Overview
EN ISO 12017:2021 - Plastics - Poly(methyl methacrylate) double- and triple-skin sheets - Test methods - specifies standardized test methods for quality control of extruded poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) double- and triple-skin (DSS/TSS) flat sheets. The standard covers colourless and coloured, transparent, translucent and opaque grades with a minimum sheet width of 600 mm. It is adopted by CEN (as EN ISO 12017:2021) and is intended primarily for applications in building and agriculture (greenhouses).
Key topics and requirements
EN ISO 12017:2021 defines the test methods, sample preparation and reporting needed to assess key product characteristics. Major technical topics include:
- Composition and characteristics of DSS and TSS (material description, profile and dimensional features).
- Dimensional tests: total thickness, minimum skin thickness, minimum rib thickness, width and length measurements.
- Rib geometry and related profile measurements specific to multi-skin extrusions.
- Mass per unit area to verify production consistency.
- Curvature checks: sheet surface curvature and edge curvature in the extrusion direction.
- Optical properties: luminous transmittance, colour and general appearance (normative Annex A covers luminous transmittance determination).
- Thermal performance: thermal resistance testing methods.
- Mechanical testing: three-point bending (including procedures for chemical compatibility testing - Annex B).
- Acoustic and fire tests: sound insulation and fire resistance test methods referenced.
- Durability: weathering tests and evaluation of internal stress.
- Chemical compatibility: procedures for assessing resistance to materials in contact with PMMA sheets.
- Condensate formation guidance for multi-skin sheet assemblies.
- Test conditions, sampling, specimen preparation and test reporting requirements to ensure reproducible quality control.
Practical applications and users
This standard is essential for stakeholders who specify, manufacture, test or install PMMA multi-skin sheets:
- Manufacturers - to set in-house quality control procedures and production tolerances.
- Testing laboratories - to perform standardized, repeatable tests for performance verification and compliance.
- Specifiers, architects and façade engineers - to compare products on optical, thermal, mechanical and durability criteria for building use.
- Greenhouse and agricultural equipment suppliers - to ensure light transmission, weathering resistance and mechanical integrity.
- Certification bodies and procurement officers - to create objective acceptance criteria for supplied sheets.
Related standards
EN ISO 12017:2021 references and aligns with other ISO test standards, for example: ISO 2818 (test specimen preparation), ISO 4892‑2 (weathering with xenon-arc), ISO 7823‑2 (PMMA sheet types and dimensions), ISO 8302 (thermal resistance), and acoustic measurement standards ISO 10140‑2 / ISO 10140‑5. This edition supersedes earlier EN ISO 12017 versions.