ISO 49:1994 serves as the international standard for 'Malleable cast iron fittings' with ISO 7-1 threads. In December 1994, this standard underwent a revision that included technical changes regarding the use of alternative ferrous materials, hot dip zinc coatings, dispatch condition, pressure/temperature ratings, acceptance tests, marking, and quality assurance.
BS EN 10242:1995, published in August 1995, is the new British European Standard for 'Threaded pipe fittings in malleable cast iron' and closely aligns with ISO 49:1994. The main distinction is the inclusion of two informative annexes in BS EN 10242 that pertain to 'Assessment of conformity' and the 'Relationship with the essential requirements of the Construction Products Directive (84/106/EEC)'.
For European Union member countries, it is mandatory to adopt European Standards and withdraw any conflicting national standards. However, BS 143 and 1256:2000 are still maintained to cover fittings not included in BS EN 10242. It is important to note that BS EN 10242 incorporates fitting types and sizes not found in BS 143 & 1256, as they were either not in high demand or not available from UK manufacturers.
BS 143 & 1256:2000 specifies the design and performance requirements for 'Malleable cast iron and cast copper alloy threaded pipe fittings' and has evolved over many years. Initially published in 1922, BS 143 was combined with BS 1256 in 1968, with subsequent revisions to align them more closely with ISO 49:1983. The 1986 revision better reflected the available ranges of fittings from UK manufacturers. BS 143 & 1256 has always been more technically demanding than ISO 49, hence the importance of BS EN 10242.
In August 1995, BS 143 & 1256 were amended to exclude fittings now covered by BS EN 10242. Consequently, the scope of BS 143 & 1256 primarily includes:
BS 143 design and BS 1256 design fittings in malleable iron not covered by BS EN 10242.
BS 143 design fittings threaded to ANSI B1.20.1 (NPT).
The British Standards Institute (BSI) has verified that both malleable iron and steel fittings comply with the relevant standards, namely BS EN 10242 and BS 143 & 1256. Certain small size fittings are produced using steel and are designed to meet the requirements outlined in BS EN 10241.
UL certification covers a wide range of malleable fittings. UL, a globally recognized organization specializing in testing, inspection, certification, auditing, and validation, sets rigorous standards. The UL Listing indicates that representative samples of the product have been tested by UL and found to meet their requirements. These requirements are primarily based on UL's published and nationally recognized Standards for Safety.
Fittings that have received UL approval are suitable for use in various applications, including fire protection systems like sprinkler systems. (The following malleable fittings are among those covered by UL certification: 140, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 155, 156, 161, 171, 177, 185, 192, 193, 197, 199)
These fittings are constructed from blackheart malleable iron, in accordance with Standard BS EN 1562:1997, Grade EN-GJMB-300-6. Additionally, these fittings may optionally incorporate a zinc coating (galvanization), as described in Section 5.2 of BS EN 10242:1995.
FM (Factory Mutual) Approval is a national recognized testing laboratory (non-government operated). Their mission is similar to that of UL in that they test and certify safety equipment to ensure that it is up to standard. However, the most significant difference is that FM Global mainly focuses on fire equipment.
The scope of the Directive encompasses the design, manufacturing, and conformity of pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure exceeding 0.5 bar. While individual piping components, including fittings, are not within the Directive's scope and thus cannot bear the CE mark, Rhinofitt Pipe Fittings are manufactured in accordance with relevant European standards. Consequently, they fulfill the essential safety requirements outlined in the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED).