What standards apply to ultrasonic testing ?
This blog compiles the most relevant and up-to-date international and regional standards for UT as of 2024, categorized by application area such as calibration, test procedure, materials, etc.
In this article:
The Role of Standards in Ultrasonic Testing: Standards ensure reproducibility, comparability, and traceability across ultrasonic testing applications, regardless of the tester or equipment.
Updated Calibration and Equipment Verification Standards: Recent revisions to ISO 7963 (2023-09) and ISO 16946 (2024-06) reflect the push for improved accuracy in reference blocks and phased array systems.
Test Procedures for Evolving Techniques: Standards like ISO 23865 (2021) and ISO 23864 (2022) now cover advanced imaging techniques such as FMC/TFM and PAUT, reinforcing their growing use in industry.
Comprehensive Coverage Across Materials: New and updated standards address the ultrasonic testing of sheet metals, castings, forgings, and complex welds, ensuring suitability for both legacy and emerging materials.
Global Harmonization and Digital Integration: Efforts like ASTM E2663 and DGZfP-ZfP-4.0 aim to standardize digital imaging formats (DICONDE) for better cross-platform compatibility and data interoperability.
What standards apply to ultrasonic testing in non-destructive testing (NDT) of materials?
Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is a cornerstone of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) used across industries to ensure structural integrity, safety, and compliance. As technology evolves, so too must the standards that govern its application. These standards provide a consistent, equipment-independent framework for test execution and result interpretation. In practice, they are often supplemented by procedure-specific instructions tailored to individual use cases or materials. This blog compiles the most relevant and up-to-date international and regional standards for UT as of 2024, categorized by application area such as calibration, test procedure, materials, and weld inspection.
| Standard | Terminology |
|---|---|
EN ISO 5577 2017-05 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing— Vocabulary |
EN ISO 23243 2022-01 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing with arrays—Vocabulary |
| Standard | Calibration block |
|---|---|
EN ISO 2400 2013-02 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Specifica- tion for calibration block No. 1 |
EN ISO 7963 2023-09 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Specifica- tion for calibration block No. 2 |
EN ISO 16946 2024-06 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Specifica- tion for a step wedge standard block |
EN ISO 19675 2017 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Specifica- tion for a calibration block for phased array testing |
| Standard | Inspection equipment |
|---|---|
EN ISO 22232-1 2021-05 | Non-destructive testing—Characterization and verification of ultrasonic test equipment—Part 1 |
EN ISO 22232-2 2021-09 | Non-destructive testing—Characterization and verification of ultrasonic test equipment—Part 2 |
EN ISO 22232-3 2022-01 | Non-destructive testing—Characterization and verification of ultrasonic test equipment—Part 3 |
EN ISO 18563-1 2024-01 | Non-destructive testing—Characterization and verification of ultrasonic phased array equipment— Part 1 |
EN ISO 18563-2 2018-04 | Non-destructive testing—Characterization and verification of ultrasonic phased array equipment— Part 2: Probes |
EN ISO 18563-3 2016-10 | Non-destructive testing—Characterization and verification of ultrasonic phased array equipment— Part 3: Combined systems |
ISO 16831 2012 ISO 16831:2012 | Non-destructive testing — Ultrasonic testing — Characterization and verification of ultrasonic thickness measuring equipment |
| Standard | Test procedure |
|---|---|
EN ISO 16809 2020-04 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic thickness measurement |
EN ISO 16810 2014-07 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—General principles |
EN ISO 16811 2014-07 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Sensitivity and range setting |
EN ISO 16823 2014-07 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Transmis- sion technique |
EN ISO 16826 2014-07 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Examina- tion for discontinuities perpendicular to the surface |
EN ISO 16827 2014-07 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Charac- terization and sizing of discontinuities |
EN ISO 16828 2014-07 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing—Time-of- flight diffraction technique as a method for detection and sizing of discontinuities |
ISO 23865 2021-01 | Non-destructive testing. Ultrasonic testing. General use of full matrix capture/total focusing technique (FMC/ TFM) and related technologies |
| Standard | Sheet metal, pipes and cladding |
|---|---|
EN 10160 2020-03 | Ultrasonic testing of steel flat product of thickness equal or greater than 6 mm (reflection method). |
EN 10307 2002-06 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing of austenitic and austenitic-ferritic stainless steels flat products of thickness equal to or greater than 6 mm (reflection method). |
EN ISO 10893-8 2020-11 | Non-destructive testing of steel tubes—Part 8: Auto- mated ultrasonic testing of seamless and welded steel tubes for the detection of laminar imperfections |
EN ISO 10893-10 2011 | Non-destructive testing of steel tubes—Part 10: Auto- mated full peripheral ultrasonic testing of seamless and welded (except submerged arc-welded) steel tubes for the detection of longitudinal and/or trans- verse imperfections |
EN ISO 17405 2022-04 | Non-destructive testing. Ultrasonic testing. Technique of testing claddings produced by welding, rolling and explosion |
| Standard | Forgings |
|---|---|
EN 10308 2002 | Non-destructive testing. Ultrasonic testing of steel bars |
EN 10228-3 2016 | Non-destructive testing of steel forgings—Part 3: Ultrasonic testing of ferritic or martensitic steel forgings |
EN 10228-4: 2016 | Non-destructive testing of steel forgings—Part 4: Ultrasonic testing of austenitic and austenitic-ferritic stainless steel forgings |
| Standard | Castings |
|---|---|
EN 12680-1 2003 | Founding. Ultrasonic examination Steel castings for general purposes |
EN 12680-2 2003 | Founding—Ultrasonic examination—Part 2: Steel castings for highly stressed components |
EN 12680-3 2012 | Founding—Ultrasonic testing—Part 3: Spheroidal graphite cast iron castings |
| Standard | Welds |
|---|---|
EN ISO 17635 2016 | Non-destructive testing of welds. General rules for metallic materials |
EN ISO 17640 2018 | Non-destructive testing of welds. Ultrasonic testing. Techniques, testing levels, and assessment |
EN ISO 11666 2018 | Non-destructive testing of welds. Ultrasonic testing. Acceptance levels |
EN ISO 23279 2017 | Non-destructive testing of welds. Ultrasonic testing. Characterization of discontinuities in welds |
EN ISO 22825 2018 | Non-destructive testing of welds—Ultrasonic testing— Testing of welds in austenitic steels and nickel-based alloys |
EN ISO 10863 2020 | Non-destructive testing of welds—Ultrasonic testing— Use of time-of-flight diffraction technique (TOFD) |
EN ISO 15626 2018 | Non-destructive testing of welds—Time-of-flight diffraction technique (TOFD)—Acceptance levels |
| Standard | Welds |
|---|---|
EN ISO 13588 2019 | Non-destructive testing of welds. Ultrasonic testing. Use of automated phased array technology |
EN ISO 20601 2019 | Non-destructive testing of welds—Ultrasonic testing— Use of automated phased array technology for thin- walled steel components |
EN ISO 19285 2018 | Non-destructive testing of welds—Phased array ultra- sonic testing (PAUT)—Acceptance levels |
EN ISO 4761 2022 | Non-destructive testing of welds. Phased array ultra- sonic testing (PAUT) for thin-walled steel components. Acceptance levels. |
EN ISO 23864 2022 | Non-destructive testing of welds—Ultrasonic testing— Use of automated total focusing technique (TFM) and related technologies |
DVGW GW 350 2015-06 | Schweißverbindungen an Rohrleitungen aus Stahl in der Gas- und Wasserversorgung – Herstellung, Prüfung und Bewertung (Welded joints on steel pipelines in gas and water supply—Fabrication, testing and evaluation) |
Section V – 2023 | ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code |
Article 4 | Ultrasonic examination methods for welds |
Article 5 | Ultrasonic examination methods for materials |
| Standard | Interfaces |
|---|---|
DGZfP-ZfP-4.0 01 2023-06 | DICONDE in der ZfP DICONDE in NDE |
ASTM E2663 2018 | Standard practice for digital imaging and communication in nondestructive evaluation (DICONDE) for ultrasonic test methods |
| Standard | Wall thickness measurement |
|---|---|
ISO 16809 2017 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic thickness measurement |
EN 17290 2021 | Non-destructive testing—Ultrasonic testing— Examination for loss of thickness due to erosion and/or corrosion using the TOFD technique |
In summary
The continued development of ultrasonic testing standards reflects both technological advancement and industry demand for reliable, standardized evaluation methods. From terminology to equipment verification, and from weld inspections to advanced techniques like PAUT and TFM, the 2024 status of standards provides practitioners with a robust foundation. By adhering to these evolving standards, inspectors, engineers, and manufacturers can maintain the highest levels of accuracy, repeatability, and regulatory compliance in non-destructive testing operations.