and the information that must be included in test reports. It is applicable to homogeneous insulation materials and to products with skins or facings.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, independent testing laboratories, certification and conformity bodies, HVAC and piping specifiers, building physicists and product development teams who need standardized water‑vapour transmission data for preformed pipe insulation.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current. ISO 12629:2022 (published 8 August 2022) is the active second edition and replaces ISO 12629:2011 (withdrawn). The ISO edition is adopted nationally in many member bodies (e.g., issued as BS EN ISO 12629:2022 by BSI in 2022).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. It is part of the suite of standards for "Thermal insulating products for building equipment and industrial installations" prepared by ISO/TC 163/SC 1; related standards cover dimensions and other test methods for preformed pipe insulation and thermal insulating products (for example ISO 12628, ISO 29768 and other EN/ISO test methods).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: water vapour transmission, dry cup, desiccant, preformed pipe insulation, permeance, permeability, steady‑state test, thermal insulation.