BS EN ISO 703-2017 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN ISO 703-2017 — Conveyor belts — Transverse flexibility (troughability) — Test method. This is the EN/ISO test method specifying how to determine the transverse flexibility (troughability) of conveyor belts, expressed as a ratio F/L; the method is not applicable to light conveyor belts as defined in ISO 21183‑1.

Abstract

ISO 703:2017 defines a standardized laboratory test to determine the transverse flexibility (troughability) of conveyor belts and expresses the result as a ratio (F/L). The abstract for the ISO edition notes the method's limitation for light conveyor belts and identifies the standard as an ISO/EN test method adopted nationally in various forms (for example BS EN ISO).

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (revised/superseded by ISO 703:2025; national adoptions were withdrawn/updated during 2025).
• Publication date: January 2017 (ISO publication, edition 4, 2017-01).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO); adopted and published in EN and national forms (EN ISO 703:2017; national adoptions such as BS EN ISO 703:2017, BDS EN ISO 703:2017, etc.).
• ICS / categories: 53.040.20 — Components for conveyors.
• Edition / version: Edition 4 (ISO 703:2017).
• Number of pages: 5 pages (ISO published document length; national/EN adopted texts may show different page counts due to forewords and national annexes).

Scope

Specifies a laboratory test method for determining the transverse flexibility (troughability) of conveyor belts, reporting the result as the ratio F/L. The procedure covers specimen preparation, the test apparatus and set-up, the test sequence and calculations required to derive the F/L value. The method explicitly excludes light conveyor belts covered by ISO 21183‑1.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and significance of transverse flexibility (troughability) expressed as ratio F/L.
• Test apparatus and fixtures required to measure transverse flexibility and troughing behavior.
• Specimen conditioning and preparation prior to testing (dimensions, conditioning environment).
• Step-by-step test procedure and measurement points to determine F and L values and calculation of the F/L ratio.
• Reporting requirements, including test conditions, specimen identification and measured values.
• Limitations and applicability — not suitable for light conveyor belts (see ISO 21183‑1).

Typical use and users

Used by conveyor-belt manufacturers, materials test laboratories, quality assurance engineers, procurement/specification teams in mining and bulk-handling industries, and standards/approval bodies to verify belt flexibility suitable for troughing idler sets and conveyor system designs. Test results inform design selection, acceptance testing and comparative product evaluation.

Related standards

ISO 21183‑1 (light conveyor belts — principal characteristics and applications) is explicitly referenced as a related standard for applicability limits. The EN/ISO adoption family (EN ISO 703:2017 and national variants such as BS EN ISO 703:2017, BDS EN ISO 703:2017, etc.) are related/adopted documents. The 2017 edition has been revised by ISO 703:2025 (new edition).

Keywords

conveyor belt; transverse flexibility; troughability; F/L ratio; test method; belt testing; conveyor components; belt performance; belt specification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 703:2017 (adopted as EN ISO 703:2017 / national variants such as BS EN ISO 703:2017) is a standardized test method for measuring the transverse flexibility (troughability) of conveyor belts, reported as the ratio F/L.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the test apparatus, specimen preparation, test procedure, measurement points, calculation of the F/L ratio and reporting format. It excludes lightweight conveyor belts covered by ISO 21183‑1.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Belt manufacturers, independent testing laboratories, QA/inspection engineers in bulk-handling and mining sectors, and purchasing/specification teams who need comparative, repeatable troughability data for belt selection and system design.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 703:2017 has been recorded as withdrawn on ISO lifecycle information and has been revised by ISO 703:2025. National/EN adoptions were updated or withdrawn during 2025 as the 2025 revision was published and adopted. (ISO publication: January 2017; revision published in 2025 — national updates effective mid/late 2025 in many bodies).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 703 has an earlier history (previous editions and related parts) and falls within the family of conveyor-belt test standards and EN adoptions; it is related to other ISO and EN conveyor-belt test methods and to ISO 21183 series for light belts. The 2017 edition is the fourth edition and was later updated by ISO 703:2025.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Conveyor belts; transverse flexibility; troughability; F/L ratio; test method; belt testing; conveyor components.