EN 13252 Geotextiles and Geotextile-Related Products - Required Properties for Use in Drainage Systems

The European standard “EN 13252 Geotextiles and geotextile-related products - Requirements for use in drainage systems” describes the relevant properties of geotextiles and geotextile-related products used in drainage systems and the appropriate test methods for determining these properties.

The intended use of this geotextile or geotextile-related products is to perform one or more of the following functions: filtration, separation, and drainage. The separation function is always used in conjunction with filtration or drainage. Accordingly, separation is never specified alone.

This standard does not apply to geosynthetic barriers as defined in EN ISO 10318 1. This standard provides for the evaluation and verification of the product's consistent performance according to this standard, as well as factory production control procedures.

The EN 13252 standard defines the requirements that manufacturers and distributors must meet regarding the presentation of product specifications. Specific application cases may include requirements for additional specifications and, preferably, standardized test methods, where technically relevant.

In short, the EN 13252 standard covers the relevant properties of geotextiles and geotextile-related products (e.g., geocomposites) used in drainage systems in civil engineering and geotechnical applications. This standard defines the properties these materials must possess to perform reliably and the appropriate test methods to verify these properties.

Geotextiles typically perform three main functions in drainage systems:

• Filtration: Allowing water to pass through while retaining soil particles.
• Separation: To prevent different soil layers from mixing.
• Drainage: Facilitating the flow and transport of liquids (water) within or along the plane of a material.

Separation is almost always combined with filtration or drainage and is never mentioned in isolation.

This standard applies to geotextiles and related products used in drainage systems where the material is in contact (on at least one side) with soil, other materials, or geosynthetics for fluid intake and transport. Examples include:

• Road and rail infrastructures
• Retaining walls and fills
• landfill drainage
• Foundation and basement drainage
• Sports fields and green roofs

This standard does not directly cover erosion control functions (these are covered by separate standards such as EN 13253), but integrated systems may need to meet additional requirements.

The EN 13252 standard arranges the properties in a table according to their level of importance:

• A: This applies to all terms of use.
• Q: This only applies under specific terms of use.
• -: This is not valid for this function.

The main characteristics and their associated test methods have been defined as follows:

• Tensile strength: Test method EN ISO 10319 standard. Filtration A, separation A, drainage A
• Elongation at maximum load: Test method EN ISO 10319 standard. Filtration A, separation A, drainage A
• Static puncture resistance: Test method EN ISO 12236 standard. Filtration S, separation A, drainage -
• Dynamic puncture resistance (conical drop): Test method EN ISO 13433 standard. Filtration A, separation A, drainage -
• Characteristic aperture size: Test method EN ISO 12956 standard. Filtration A, separation A, drainage -
• Water permeability perpendicular to the plane: Test method EN ISO 11058 standard. Filtration A, separation A, drainage -
• Water flow capacity in a plane: Test method EN ISO 12958 standard. Filtration -, separation -, drainage A
• Pressure creep characteristics: Test method EN ISO 25619-1 standard. Filtration -, separation -, drainage A
• Resistance to damage during installation: Test method EN ISO 10722 standard. Filtration S, separation S, drainage S
• Durability characteristics: Test method is specified in Appendix B of this standard. Filtration A, Separation S, Drainage A.

Additional features (relevant where applicable) include:

• Compressive strength under load (EN ISO 25619-2 standard)
• Tensile strength of joints/connections (EN ISO 10321 standard)
• Friction characteristics (EN ISO 12957-1/2 standard)
• Internal bond strength for geocomposites.

Durability, as assessed according to Annex B, encompasses aspects such as resistance to weathering, chemicals, biological degradation, and hydrolysis.

The main reasons why this standard is considered important are as follows:

• Manufacturers must declare product specifications according to EN 13252 standard to support CE marking under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) when the product is placed on the EU market for drainage applications.
• Designers and specifiers use this to select materials suitable for project-specific functions and site conditions (e.g., soil type, load, hydraulic requirements).
• Contractors benefit from standardized testing to ensure consistent performance and reduce the risk of premature failure in drainage systems.

This standard emphasizes that a specification document for a project must clearly define the required functions and conditions of use.

The EN 13252 standard is part of a harmonized family of European standards for geotextiles and geosynthetics:

• EN 13250 Geotextiles and geotextile products - Specifications for use in railway construction.
• EN 13251 Geotextiles and geotextile products - Specifications for use in earthworks, foundations and retaining structures.
• EN 13253 Geotextiles and geotextile-related products - Specifications for use in erosion control works (coastal protection, coastal fortifications).
• EN 13254 Geotextiles and geotextile products - Specifications for use in the construction of dams and reservoirs.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced staff, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the EN 13252 standard.