ISO 13272:2026

International
Standard
ISO 13272
Second edition
Plastics piping systems for non-
2026-07
pressure underground drains and
sewers — Unplasticized poly(vinyl
chloride) (PVC-U), polypropylene
(PP), polypropylene with mineral
modifiers (PP-MD) and polyethylene
(PE) — Specifications for manholes
and inspection chambers in
traffic areas and underground
installations
Systèmes de canalisations en plastique pour les branchements
et les collecteurs d'assainissement enterrés sans pression —
Poly(chlorure de vinyle) non plastifié (PVC-U), polypropylène
(PP), polypropylène avec modificateurs minéraux (PP-MD) et
polyéthylène (PE) — Spécifications relatives aux regards et
aux boîtes d'inspection et de branchement dans les zones de
circulation et dans les réseaux enterrés
Reference number
© ISO 2026
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 3
3.1 Terms and definitions .3
3.2 Abbreviated terms .7
4 Material. 7
4.1 General .7
4.2 Compound/formulation for bases .7
4.3 Compound/formulation for riser .8
4.4 Compound/formulation for cones .8
4.5 Compound/formulation for telescopic adaptors .8
4.6 Use of non-virgin materials .9
4.7 Sealing ring retaining components .9
5 General characteristics . 9
5.1 Appearance .9
5.2 Colour .9
6 Geometrical characteristics . 9
6.1 Dimensions .9
6.1.1 General .9
6.1.2 Socket and spigot diameters, wall thicknesses, length of engagement (A ) and
min
length of horizontal spigot .10
6.2 Additional requirements .10
6.2.1 Manhole and inspection chamber tops .10
6.2.2 Manholes steps and ladders .10
6.2.3 General .10
6.2.4 Steps .10
6.2.5 Permanently fixed ladders .11
6.2.6 Fixing provisions for ladders.11
7 Mechanical characteristics .11
8 Physical characteristics .12
9 Performance requirements . .13
9.1 General performance . 13
9.2 Characterization of rotationally moulded product submitted for performance testing .14
10 Sealing rings . 14
11 Marking of inspection chambers and manholes and additional documentation . 14
11.1 Marking of bases .14
11.2 Marking of components other than bases . 15
11.3 Additional documentation .16
Annex A (normative) Test method for durability . 17
Annex B (normative) Structural integrity of base . 19
Annex C (normative) Test method for the impact resistance of bases .20
Annex D (normative) Utilization of non-virgin material .21
Bibliography .23

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 138, Plastics pipes, fittings and valves for the
transport of fluids, Subcommittee SC 1, Plastics pipes and fittings for soil, waste and drainage (including land
drainage).
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 13272:2011), which has been technically
revised. The main changes are as follows:
— Clause 1, the Scope has been extended;
— Clause 3, Drawings for manholes and inspection chambers have been added;
— Clause 4, Material has been completely updated, including the Annex for recyclate;
— Clause 7, Mechanical characteristics text has been improved;
— Annex A has been simplified;
— References to EN 476 have been deleted throughout the document.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
The inspection chamber or manhole covered by this document can be manufactured by various methods,
e.g. injection moulding, rotational moulding, low-pressure moulding or fabricated from components made in
accordance with other International Standards.
The jointing of components can be achieved using:
— elastomeric ring seal joints;
— adhesive joints for PVC-U;
— welded joints for PVC-U, PP and PE;
— extrusion welding;
— mechanical jointing.
Both manholes and inspection chambers covered by this document can be site-assembled from different
components but can also be manufactured as a single unit. In either case, the following functional parts can
be recognized:
a) base (always present);
In the case of a one-piece chamber or manhole, the base part ends at a distance of 300 mm measured
from the top of the main channel.
b) riser (depth-dependent);
c) telescopic part (design-dependent);
d) cone (dependent on the design of near-surface components and their recommended installation);
e) other near-surface components.

v
International Standard ISO 13272:2026(en)
Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drains
and sewers — Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U),
polypropylene (PP), polypropylene with mineral modifiers
(PP-MD) and polyethylene (PE) — Specifications for manholes
and inspection chambers in traffic areas and underground
installations
1 Scope
This document specifies the definitions and requirements for buried circular manholes and inspection
chambers installed to a maximum depth of 6 m from ground level to the invert of the main channel and
manufactured from unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U), polypropylene (PP), polypropylene with
mineral modifiers (PP-MD) or polyethylene (PE). These products are intended for use in traffic areas and
outside the building structure (application area code “U”) for wastewater (foul wastewater, domestic
wastewater, surface water).
NOTE 1 Products conforming with this document are also suitable in non-traffic areas.
This document is only applicable to those chamber/manhole items where the manufacturer has clearly
stated in the documentation how the components must be assembled to create a complete manhole or
inspection chamber.
The products covered by this document comprise the following:
— products providing access to the drain or sewer systems by means of inspection and cleaning equipment.
— products designated as manholes providing additionally human access to the drain or sewer systems.
NOTE 2 Manholes and inspection chambers can be subject to national regulations and/or local provisions.
NOTE 3 Products conforming with this document can be installed in underground applications without additional
static calculations
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 472, Plastics — Vocabulary
ISO 1133-1, Plastics — Determination of the melt mass-flow rate (MFR) and melt volume-flow rate (MVR) of
thermoplastics — Part 1: Standard method
ISO 1183-1, Plastics — Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics — Part 1: Immersion method,
liquid pycnometer method and titration method
ISO 1183-2, Plastics — Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics — Part 2: Density gradient
column method
ISO 3126, Plastics piping systems — Plastics components — Determination of dimensions
ISO 3127, Thermoplastics pipes — Determination of resistance to external blows — Round-the-clock method

ISO 4435, Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage — Unplasticized
poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U)
ISO 8772, Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage — Polyethylene (PE)
ISO 8773, Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage — Polypropylene (PP)
ISO 11357-6, Plastics — Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) — Part 6: Determination of oxidation induction
time (isothermal OIT) and oxidation induction temperature (dynamic OIT)
ISO 13229, Thermoplastics piping systems for non-pressure applications — Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride)
(PVC-U) pipes and fittings — Determination of the viscosity number and K-value
ISO 13259, Thermoplastics piping systems for underground non-pressure applications — Test method for
leaktightness of elastomeric sealing ring type joints
ISO 13263, Thermoplastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage —
Thermoplastics fittings — Test method for impact strength
ISO 13266:2010, Thermoplastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage —
Thermoplastics shafts or risers for inspection chambers and manholes — Determination of resistance against
surface and traffic loading
ISO 13267, Thermoplastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage —
Thermoplastics inspection chamber and manhole bases — Test methods for buckling resistance
ISO 13268, Thermoplastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage —
Thermoplastics shafts or risers for inspection chambers and manholes — Determination of ring stiffness
ISO 21138-1, Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage — Structured-wall
piping systems of unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) — Part 1:
Material specification and performance criteria for pipes, fittings and systems
ISO 21138-2, Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage — Structured-wall
piping systems of unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) — Part 2:
Pipes and fittings with smooth external surface, Type A
ISO 21138-3, Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage — Structured-wall
piping systems of unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) — Part 3:
Pipes and fittings with non-smooth external surface, Type B
EN 681-1, Elastomeric seals — Material requirements for pipe joint seals used in water and drainage
applications — Part 1: Vulcanized rubber
EN 681-2, Elastomeric seals — Materials requirements for pipe joint seals used in water and drainage
applications — Part 2: Thermoplastic elastomers
EN 681-3, Elastomeric seals — Materials requirements for pipe joint seals used in water and drainage
applications — Part 3: Cellular materials of vulcanized rubber
EN 681-4, Elastomeric seals — Material requirements for pipe joint seals used in water and drainage
applications — Part 4: Cast polyurethane sealing elements
EN 13101:2002, Steps for underground man entry chambers — Requirements, marking, testing and evaluation
of conformity
EN 14396, Fixed ladders for manholes
EN 14758-1, Plastics piping systems for non-pressure underground drainage and sewerage — Polypropylene
with mineral modifiers (PP-MD) — Part 1: Specifications for pipes, fittings and the system

3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 472, ISO 4435, ISO 8772, ISO 8773,
ISO 21138-1, EN 14758-1 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1.1
inspection chamber
drain or sewer fitting used to connect drain or sewer installations and/or to change the direction of drain or
sewer runs, which terminates at ground level with a riser of 200 mm minimum outer diameter and an inner
diameter of less than 800 mm
Note 1 to entry: Inspection chambers are subject to national safety regulations and/or local provisions regarding
man-entry limitations. The installer should check for compliance prior to installation.
Note 2 to entry: Figure 1 shows typical inspection chambers.

Key
a cover (not covered by this document)
b near surface component (not covered by this document)
c telescopic part
d cone
e1 riser
e2 considered as riser
f1 base
f2 considered as base
g connection
1 inlet
2 outlet
3 invert
4 inner diameter
5 benching
6 channel
Figure 1 — Typical inspection chambers
3.1.2
manhole
drain or sewer fitting used to connect drain or sewer installations or to change the direction of drain or
sewer runs, which terminates at ground level with a riser of 800 mm minimum inner diameter
Note 1 to entry: The termination at ground level allows the introduction of cleaning, inspection and test equipment
and the removal of debris and provides access for personnel.
Note 2 to entry: Manhole components are subject to national safety regulations and/or local provisions regarding
man-entry limitations. The installer should check for compliance prior to installation.
Note 3 to entry: Figure 2 shows typical manholes.

Key
a cover (not covered by this document)
b near surface component (not covered by this document)
c telescopic part
d cone
e1 riser
e2 considered as riser
f1 base
f2 considered as base
g connection
1 inlet
2 outlet
3 invert
4 inner diameter
5 benching
6 channel
Figure 2 — Typical manholes
3.1.3
base
part of a manhole or inspection chamber, allowing direct connection to buried drain or sewer pipes and
including integrally formed channels with benching as appropriate
3.1.4
riser
circular structure providing a vertical conduit between the base unit and the near ground level components
Note 1 to entry: The riser can be supplied either as a separate component for site jointing to the base unit, or integrally
formed with the base unit by the manufacturer.
Note 2 to entry: Another word for riser can be shaft.

3.1.5
near-surface component
components which, where provided, connect to the top of the riser or the top of the cone and provide a
seating for the cover and its frame
Note 1 to entry: Near-surface components are only usually used in areas of vehicular traffic loading and are intended
to spread vehicular wheel loadings into the ground and minimize the transmission of this load to the riser.
3.1.6
telescopic part
part of the assembly that allows accommodation of settlement that might occur after installation and allows
adjustment of the height of the chamber
Note 1 to entry: Telescopic parts are normally installed within 2 m of the ground level.
3.1.7
cone
adapter allowing connection of the base and riser or riser/telescopic part to the near-surface components
Note 1 to entry: Cones are normally installed within 2 m of the ground level.
3.1.8
chamber assembly
items collectively forming a buried inspection chamber or manhole
3.1.9
maximum height of groundwater above invert
H
w
height of water column above the invert that the manhole or inspection chamber can withstand during use
3.1.10
virgin material
material in a form such as granules or powder that has not been subjected to use or processing other than
that required for its manufacture and to which no reprocessed or recycled material has been added
3.1.11
own reprocessed material
material prepared from unused products, including trimmings from the production, that will be reprocessed
in a manufacturer’s plant after having been previously processed by the same manufacturer
3.1.12
recycled material
material prepared from used thermoplastic products which have been cleaned and crushed or ground
3.1.13
agreed specification
specification of the relevant material characteristics agreed between the supplier of the non-virgin material
and the manufacturer
3.1.14
invert
lowest point of the internal surface of the barrel of a pipe or channel at any cross section

3.2 Abbreviated terms
DN/ID nominal size, inside-diameter-related
DN/OD nominal size, outside-diameter-related
MFR melt-flow rate
OIT oxidation induction time
PVC-U unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride)
PE polyethylene
PP polypropylene
PP-MD polypropylene with mineral modifiers
4 Material
4.1 General
Components of manholes and inspection chambers may be manufactured from different compounds/
formulations.
The compound/formulation shall be PVC-U resin, PP, PP-MD or PE polymer, additives and if applicable non-
virgin material that shall allow the final component to conform to the requirements of this document.
4.2 Compound/formulation for bases
The material for bases shall be tested in the form of the final product according to Table 1.
Table 1 — Durability test for bases
Test parameters
Characteristic Requirement Test method
Parameter Value
a b
Durability No cracks or Test pressure, P −0,1 × H /R bar Annex A
w
crazes
d
Maximum height of groundwater 1 m ≤ H ≤ 5 m
w
c
above invert, H
w
Rating factor, R Shall conform to
Table A.1
e
Duration, t 3 000 h
Test temperature, T Shall conform to
Table A.1
a 5 2
1 bar = 10 N/m = 0,1 MPa
b
When testing for the durability of materials rubber ring joints can be replaced by welding.
c
Test in accordance with the manufacturer's declared maximum height of groundwater.
d
The minimum value of 1 m of groundwater above invert is based on the need to safeguard durability where there is no
groundwater present.
e
For materials complying with material requirement of the standards listed in Table 2, the duration may be reduced to
1 000 h.
Table 2 — Materials and corresponding product standards
Material Corresponding product standard
Unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-U) ISO 4435, ISO 21138-2 and ISO 21138-3
Polypropylene (PP) ISO 8773, ISO 21138-2 and ISO 21138-3
Polyethylene (PE) ISO 8772, ISO 21138-2 and ISO 21138-3
Polypropylene with mineral modifiers (PP-MD) EN 14758-1
4.3 Compound/formulation for riser
The material for risers shall be tested in the form of the final product in accordance with Table 3.
Components manufactured from compound/formulation in accordance with Table 1 or Table 2 are deemed
to conform to this requirement without further testing.
Table 3 — Durability tes
...