FEICA (the Association of the European Adhesive and Sealant Industry) recently announced that a series of its one-component foam (OCF) test methods has been approved as CEN standards. OCF manufacturers representing more than 90% of the market in Europe have developed, within FEICA, standardized test methods that allow the performance of OCF products to be measured, compared, and communicated in an accurate manner, allowing customers to buy with confidence.

All the companies represented at FEICA have reportedly committed to using these standard methods to evaluate and communicate the various properties of their products, such as foam yield, post expansion, thermal conductivity, and many more. As a result, customers can rest assured that the data they read on product packaging and in literature provides an accurate and honest representation of the product performance, allowing a reliable comparison of different OCF products.

The next step was to turn the FEICA test methods into CEN standards, thereby achieving a higher level of recognition by authorities and regulators. FEICA therefore submitted a proposal to the newly created CEN Working Group 8 (OCF) under TC 193 (Adhesives). The CEN standards that have been approved and now published relate to the testing of yield, expansion, application, mechanical strength, and insulation. The standards will be soon available through the EU national standardization bodies.

CEN standards provide people and organizations with a basis for mutual understanding and are used as tools to facilitate communication, measurement, commerce, and manufacturing. The use of the standards is voluntary, and interested parties can access the CEN standards from the CEN website.

“I am delighted with the efforts made to further professionalise the OCF industry and congratulate all participants in the FEICA OCF group and CEN/TC193/W8 for this achievement,” said Philip Bruce, FEICA’s secretary general.

For more information, visit www.feica.eu. CEN can be found online at www.cen.eu.