Overview
EN ISO 16831:2025 - "Non‑destructive testing - Ultrasonic testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic equipment for the determination of thickness" specifies test methods and acceptance criteria for verifying ultrasonic thickness‑measurement equipment. The standard covers pulse‑echo ultrasonic thickness determination in the frequency range 0.5 MHz to 15 MHz, and applies to instruments with numerical displays and A‑scan presentation, using single‑ or dual‑transducer probes. It defines the verifications required specifically for thickness determination and can be used to verify equipment covered by ISO 22232‑1 and ISO 22232‑2.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability: Verification procedures focused solely on thickness determination; frequency range 0.5–15 MHz; instruments with numeric or A‑scan outputs; single/dual transducer probes.
- Manufacturer information: Requirements for technical specifications and display, transmitter and receiver characteristics.
- Test blocks: Specifications for material, shape and size of accuracy and resolution blocks used for verification.
- Performance tests (Group 1 and other groups): Defined procedures and acceptance checks for:
- Stability against temperature and voltage variations
- Low‑battery warnings and battery operational time
- Operational current range
- Probe operational temperature range
- Pulse repetition frequency and transmitter pulse characteristics (voltage, rise time, duration)
- Receiver gain control and frequency response
- Instrument setup, determination performance, resolution and display response time
- Probes and transducers: Verification considerations for single‑ and dual‑transducer probes used in thickness measurement.
Applications and who uses this standard
EN ISO 16831:2025 is practical for organizations and professionals involved in ultrasonic thickness measurement, including:
- NDT service providers conducting acceptance testing and periodic verification of ultrasonic thickness gauges
- Calibration laboratories implementing standardized verification methods and traceable test blocks
- Manufacturers of ultrasonic instruments and transducers for product characterization and compliance testing
- Asset owners and inspectors in industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, shipbuilding, and pipeline integrity management who require reliable thickness data for corrosion monitoring and structural assessment
Using EN ISO 16831:2025 improves measurement consistency, ensures equipment performance under expected operational conditions, and supports regulatory and quality‑assurance requirements for ultrasonic thickness testing.
Related standards
- ISO 16809 (reference application of pulse‑echo thickness testing methods)
- ISO 22232‑1 and ISO 22232‑2 (portable ultrasonic testing instruments) - EN ISO 16831:2025 can be applied when these instruments are used for thickness determination
- Supersedes EN 15317:2013 (previous related European standard)
