What is BS EN 14125 - Thermoplastic and flexible metal pipework about?

BS EN 14125 discusses thermoplastic and flexible metal pipework for underground installation at petrol filling stations. Flexible metal pipework is a tubular section or hollow cylinder, usually but not necessarily of circular cross-section, used mainly to convey substances that can flow — liquids and gases (fluids), slurries, powders, and masses of small solids. BS EN 14125 specifies requirements for underground pipework systems used to transfer liquid fuels and their vapours at petrol filling stations. Minimum performance requirements covering fitness for purpose, safety and environmental protection are given.

BS EN 14125 applies to pipework made from thermoplastics, which may include some degree of reinforcement and flexible metal pipework. BS EN 14125 also applies to:

Delivery pipes from tanks to dispensers, including positive pressure, vacuum suction, and siphon modes
Fill pipes from road tankers to tanks
Vapour recovery and vent pipework
Pipework for secondary containment
Fittings

Note 1: BS EN 14125 does not apply to fibre reinforced thermosets, commonly referred to as glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP), nor too rigid metals.

Note 2: BS EN 14125 does not apply to pipework for use with liquefied petroleum gas.

Who is BS EN 14125 - Thermoplastic and flexible metal pipework for?

BS EN 14125 on the thermoplastic and flexible metal pipework is useful for:

Metal pipework manufacturers
Petrol stations
Design engineers
Quality control personnel

Why should you use BS EN 14125 - Thermoplastic and flexible metal pipework?

Metal pipework can also be used for structural applications; hollow pipe is far stiffer per unit weight than solid members. The purpose of BS EN 14125 is to ensure the suitability of underground pipework for conveying liquid fuels and their vapours at petrol filling stations. Pipework should have a designated means of fitting specified by the manufacturer or supplier. Pipework for underground installation at petrol filling stations generally has a diameter less than 100 mm and is therefore outside the scope of the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 97/23/EC. Pipework with an internal diameter greater than or equal to 100 mm could be within the scope of BS EN 14125.

Operating and test pressures shall be in accordance with BS EN 14125 according to the application. All pressures in BS EN 14125 are gauge pressures. Ignition hazards by static electricity caused by fuel pipe systems are avoided. In BS EN 14125 corresponding requirements for the various pipe, types are stated. The boundary limits are used for classifying the resistance of piping according to ISO 8031, into the categories that are also described in BS EN 14125. Hydrostatic testing to 7.2.1 and, for vacuum suction applications, vacuum testing to BS EN 14125, is applied to all sizes and types of pipes and fitting. Using BS EN 14125 you can specify requirements for thermoplastic and flexible metal pipework systems used to transfer liquid fuels and their vapours at petrol filling stations.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS EN 14125:2013 supersedes BS EN 14125:2004. BS EN 14125:2013 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 14125:2004. These include:

New definitions included
New types of secondary containment included
Multilayer pipes included
Requirements for static electricity revised
New test fuels added

BS EN 14125:2013

Thermoplastic and flexible metal pipework for underground installation at petrol filling stations

Published:

30 Jun 2013

Withdrawn:

25 Mar 2025