Overview
EN ISO 14589:2000 - Blind rivets: Mechanical testing specifies standardized mechanical test methods for blind rivets (nominal diameters up to and including 6.4 mm). Adopted by CEN from ISO 14589:2000, the standard defines procedures for routine and referee testing at ambient temperatures (10 °C to 35 °C). It is intended to ensure repeatable, comparable results for manufacturers, test laboratories and users evaluating blind rivet performance.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope of tests: shear test, tensile test, mandrel head retention capability test, mandrel push‑out resistance test (prior to setting) and mandrel break load test.
- Test assemblies and fixtures: distinct routine and referee fixtures are specified for both shear and tensile testing. Referee inserts (for dispute or final verification) must be made of hardened steel (minimum 700 HV30).
- Test plate material and condition: test plates shall be steel with hardness not less than 420 HV30 and discarded when clearance holes show wear, distortion or exceed specified limits.
- Plate/insert thicknesses: thicknesses are specified relative to nominal rivet diameter (e.g., fractions such as 0.5d, 0.65d, 0.75d, 1.0d depending on rivet type and head style), ensuring consistent grip lengths for tests.
- Clearance hole diameters: exact clearance tolerances are defined in a table (examples: for a 4 mm rivet the test clearance hole is 4.20–4.15 mm; for 6.4 mm rivets 6.60–6.55 mm).
- Test machine and procedure: tensile testing machines must comply with ISO 7500‑1 (verification/calibration of force measurement). Load is applied continuously at 7–13 mm/min until failure; the maximum recorded load is the ultimate shear/tensile value.
- Environmental limits: tests are defined for ambient temperatures between 10 °C and 35 °C.
Applications and users
- Blind rivet manufacturers - design validation, production quality control and specification compliance.
- Independent test laboratories - routine and referee testing for procurement or certification.
- OEMs and specifiers (automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics) - to define mechanical performance criteria in procurement documents.
- Quality assurance and R&D teams - to reproduce consistent mechanical test results and compare rivet types (shear/tensile strength, mandrel behavior).
Related standards
- ISO 7500‑1 (Metallic materials - verification of static uniaxial testing machines) is a normative reference.
- EN ISO 14589 exists as the CEN-adopted European version of ISO 14589:2000.
Keywords: EN ISO 14589, ISO 14589:2000, blind rivets testing, mechanical testing blind rivets, shear test, tensile test, mandrel head retention, mandrel push‑out, test fixtures, ISO 7500-1.
