FRP process and raw-material standards compared
Compare the main standards used for composite manufacturing and constituent materials across Europe, the United States, Australia and Canada. Each row separates direct standards from sector-specific routes and contract-adopted international methods.
Similar purpose does not mean technical equivalence
A process name rarely identifies the complete conformity route. RTM, vacuum infusion and roll wrapping often have no single national finished-product standard; the applicable product, sector and test methods must be assembled into one controlled specification. Verify the current edition in the official catalogue before issuing an RFQ.
Manufacturing processes
Product and qualification routes for seven common thermoset-composite manufacturing processes.
Process / material Control point | EUEurope EN / ISO | USUnited States ASTM / ASME / AWWA | AUAustralia AS / Austroads | CACanada CSA + adopted international |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pultrusion Structural profiles, rods and shapes Buyer check: Profile class, resin and reinforcement, full-section properties, tolerances, visual grade, durability conditioning and design basis. | Direct standard EN 13706-1/-2/-3 Pultruded profiles: designation, test methods and requirements ISO 1268-6 Pultrusion-moulded test plates EN 13706 is the principal European product family. State the part, profile grade and property direction. | Direct standard ASTM D3917-23 Dimensional tolerances for pultruded shapes ASTM D4385-19 Visual-defect classification ASTM D7745-21 Testing pultruded composites These control tolerances, appearance and testing; the structural design standard must still be named separately. | Sector-specific Austroads ATS 5880 FRP bridge members BS EN 13706 + ASTM D3917/D4385 Referenced profile qualification set Australia has no broad horizontal AS product specification for every pultruded profile. ATS 5880 supplies a transport-sector route. | Sector-specific CSA S807 FRP reinforcement specification EN 13706 or ASTM D3917/D4385 Contract-declared profile basis CSA S807 applies when the pultruded product is reinforcement, not to every structural shape. Generic profiles need a declared international basis. |
SMC / compression moulding Sheet moulding compound and moulded parts Buyer check: Compound family, fibre type and content, charge pattern, flow, cure, shrinkage, mechanical/electrical class and finished-part acceptance. | Direct standard ISO 8605:2024 SMC requirements and specifications ISO 1268-8:2004 Compression moulding of SMC/BMC test plates ISO 8605 covers the compound; ISO 1268-8 standardizes preparation of representative test plates, not finished-part approval. | Direct standard ASTM D1201-13(2022)e1 Thermosetting polyester moulding compounds ASTM D5948-05(2020) Thermosetting moulding compounds Select the applicable resin and compound class, then add the end-product and sector requirements. | Contract-adopted ISO 8605:2024 Contract baseline for SMC compound control No general Australian SMC product counterpart. The purchase specification normally adopts ISO and the applicable automotive, electrical or infrastructure requirements. | Contract-adopted ISO 8605 or ASTM D1201 Contract-declared compound specification No general CSA SMC process standard. Qualification follows the end-use code plus the expressly adopted ISO or ASTM compound standard. |
RTM / HP-RTM Closed-mould resin transfer moulding Buyer check: Tool and injection scheme, preform architecture, resin viscosity window, pressure/temperature record, cure state, void content and laminate allowables. | Sector-specific ISO 1268-7:2001 RTM production of test plates ISO 527-4/-5 + ISO 14125 Laminate tensile and flexural properties ISO 1268-7 standardizes test-plate production; it is not a universal certification standard for every RTM component. | Sector-specific ASTM D5687/D5687M-20 Flat composite panels and specimen preparation ASTM D3039 + D7264 Laminate tensile and flexural tests There is no horizontal ASTM finished-product standard for all RTM parts. Automotive, aerospace or industrial end-use requirements govern. | Contract-adopted ISO 1268-7 Contract baseline for representative RTM panels No direct general AS counterpart. Adopt ISO test-panel preparation and name the sector-specific acceptance standard. | Contract-adopted ISO 1268-7 or ASTM D5687 Contract-declared panel preparation No direct general CSA counterpart. Finished-part qualification remains application-specific. |
Hand lay-up / contact moulding Laminates, tanks, ducts, pipe and field-applied FRP Buyer check: Laminate sequence, corrosion barrier, overlaps and joints, glass/resin content, cure, Barcol hardness, visual limits and laminate qualification. | Direct standard ISO 1268-2 Contact and spray-up test plates EN 13121-3 Above-ground GRP tanks and vessels Use the product code when tanks or vessels are supplied; the ISO plate method alone does not qualify workmanship. | Direct standard ASTM C582-23 Contact-moulded corrosion-resistant laminates ASTM D4097-19 Contact-moulded corrosion-resistant tanks ASTM D6041-23 Contact-moulded corrosion-resistant pipe and fittings Choose the standard matching the delivered product; laminate construction and service chemistry remain order-specific. | Contract-adopted ISO 1268-2 + EN 13121 / ASTM C582 Contract-selected fabrication basis No one Australian standard covers every hand-laminated product. Product, chemical-service and workplace requirements must be added. | Sector-specific CSA S808 FRP materials for externally reinforcing structures ASTM C582 / D4097 Commonly specified industrial fabrication basis CSA S808 is relevant to strengthening materials. Tanks and chemical equipment usually require an expressly adopted ASTM, ASME or EN basis. |
Roll wrapping Rolled laminate tubes and rods Buyer check: Ply schedule and orientation, mandrel and cure cycle, wall build, straightness, OD/ID tolerances, machining allowance and tube-level tests. | Sector-specific IEC 61212-3-1:2013 Round laminated rolled tubes for electrical use ISO 527-4/-5 + ISO 14125 Laminate tensile and flexural tests IEC 61212-3-1 is product-specific to electrical insulating tubes. Other tubes need drawing and laminate-level qualification. | Direct standard ASTM D709-25 Laminated thermosetting sheets, rolled tubes and rods ASTM D3039 + D7264 Composite tensile and flexural tests ASTM D709 covers defined laminated thermosetting grades; high-performance carbon tubes still need a product drawing and test plan. | Contract-adopted IEC 61212-3-1 or ASTM D709 Contract-selected tube basis No horizontal AS roll-wrapped composite-tube standard. Use the international product basis only where its scope matches the end use. | Contract-adopted IEC 61212-3-1 or ASTM D709 Contract-selected tube basis No horizontal CSA roll-wrapped tube standard. Electrical, pressure or structural end-use codes may add separate requirements. |
Vacuum infusion / VARTM Large infused laminates and sandwich structures Buyer check: Vacuum-drop acceptance, flow media and inlet strategy, resin temperature/viscosity, infusion and cure trace, core bonding, voids and NDT plan. | Sector-specific ISO 12215-5:2019 Small-craft hull structure and scantlings ISO 1268-7 RTM test-plate method where technically applicable There is no universal EN/ISO VARTM process certification. ISO 12215-5 is an end-product route for small craft, not all infused parts. | Sector-specific ASTM D5687/D5687M-20 Flat composite panel preparation ASTM D3171-22 Constituent content of composite materials ASTM D2734-23 Void content of reinforced plastics No horizontal ASTM VARTM product standard. The applicable marine, wind, transport or structural specification governs acceptance. | Contract-adopted ISO 12215-5 + project specification Common small-craft route No direct general AS VARTM counterpart. Commercial vessels and other sectors add their own design and survey rules. | Contract-adopted ISO 12215-5 + project specification Common small-craft route No direct general CSA VARTM counterpart. Transport, marine or structural authority requirements must be identified before qualification. |
Filament winding GRP/RTR pipe, tanks and pressure boundaries Buyer check: Winding angle and wall construction, liner and corrosion barrier, design pressure/stiffness, regression basis, joints, proof test and batch traceability. | Direct standard ISO 23856:2021 GRP water, drainage and sewer piping systems ISO 14692 series GRP piping for petroleum and natural-gas service EN 13121-3 Above-ground GRP tanks and vessels The conveyed medium and installation determine which product family applies; winding process alone does not select the code. | Direct standard ASTM D2996-23 Filament-wound fiberglass pipe ASTM D3299-26 Filament-wound corrosion-resistant tanks AWWA C950 Fiberglass pressure pipe Use pipe, water-service or tank requirements as applicable and add long-term pressure/stiffness and joint qualification. | Direct standard AS 3571.1-2009 GRP drainage and sewerage systems AS 3571.2-2009 GRP water-supply systems AS/NZS 2566 Buried flexible pipeline design and installation AS 3571 is product/service-specific and is based on older ISO pipe standards; current project specifications may also call up ISO 23856. | Sector-specific CSA B51 Pressure equipment and pressure-piping jurisdiction ASTM D2996 / AWWA C950 Commonly adopted pipe product basis Canada has no single CSA counterpart covering all wound GRP pipe and tanks. Provincial registration and the adopted product standard both matter. |
Raw materials
Purchase-specification baselines for the four reinforcement and resin families requested most often.
Process / material Control point | EUEurope EN / ISO | USUnited States ASTM / ASME / AWWA | AUAustralia AS / Austroads | CACanada CSA + adopted international |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass fibre Yarns, rovings, strands, mats and fabrics Buyer check: Glass type, product form, tex, filament diameter, sizing chemistry and compatibility, moisture, loss on ignition and tensile retention. | Direct standard ISO 2078:2022 Textile-glass yarn designation ISO 2797:2017 Rovings: basis for specification ISO 3341:2000 Breaking force and elongation Specify both the designation and grade-level acceptance properties; a generic E-glass label is not a complete purchase specification. | Direct standard ASTM D578/D578M-23 Glass-fibre strands ASTM D2343-17(2023) Tensile properties of strands, yarns and rovings Sizing compatibility and end-use durability need order-specific limits beyond the basic strand designation. | Contract-adopted ISO 2078 / ISO 2797 or ASTM D578 Contract-adopted raw-material basis No broad Australian replacement covering all reinforcement forms. State the international method and supplier grade in the purchase order. | Contract-adopted ISO 2078 / ISO 2797 or ASTM D578 Contract-adopted raw-material basis No broad CSA replacement covering all reinforcement forms. The final product standard may impose additional fibre requirements. |
Carbon fibre Continuous filament tow and reinforcement Buyer check: Tow size, tensile modulus/strength method, density, linear mass, sizing type/content, filament defects, oxidation resistance and lot CoA. | Direct standard ISO 10618:2004 Tensile properties of resin-impregnated yarn ISO 10119:2020 Carbon-fibre density ISO 10548:2002 Sizing content The resin used to impregnate the yarn affects the measured result; lock the preparation method and acceptance statistics. | Direct standard ASTM D4018-23 Properties of continuous carbon/graphite fibre tows ASTM D3800-22 Density of high-modulus fibres ASTM D4018 combines tow preparation, tensile properties and supporting mass/density measurements. | Contract-adopted ISO 10618 or ASTM D4018 Contract-adopted tow qualification No general AS carbon-tow specification. Do not compare supplier values generated by different specimen preparation methods as if equivalent. | Contract-adopted ISO 10618 or ASTM D4018 Contract-adopted tow qualification No general CSA carbon-tow specification. CSA S807/S808 may govern a finished civil FRP product, not the raw tow by itself. |
Epoxy resin Base resin, hardener and formulated system Buyer check: Chemical base, epoxy equivalent, viscosity, mix ratio, pot life, cure schedule, Tg, exotherm, moisture and cured-system properties. | Direct standard ISO 3673-1:1996 Epoxy-resin designation ISO 3001:1999 Epoxy equivalent These identify and test the base material; a composite order must also qualify the hardener, mix and cured laminate. | Direct standard ASTM D1763-00(2021) Epoxy resins ASTM D1652-11(2019) Epoxy content ASTM D4142-89(2022) Guide for testing epoxy resins ASTM D1763 covers un-hardened reactive epoxy resins; formulated infusion, pultrusion or adhesive systems need their own limits. | Contract-adopted ISO 3673-1 / ISO 3001 or ASTM D1763 Contract-adopted resin basis No single general AS specification for all composite epoxy systems. SDS obligations and application-specific structural/fire requirements are additional. | Contract-adopted ISO 3673-1 / ISO 3001 or ASTM D1763 Contract-adopted resin basis No single general CSA specification for all composite epoxy systems. Finished civil strengthening systems may additionally fall under CSA S808. |
Polyurethane resin Polyol, isocyanate and pultrusion/RTM system Buyer check: Isocyanate content, hydroxyl number, water, acidity, viscosity, component ratio, reactivity, cure, Tg and moisture sensitivity. | Direct standard ISO 14896:2009 Isocyanate content of polyurethane raw materials ISO 14900:2023 Hydroxyl number of polyols ISO 14897:2023 Water content of polyols These are constituent test methods, not a universal finished polyurethane-composite performance specification. | Direct standard ASTM D5155-25 Isocyanate content of aromatic isocyanates ASTM D4274-23 Hydroxyl numbers of polyols ASTM D4672-24 Water content of polyols Match each method to the supplied component and state the formulated-system processing and cured-property limits separately. | Contract-adopted ISO 14896 / ISO 14900 or ASTM D5155/D4274 Contract-adopted constituent tests No general AS polyurethane-composite resin specification. Hazardous-chemical, transport and workplace controls remain separate. | Contract-adopted ISO 14896 / ISO 14900 or ASTM D5155/D4274 Contract-adopted constituent tests No general CSA polyurethane-composite resin specification. Canadian chemical/SDS obligations and the finished-product code must also be met. |
Turn the selected standard into inspectable evidence
A certificate logo or catalogue claim is not enough. Put the edition, product scope, acceptance values and report requirements into the RFQ so every supplier quotes against the same basis.
Edition and scope
Standard number, year/amendment, product type, dimensions, service and exclusions.
Acceptance basis
Minimum or characteristic values, conditioning, sampling, retest rule and failure mode.
Traceable reports
Specimen direction, batch, laboratory status, test date, raw data and signed report number.
Finished-product match
Evidence must match the quoted grade, site, process, tooling and delivered construction.