Overview
ISO/TR 15155-2:2012 - "Agricultural irrigation equipment - Test facilities for agricultural irrigation equipment - Part 2: Test facility operating manual" is a Technical Report by ISO that provides guidance for the operation of basic test facilities used to evaluate irrigation system components. Its primary purpose is to supply a practical structure and content for a test facility operating manual (TFOM) so laboratories can implement the detailed test procedures referenced in related standards (e.g., ISO 7714, ISO 8026, ISO 9261, ISO 9635‑1 to 5, ISO 9644, ISO 9911, ISO 10522, ISO 15886‑3). The document is intended as an adaptable template for facilities testing emitters, sprinklers and valves.
Key topics and requirements
ISO/TR 15155-2 outlines the essential elements that a test facility manual should contain. Major topics include:
- Facility description and functions: test facility name, range of testing (e.g., measurement of water flow rate through devices), organizational structure and staff.
- Quality policy and management: provisions to document, review and update the TFOM and associated quality procedures.
- Staff responsibilities and training: defined roles, job descriptions and competence requirements for technicians and management.
- Equipment and test benches: inventory, equipment assurance/calibration program and annexed bench descriptions (sprayer, valve, emitter, sprinkler).
- Test methods and procedures: selection and application of standard test methods, handling departures from standards and electronic/mechanical test procedures.
- Normal work procedures: sample receipt, identification, test scheduling, safety, housekeeping and control of test samples.
- Records, reporting and confidentiality: filing original test results, report formats, retention and verification.
- Audit, corrective action and accreditation: internal/external audits, diagnostic and corrective actions, and guidance for facility registration/accreditation.
- Occupational health and safety and subcontracting responsibilities.
Applications and who uses it
ISO/TR 15155-2 is practical for:
- Test facility managers and laboratory directors drafting or upgrading a TFOM.
- Irrigation equipment manufacturers establishing in‑house or third‑party test capabilities for emitters, sprinklers and valves.
- Accreditation bodies and quality managers preparing test facilities for ISO/IEC accreditation.
- R&D and product development teams that require consistent, reproducible test conditions to validate performance and durability.
- Regulatory agencies and certification labs needing a standardized operating manual aligned to referenced ISO test methods.
Related standards
This Technical Report is intended to be used with the following standards: ISO 7714; ISO 8026; ISO 9261; ISO 9635‑1 to 5; ISO 9644; ISO 9911; ISO 10522; ISO 15886‑3. Annexes in ISO/TR 15155‑2 provide example test bench layouts and forms to help implement those methods.
Keywords: ISO TR 15155-2:2012, agricultural irrigation equipment, test facility operating manual, irrigation test bench, emitters, sprinklers, valves, ISO testing guidance, irrigation equipment testing.