Overview
EN ISO 12570:2000/A1:2013 (ISO 12570:2000/Amd 1:2013) is an amendment to the international test method for the hygrothermal performance of building materials and products. The core standard defines the determination of moisture content by drying at elevated temperature. Amendment A1 (approved by CEN in 2013) updates temperature guidance for materials that may undergo structural changes when heated.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Test method for measuring moisture content of building materials and products by drying at an elevated temperature. Classified under ICS 91.100.01 (construction materials).
- Amendment detail (explicit): Table 1 text changed from “Materials, in which changes in structure can occur between 70 °C and 105 °C e.g. some cellular plastics” to “Materials, in which changes in structure can occur between 65 °C and 105 °C, e.g. some cellular plastics.” The corresponding drying temperature entry was changed from 70 ± 2 °C to 65 ± 2 °C.
- Implication: The amendment lowers the recommended drying temperature for heat-sensitive materials (for example, some cellular plastics), reducing the risk of structural change or damage during moisture-content determination.
- Test-method focus: Establishes repeatable oven-drying procedures at specified elevated temperatures, with attention to material-specific limits to ensure accurate moisture content without altering material properties.
Applications and who uses this standard
- Laboratories and testing bodies: Use the method for routine moisture-content measurements and quality control of construction materials.
- Manufacturers of building materials and products: Ensure product specifications, production control and claims about moisture performance are supported by standardized test data.
- Specifiers, architects and engineers: Reference reliable hygrothermal data for material selection, durability assessments and moisture-risk analyses.
- Certification and regulatory authorities: Adopt the method for compliance testing, product standards and performance labeling.
- R&D teams: Evaluate moisture behaviour and validate alternative drying conditions for sensitive materials.
Practical value
- Prevents inaccurate moisture readings caused by structural changes at excessive drying temperatures.
- Improves comparability of moisture-content data across laboratories and countries by harmonizing drying-temperature limits.
- Supports safer testing of polymeric and cellular materials commonly used in insulation and other building components.
Related standards
- ISO 12570:2000 - original method: Determination of moisture content by drying at elevated temperature.
- EN ISO 12570:2000/A1:2013 - CEN-adopted amendment (identical text) implementing the temperature revision across European national standards.
Keywords: hygrothermal performance, moisture content, drying at elevated temperature, ISO 12570, EN ISO 12570:2000/A1:2013, building materials testing, cellular plastics, moisture measurement.
