Slow Crack Growth Test to ISO 13479
Ensure your PE and PEX pipes meet critical safety, certification, and performance standards with Element’s comprehensive Slow Crack Growth Test ISO 13479 services. Access one of the world's largest testing facilities with 5,000 test stations, and benefit from end-to-end support, technical guidance, and global expertise. Get reliable, independent data for lifetime validation, compliance, and classification.

What is Slow Crack Growth Testing at Element?
Slow Crack Growth (SCG) testing evaluates how plastic pipes resist crack formation and propagation under long-term stress conditions. It specifically assesses microscopic cracks that develop slowly over time due to environmental stress cracking (ESC) or mechanical fatigue, which can eventually lead to pipe failure. At Element, we conduct thorough ISO 13479 testing by subjecting PE and PEX pipes to controlled notching and hydrostatic pressure in tap water, measuring time to failure to determine crack growth resistance. This critical testing ensures your products maintain structural integrity under real-world conditions.

What can Element Offer You For Slow Crack Growth testing of plastic pipes?
Components and materials we test
Components and materials we test
We test all grades of PE and PEX pipes under specific pressure and temperature conditions tailored to your material type, using tap water at 80°C as the test medium. From PE 80/100 to PEX 80/100/125, each material undergoes precise testing with pressures ranging from 8.0 to 10.8 bar, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your specific pipe grade.
Key tests offered
Key tests offered
Our comprehensive testing program includes testing a minimum of three PE or PEX pipe samples, each with controlled notching at four predetermined strategic stress points, carefully designed to simulate long-term mechanical stress and installation conditions, helping verify the pipe’s durability in actual field applications. Following the notching process, the samples are exposed to continuous hydrostatic pressure in tap water at 80°C. We measure time to failure under specific pressure conditions, with requirements varying from 500 hours for PE materials to 5,000 hours for PEX materials.
Our tests include:
- Notching process testing
- Hydrostatic pressure testing
Cutting-edge equipment we use
Cutting-edge equipment we use
Access one of only a handful of facilities globally equipped with 5,000 test stations, ensuring reliable and reproducible test data for your product evaluation needs.
Which labs offer this service
Which labs offer this service
At our specialized testing facility for plastic pipes in Sweden, we are here to support you with extensive testing capabilities. We assist resin manufacturers, pipe extruders, certification bodies, and utility companies globally by providing precise and reproducible test data tailored to your compliance and performance needs.
Standards we meet and the materials we test
PE Materials:
- PE 80 pipes (8.0 bar pressure testing)
- PE 100 pipes (9.2 bar pressure testing)
- Requirement: >500 hours testing time
PEX Materials:
- PEX 80 pipes (8.0 bar pressure testing)
- PEX 100 pipes (9.2 bar pressure testing)
- PEX 125 pipes (10.8 bar pressure testing)
- Requirement: >5,000 hours testing time
Your Challenges, Our Solutions
Validating Product Lifetime
Meeting Independent Data Requirements
Complying with Complex Standards
Verifying Real-World Performance
Why Choose Element

Global Testing Leader
Complete Testing Solutions
Independent Verification
Material-Specific Expertise

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VIEW ALL LOCATIONSFrequently asked questions
What are the specific pressure requirements for different materials?
PE 80/100 materials are tested at 8.0/9.2 bar respectively, while PEX materials are tested at 8.0 (PEX 80), 9.2 (PEX 100), and 10.8 bar (PEX 125), all using tap water at 80°C.
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