Overview
EN ISO 10893-3:2011/A2:2020 is Amendment 2 to the international standard for non-destructive testing (NDT) of steel tubes using automated full-peripheral magnetic flux leakage (MFL) inspection. The amendment, approved by CEN in May 2020 and published as EN ISO 10893-3:2011/A2:2020, modifies the acceptance criteria applied during routine testing of seamless and welded (except submerged arc-welded) ferromagnetic steel tubes for detection of longitudinal and/or transverse imperfections.
This document is applicable to manufacturers, NDT service providers and quality managers involved in MFL inspections of ferrous steel tubes and provides a narrowly scoped, procedural change that affects retest decisions and suspect tube designation.
Key Topics
- Scope: Automated full-peripheral flux leakage testing of seamless and welded (except SAW) ferromagnetic steel tubes for longitudinal and/or transverse defect detection.
- Amendment focus: Change to the acceptance criterion in clause 8.2 concerning retesting and pass/fail decision logic.
- Specific change: The retest rule in clause 8.2 was revised from requiring "two consecutive retests" to requiring one retest. The updated sentence reads: "If after one retest all signals are lower than the trigger/alarm level, the tube shall be deemed to have passed this test otherwise the tube shall be designated as suspect."
- Regulatory status: Endorsed by CEN as a European Standard and to be implemented as a national standard in CEN member countries by December 2020.
Applications
This amendment has practical implications for organizations performing MFL testing:
- Faster decision-making: Reduces the number of repeat tests required to declare a tube passed, supporting faster throughput on production lines and inspection stations.
- Consistent suspect designation: Harmonizes pass/fail criteria across laboratories and manufacturers who adopt the EN ISO edition.
- Operational efficiency: Potentially lowers inspection time and handling for tubes under test, which benefits high-volume manufacturing and supply-chain quality control.
- Quality assurance: Clarifies procedural expectations for retest and alarm thresholds, aiding auditors and NDT personnel in conformity assessment.
Related Standards
- ISO 10893 series (other parts) - the amendment is part of the broader ISO 10893 family addressing NDT of steel tubes.
- National adoptions and CEN/CENELEC implementation documents - users should refer to the national standard bodies for endorsed national texts and implementation guidance.
Note: The amendment is limited to procedural acceptance criteria; it does not change the fundamental MFL measurement principle. Users should consult the full EN ISO 10893-3:2011/A2:2020 text for official wording, implementation details and any patent or copyright notices.
