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 BRITISH STANDARD BS EN ISO
3452-4:1999

Non-destructive
testing — Penetrant
testing —
Part 4: Equipment
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

The European Standard EN ISO 3452-4:1998 has the status of a

British Standard

ICS 19.100
 BS EN ISO 3452-4:1999

National foreword

This British Standard is the English language version of EN ISO 3452-4:1998.

It is identical with ISO 3452-4:1998.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee
WEE/46, Non-destructive testing, which has the responsibility to:
— aid enquirers to understand the text;
— present to the responsible international/European committee any
enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the UK
interests informed;
— monitor related international and European developments and
promulgate them in the UK.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
Cross-references
Attention is drawn to the fact that CEN and CENELEC standards normally
include an annex which lists normative references to international
publications with their corresponding European publications. The British
Standards which implement these international or European publications may
be found in the BSI Standards Catalogue under the section entitled
“International Standards Correspondence Index”, or by using the “Find”
facility of the BSI Standards Electronic Catalogue.
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A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of
a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct
application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity

from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the EN ISO title page, pages 2 to 7 and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

This British Standard, having Amendments issued since publication

been prepared under the
direction of the Engineering
Sector Committee, was Amd. No. Date Comments
published under the authority
of the Standards Committee
and comes into effect on
15 March 1999

© BSI 04-1999

ISBN 0 580 29986 4

 BS EN ISO 3452-4:1999

Contents

Page
National foreword Inside front cover
Foreword 2
Text of EN ISO 3452-4 3
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

© BSI 04-1999 i
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

ii
blank
 EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO 3452-4
NORME EUROPÉENNE
December 1998
EUROPÄISCHE NORM

ICS

Descriptors: Non-destructive tests, liquid penetrant tests, test equipment

English version

Non-destructive testing — Penetrant testing —

Part 4: Equipment
(ISO 3452-4:1998)

Essais non destructifs — Examen par Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung —

ressuage — Partie 4: Equipement Eindringprüfung — Teil 4: Geräte
(ISO 3452-4:1998) (ISO 3452-4:1998)
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1 May 1998.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and
bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained
on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French,
German). A version in any other language made by translation under the
responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the
Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CEN
European Committee for Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation
Europäisches Komitee für Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels

© 1998 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national
Members.
Ref. No. EN ISO 3452-4:1998 E
 EN ISO 3452-4:1998

Foreword Contents
The text of EN ISO 3452-4:1998 has been prepared Page
by Technical Committee CEN/TC 138 Foreword 2
“Non-destructive testing”, the secretariat of which is
Introduction 3
held by AFNOR, in collaboration with Technical
Committee ISO/TC 135 “Non-destructive testing”. 1 Scope 3
This European Standard shall be given the status of 2 Normative references 3
a national standard, either by publication of an 3 General 3
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by 4 Equipment for in situ inspection 4
June 1999, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by June 1999. 5 Equiment for fixed installations 4
This European Standard has been prepared under a Annex ZA (normative) Normative references
to international publications with their
mandate given to CEN by the European
relevant European publications 7
Commission and the European Free Trade
Association. This European Standard is considered
to be a supporting standard to those application and
product standards which in themselves support an
essential safety requirement of a New Approach
Directive and which make reference to this
European Standard.
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal

Regulations, the national standards organizations
of the following countries are bound to implement
this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

2 © BSI 04-1999
 EN ISO 3452-4:1998

Introduction
At the present time, one part of this Standard is published independently on the European and ISO levels,
the others are under the Vienna Agreement and consequently have the ISO number at the European level.
However, the Vienna agreement was applied during the work, so some European Standards have
referenced them under their previous European number. The following table gives the correspondance
between these different numbers.
Title previous numbera official number

Non-destructive testing — Penetrant testing

Part 1: General principle EN 571-1
Part 2: Testing of penetrant materials prEN 571-2 prEN ISO 3452-2
Part 3: Reference test blocks prEN 571-3 EN ISO 3452-3
Part 4: Equipment prEN 956 EN ISO 3452-4
a
number under which this document is referenced in some European Standards

1 Scope
This European standard specifies the characteristics of equipment used in penetrant testing. The
characteristics of equipment required for carrying out penetrant testing depend on the number of tests to
be made and on the size of the components to be tested. Two types of equipment are included in this
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

standard:
a) equipment suitable for carrying out in situ penetrant testing techniques;
b) fixed installations.

2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications.
These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any these publications apply to
this European Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references
the latest edition of the publication referred to applies.
EN 571-1, Non destructive testing — Penetrant testing — Part 1: General principles for the examination.
prEN ISO 3452-2, Non-destructive testing — Penetrant testing — Part 2: Testing of penetrant materials
(ISO/DIS 3452-2:1996).
EN ISO 3452-3, Non-destructive testing — Penetrant testing — Part 3: Reference blocks (ISO 3452-3:1998).
prEN ISO 3059, Non-destructive testing — Penetrant testing and magnetic particle testing — Viewing
conditions.

3 General
Equipment used in penetrant testing shall be selected and applied considering the following general
aspects:
— equipment should be selected being suitable for the penetrant testing technique;
— all relevant health, safety and environmental requirements shall be complied with;.
— the application shall be in accordance with the requirements of EN 571-1.

© BSI 04-1999 3
 EN ISO 3452-4:1998

4 Equipment for in situ inspection

The equipment used for in situ inspection shall fullfill the requirements of EN 571-1, prEN ISO 3452-2 and
EN ISO 3452-3. Depending on the process being employed the following testing equipment may be used:
— portable spray equipment
— cloth (lint free)
— brushes
— personal protective equipment
— white light source
— UV(A) source.

5 Equipment for fixed installations

5.1 General requirements
All materials of construction used for the manufacture of fixed penetrant inspection installations,
e.g. tanks, pipework and ducting, shall be manufactured from materials which are resistant to attack by
the products used throughout the complete process. In addition, these materials shall not cause any
modification to the properties of the penetrant systems used.
Penetrant installations shall be located in an area where there is no possibility of contamination of the
working solutions from external sources, e.g. leaks from overhead steam pipes. In addition penetrant tanks
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

should be fitted with lids which should be kept shut when the plant is not in use.
Where plants are fitted with effluent treatment or water recirculating systems, the system shall be
designed to ensure that any water discharged to waste meets local discharge requirements. In addition the
recycled water shall be of a quality suitable for rinsing components.
Where extraction systems are fitted, e.g. with spray application of penetrant, they shall be designed such
that the local health and safety requirements relevant to operational safety and local air emission laws are
fully met.
All chemicals used in penetrant testing shall be stored in closed containers and storage shall meet relevant
health and safety requirements.
5.2 Preparation and precleaning area
Suitable equipment shall be used to carry out the preparation and precleaning requirements described in
EN 571-1.
Degreasing areas shall be equipped to ensure degreasing of the components in accordance with preparation
and precleaning requirements described in EN 571-1 and if necessary shall include an area for cooling the
components prior to the application of penetrant. The degreasing and cooling facilities shall be of adequate
size to handle the flow of components. Vapour degreasers using halogenated hydrocarbons shall meet
relevant air pollution requirements.
5.3 Penetrant application area
Penetrant application areas shall have the facilities for applying penetrant by air assisted, airless and/or
electrostatic spraying, spray cans, brushing, flow-on techniques or immersion in a tank of penetrant liquid.
The tanks used for all processed chemicals shall be installed with a proper retaining tray. Where
fluorescent penetrants are applied by manual spraying equipment, a source of UV-A should be provided for
checking the surface to be tested for penetrant coverage. Where spray application is employed, suitable
extraction facilities shall be provided.
5.4 Penetrant drain area
Penetrant drain stations shall consist of a tray having a sloping base, arranged so that the penetrant is
collected in a separate container of the tank containing the penetrant.
5.5 Excess penetrant removal area
5.5.1 Immersion wash tank
Immersion tanks shall comprise means for agitating the water or moving the components to be tested. The
tank may be equipped with a tank for the overflow of a part of the contaminated water.
The tank shall be equipped with means for controlling the water temperature.

4 © BSI 04-1999
 EN ISO 3452-4:1998

5.5.2 Spray-wash areas

Spray-wash stations shall comprise either manual or automatic spraying equipment.
Manual spraying equipment shall be equipped with a water or air/water spray gun capable of delivering a
suitable spray at a pressure as low as possible and at a temperature not exceeding 50 °C. The pressure shall
be measured as near as practicably possible to the spray nozzle without a valve between the meter and the
nozzle. Where manual spraying equipment is employed, a suitable source of illumination shall be provided
to control the excess penetrant removal either white light for colour contrast penetrant or UV-A for
fluorescent penetrant.
Automatic spraying equipment shall meet the requirements for manual equipment. In addition the
number, design and location of the nozzles shall be such that all test surfaces of the components are evenly
rinsed. A suitable drain shall be provided where automatic spraying equipment is employed. Water
retained in recesses shall be removed by suitable means.
5.5.3 Emulsifier area
Emulsifier stations shall comprise the equipment given in a) and b), as appropriate to the process used.
a) Where a hydrophilic emulsifier is to be applied by an immersion technique the station shall comprise
a tank suitable to allow components to be immersed completely in the solution for a controlled time.
Hydrophilic emulsifier may also be applied using suitable equipment by foam or flow-on technique.
b) A lipophilic emulsifier shall be applied by immersion only. The station shall comprise a tank which
will allow complete immersion of components in a solution for a controlled time. This shall be followed
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

by drainage.
5.6 Drying area
If entrapped water is to be removed, appropriate equipment shall be used such as a suction system or
means of rotating parts.
To remove surface water appropriate equipment such as a warm air (maximum 80 °C) recirculating oven
shall be used.
To avoid condensation or oxidation of metals and to ensure that components are properly dried, a forced air
oven shall be used to ensure that there is a uniform controlled temperature distribution together with a
high air flow.
5.7 Developer application area
Developer stations shall comprise the equipment given in 5.7 a) to d) as appropriate to the developer used.
a) Powder developer.
The station shall comprise equipment for applying the developer by one of the following:
1) dust storm cabinet
2) electrostatic spray gun
3) flock gun
4) tumbler
5) insufflator
6) fluidized bed.
The equipment shall be constructed such that an even thin coating of the developer powder is applied to
all surfaces.
Where a cabinet is used, it shall be of sufficient size to accommodate all the work pieces examined,
either as single components or as multiples placed in wire baskets. It shall have a sealed, hinged lid
and be fitted with heaters to prevent contamination of the powder by moisture. Where an electrostatic
spray or a flock gun is used, suitable means of extraction shall be provided.
b) Water suspension developer.
The station shall comprise a tank which shall be fitted with a lid and shall be of such a size that total
immersion of components can be achieved. It shall have facilities for continuous agitation of the
developer either by clean air or by mechanical means, and shall be capable of maintaining the
developer at the temperature recommended by the manufacturer and include a system for permitting
excess developer to drain back freely into the tank.

© BSI 04-1999 5
 EN ISO 3452-4:1998

c) Solvent-based developer.
The station shall comprise equipment for spray application of the developer within a cabinet. This
developer may be applied by air assisted, airless and/or electrostatic spraying. The equipment shall be
fitted with suitable mechanical agitation to maintain the developer in suspension. Where applicable
the spray gun shall be actuated by dry, clean filtered air. This developer may be spray applied from an
aerosol container or spray cans. The cabinet shall be constructed so that unrestricted spraying of the
component can take place.
d) Water soluble developer.
The station shall comprise a tank which shall be fitted with a lid and shall be of such a size that total
immersion of components can be achieved. It shall be capable of maintaining the developer at the
temperature recommended by its manufacturer and include a system for permitting excess developer to
drain back freely into the tank.
5.8 Inspection area
Inspection stations shall be of sufficient size to permit the free movement of inspection personnel and
components and, if required, to accommodate a work table with a non-reflecting surface.
For fluorescent inspection suitable UV-A lamps shall be provided which meet the requirements of
prEN ISO 3059. Ultraviolet lamps should be provided for background UV-A illumination. The booth shall
be constructed such that the level of ambient visible light shall not exceed 20 lx (see prEN ISO 3059).
For colour contrast penetrant inspection a source of white light shall be available with an illumination level
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

of not less than 500 lx at the surface of the component being inspected.

6 © BSI 04-1999
 EN ISO 3452-4:1998

Annex ZA (normative)
Normative references to international publications with their relevant
European publications
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications.
These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply
to this European Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references
the latest edition of the publication referred to applies.

Title CEN number ISO number

Non-destructive testing — Penetrant

testing
Part 1: General principle EN 571-1 ISO 3452-1
Part 2: Testing of penetrant materials prEN ISO 3452-2a ISO/DIS 3452-2
Part 3: Reference test blocks EN ISO 3452-3 ISO 3452-3
Part 4: Equipment EN ISO 3452-4 ISO 3452-4
a This document is referenced as prEN 571-2 in some European Standards
Licensed Copy: Tom Magee, Howden Power, 02 June 2003, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

© BSI 04-1999 7
 BS EN ISO
3452-4:1999
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