Service
Pipe pressure and leak tightness testing
Pressure and leak tightness tests verify that a new or repaired pipeline holds – in buried pipes as well as in the water and drainage pipes of buildings. The test record reaches your email within five minutes of the test.
- Applications
- Networks · buildings
- Pressure pipes
- Water mains · rising mains
- Gravity sewers
- Air or water test
- Test record
- 5 min by email
- Area
- Helsinki region · Finland
Methods
Pressure test or leak tightness test?
The type of pipe decides the method. Pipes that operate under pressure are tested with a pressure test, gravity sewers with a leak tightness test.
| Pressure test | Leak tightness test | |
|---|---|---|
| Pipes | Pressure pipes: water mains and rising mains | Gravity sewers and manholes |
| Method | The pipeline is filled with water, pressurised to the test pressure and monitored for the test period. | The section is plugged and tested with air pressure or by filling it with water. |
| What is measured | Pressure loss during the test period | Change in pressure or water added |
| Standard, networks | SFS-EN 805 | SFS-EN 1610 |
| Building pipes | Tested according to the design and the building regulations. | |
When pipelines are tested
The test is done before commissioning, and its requirements – test pressure, test period and acceptance limit – come from the design or the client. The test record is the document for contract handover and for the water utility's approval.
- Commissioning a new water main or sewer. Tightness is verified before the pipeline is taken into use.
- Pipe renovation. New water and drainage pipes in a building are tested before the structures are closed.
- After repair or connection work. The repaired section is tested before backfilling or commissioning.
- Acceptance of relining. The tightness of a lined or coated pipe is verified.
How it works
From initial data to test record
The test pressure and test period come from the design. If they have not been specified, we agree on the procedure before the test.
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Initial data
Pipe material, diameter and length, and the required test pressure, test period and method.
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Preparation
The test section is plugged. For a pressure test, the pipe is filled with water and the air is removed.
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Test
The pressure is raised to the test pressure and monitored and recorded for the whole test period.
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Test record
Test pressure, duration, measurements and the result: pass or fail. In your email within five minutes.
Test record
What the test record contains
The test record is prepared according to the design and the client's requirements. If the water utility has its own form, tell us when you order.
- Test section and its location
- Pipe material and diameter
- Test pressure and test period
- Measurements over the test period
- Result: pass or fail
- Date and tester
Area
Pressure testing in the Helsinki region and across Finland
We carry out pressure and leak tightness tests in the Helsinki region – Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa – and on long projects anywhere in Finland.
FAQ
Questions about pressure testing
What is the difference between a pressure test and a leak tightness test?
A pressure test is done on pipes that operate under pressure, such as water mains and rising mains: the pipeline is pressurised to the test pressure and the pressure loss is monitored. A leak tightness test is done on gravity sewers with air pressure or water. We do both, for buried pipes and for pipes inside buildings.
How quickly do I get the test record?
The test record reaches your email within five minutes of the test, so the next phase can continue right away.
Is the test done before or after backfilling?
The design or the client decides. When the joints are visible, a possible leak is easy to locate. A test after backfilling also shows that the backfill has not damaged the pipe.
What if the pipeline fails the test?
A failed result is recorded in the test record. The leak is located – by CCTV inspection if needed – and the test is repeated after the repair.
Is the test record accepted by the water utility?
The test record is prepared according to the design and the client's requirements. If the water utility has its own template, tell us when you order and we will use it.
How much does a pressure test cost?
Pricing is case by case: an hourly rate or a fixed price. The price is calculated from the drawings, based on the number and length of the test sections, the pipe size and the method. Several sections on the same visit cost less than separate visits. Contact us and send the drawings.
A tester or inspector for your project, for its entire duration
Tell us about your project and send the drawings: we use them to calculate the duration and price of the work, as an hourly rate or a fixed price.