EN 16397-1:2014
(Main)Flexible couplings - Part 1: Performance requirements
General Information
- Abstract
This European Standard specifies the performance requirements for flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes for use with pipes and fittings in drain and sewer systems, usually operated under gravity and periodic hydraulic surcharge, both above and below ground inside or outside buildings and intended to connect pipes for:
- repair of damaged pipelines;
- connecting pipes of different materials and/or diameters;
- jointing short/cut lengths of pipe;
- jointing specific pipe systems;
- jointing post-inserted preformed junctions.
Typically a coupling consists of a moulded or extruded flexible sleeve with two clamping bands with or without a shear band. The clamping bands enable the sleeve to form a seal with the pipes to be jointed. The shear band gives resistance to shear forces. Connections may be made between pipes which cannot be satisfactorily jointed by a coupling alone, of dissimilar sizes or material, by using an appropriate bush or bushes with the coupling or by using an appropriate adaptor.
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Publication Date
- 04-Nov-2014
- Withdrawal Date
- 22-Sep-2026
- Technical Committee
- CEN/TC 165 - Waste water engineering
- Drafting Committee
- CEN/TC 165/WG 1 - General requirements for pipes
- Current Stage
- 9960 - Withdrawal effective - Withdrawal
- Start Date
- 02-Apr-2026
- Completion Date
- 23-Sep-2026
- Directive
- Harmonized Standard305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
Not Harmonized89/106/EEC - Construction products
Overview
EN 16397-1:2014 - published by CEN in November 2014 - sets the performance requirements for flexible couplings, adaptors and bushes used in drain and sewer systems. It applies to gravity-operated systems with periodic hydraulic surcharge, above and below ground, inside or outside buildings. Typical products covered are moulded or extruded flexible sleeves with two clamping bands (with or without a shear band). The standard defines how these elements must perform when used to repair pipelines, connect dissimilar pipes, join short/cut pipe lengths, mate specific pipe systems or join post-inserted junctions.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Product definition: Flexible coupling, flexible adaptor, bush, clamping band, shear band and adjustor strip.
- Material and dimensional requirements: Materials are specified in the material-specific Part 2 (EN 16397-2); tolerances are likewise covered there.
- Tightness testing: Joint assemblies must meet tightness under defined internal pressures:
- Couplings with shear band: 100 kPa (1.0 bar)
- Couplings without shear band: 50 kPa (0.5 bar)
- Vacuum test for shear-band couplings: −0.25 bar
- Angular deflection: Assemblies must resist deflection (specified per nominal size, e.g. up to 200 mm → 80 mm/m or 4.6°) without leakage or pressure loss >10%.
- Shear resistance and deformation: Short- and long-term shear tests required. Rigid-to-rigid joints: shear load of 25 N/mm nominal size. Flexible pipe tests require controlled diametral deformation (typically 10% or 5% depending on configuration).
- Thermal cycling: Joints (especially ≤200 mm internal diameter) must retain performance after thermal cycling under shear/deflection conditions.
- Strength of bands and fixings: Clamping and shear band assemblies must demonstrate mechanical adequacy and maintain seal performance.
- Durability, reaction to fire and dangerous substances: Performance checks and references to fire classification and harmful substances are included.
Applications and Users
- Practical uses:
- Emergency and planned pipeline repairs
- Connecting pipes of different materials or diameters
- Short/cut pipe jointing and specific system interfaces
- Installing post-inserted preformed junctions
- Typical environments: gravity sewers, building drainage, outdoor buried runs, above-ground runs subject to temperature variation or surcharge.
- Who uses this standard:
- Manufacturers of flexible couplings, adaptors and bushes
- Design engineers and specifiers selecting joints for sewer and drainage projects
- Installers and site supervisors ensuring correct product selection and assembly torque
- Test laboratories, certification bodies and procurement teams verifying compliance
Related Standards
- EN 16397-2 - Characteristics and testing for metal-banded flexible couplings, adaptors and bushes
- EN 476 - General requirements for components used in drains and sewers
- EN 1055 - Elevated temperature cycling for thermoplastics piping systems
- EN 13501-1 - Fire classification (reaction to fire)
For projects specifying flexible couplings in sewer and drainage works, EN 16397-1:2014 is the primary performance benchmark to ensure watertight, mechanically reliable connections across a range of materials and field conditions.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
- Effective Date
- 28-Jan-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 16397-1:2014 is a standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Flexible couplings - Part 1: Performance requirements". This standard covers: This European Standard specifies the performance requirements for flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes for use with pipes and fittings in drain and sewer systems, usually operated under gravity and periodic hydraulic surcharge, both above and below ground inside or outside buildings and intended to connect pipes for: - repair of damaged pipelines; - connecting pipes of different materials and/or diameters; - jointing short/cut lengths of pipe; - jointing specific pipe systems; - jointing post-inserted preformed junctions. Typically a coupling consists of a moulded or extruded flexible sleeve with two clamping bands with or without a shear band. The clamping bands enable the sleeve to form a seal with the pipes to be jointed. The shear band gives resistance to shear forces. Connections may be made between pipes which cannot be satisfactorily jointed by a coupling alone, of dissimilar sizes or material, by using an appropriate bush or bushes with the coupling or by using an appropriate adaptor.
This European Standard specifies the performance requirements for flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes for use with pipes and fittings in drain and sewer systems, usually operated under gravity and periodic hydraulic surcharge, both above and below ground inside or outside buildings and intended to connect pipes for: - repair of damaged pipelines; - connecting pipes of different materials and/or diameters; - jointing short/cut lengths of pipe; - jointing specific pipe systems; - jointing post-inserted preformed junctions. Typically a coupling consists of a moulded or extruded flexible sleeve with two clamping bands with or without a shear band. The clamping bands enable the sleeve to form a seal with the pipes to be jointed. The shear band gives resistance to shear forces. Connections may be made between pipes which cannot be satisfactorily jointed by a coupling alone, of dissimilar sizes or material, by using an appropriate bush or bushes with the coupling or by using an appropriate adaptor.
EN 16397-1:2014 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 23.040.60 - Flanges, couplings and joints. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 16397-1:2014 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 16397-2:2014, EN 13501-1:2018, EN 476:2011, EN 1055:1996, CR 13935:2000. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 16397-1:2014 is associated with the following European legislation: EU Directives/Regulations: 305/2011, 89/106/EEC; Standardization Mandates: M/131, M/136 rev2. When a standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, products manufactured in conformity with it benefit from a presumption of conformity with the essential requirements of the corresponding EU directive or regulation.
EN 16397-1:2014 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Prožne spojke - 1. del: Zahtevane lastnostiFlexible Kupplungen - Teil 1: LeistungsanforderungenRaccords flexibles - Partie 1: Exigences de performanceFlexible couplings - Part 1: Performance requirements23.040.60Prirobnice, oglavki in spojni elementiFlanges, couplings and jointsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 16397-1:2014SIST EN 16397-1:2015en,fr,de01-februar-2015SIST EN 16397-1:2015SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 16397-1
November 2014 ICS 23.040.60 English Version
Flexible couplings - Part 1: Performance requirements
Raccords flexibles - Partie 1: Exigences de performance
Flexible Kupplungen - Teil 1: Leistungsanforderungen This European Standard was approved by CEN on 30 August 2014.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 16397-1:2014 ESIST EN 16397-1:2015
Key 1 pipe 1 2 pipe 2 3 drive unit 4 adjustor unit 5 shear band 6 sleeve 7 clamping band b width of sleeve d3 outside diameter Figure 1 — Example of a flexible coupling with shear band
Key 1 shear band adjustors Figure 2 — Example of elevation showing shear band adjustors SIST EN 16397-1:2015
Key 1 pipe 1 2 clamping band with drive unit 3 sleeve 4 pipe 2 b width of sleeve d3 outside diameter NOTE More than one drive unit could be used where required. Figure 3 — Example of flexible coupling without shear band 3.2 flexible adaptor moulded or extruded stepped flexible sleeve with adjustable clamping bands by which it is secured to pipes of different outside diameters beyond the tolerance range for a flexible coupling which may incorporate an abrupt change of section Note 1 to entry: An example of a metal banded adaptor is shown in Figure 4. SIST EN 16397-1:2015
Key 1 pipe 1 2 pipe 2 3 moulded rubber 4 drive unit 5 clamping band b width of sleeve d3 outside diameter NOTE More than one drive unit could be used where required. Figure 4 — Example of metal banded adaptor 3.3 bush moulded or extruded and joined elastomeric section only used with couplings having shear bands to compensate for variations between the outside diameters of pipes which cannot be satisfactorily joined by a coupling alone 3.4 nominal size of a flexible coupling and an adaptor maximum outside diameter of the pipes with which a flexible coupling or adaptor can be used 3.5 shear band component for bearing of shear loads after installation 3.6 clamping band means of clamping the flexible coupling to a pipe using a specified force 3.7 adjustor strip shear band fixing means of clamping the shear band to the flexible coupling using a specified force Note 1 to entry: See Figure 2. 3.8 stopper mechanical means of sealing the open end of a pipe, typically used in a pressure test SIST EN 16397-1:2015
nominal self-weight of stopper (for tightness testing) kN FR
nominal self-weight of pipe (which may be obtained by calculation - volume and density) kN FS
shear load kN FW
the weight of water in pipe kN FZ
the applied load kN C1
distance between seal and load application line for FZ m C2
distance between right hand support and load line for FE m Ss distance between seal and support of loaded pipe m 5 Product characteristics 5.1 General Flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes shall meet the product characteristics of this European Standard. When fitted according to the manufacturer's instructions, flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes shall not damage or distort the pipes to which they are connected. Flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes shall be free from such defects as would impair their function when in service. 5.2 Materials All materials used in flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes shall comply with the specific material characteristics in accordance with EN 16397-2. 5.3 Dimensional tolerances NOTE The requirements on tolerances and dimensions are specified in EN 16397-2. 5.4 Tightness of joint assemblies 5.4.1 General Joint assemblies using flexible couplings and adaptors and bushes shall meet the requirements of 5.4.2, 5.4.3, 5.4.4 and 5.4.5. Couplings and adaptors shall be tested in assemblies comprising both rigid pipes, both flexible pipes and a combination of rigid pipes with flexible pipes. When bushes are supplied as part of the product range a minimum of one test per test configuration shall include at least one bush/coupling combination. In addition when subjected to the test specified in the material specific part of this European Standard (EN 16397-2), the maximum sized coupling assembled with the thickest bush supplied and the appropriate pipes from each designated size group and test mode shall be tested at the recommended assembly torque. SIST EN 16397-1:2015
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