Standards Development

Scope

This European Standard specifies the requirements related to dimensional, mechanical and optical characteristics of thermoplastic films and tubes used during the manufacture of silage and designed to last at least one year for protecting fodder. It specifies a classification for the durability of silage films and the test methods referred to in this standard.

This European Standard is applicable to transparent, black, white or coloured (e.g. black/white) thermoplastic silage films based on polyethylene, ethylene copolymer, EVOH and polyamide. These films are intended for covering bunker silos, silage tubes or silage clamps for preserving forage. They protect the forage and preserve it from rain and air. These films are not intended to cover bales piles (e.g. straw bales and hay bales).

Silage films obtained by sealing two or more films in machine direction are out of the scope of this document. This European Standard also defines installation, use and removal conditions of silage films. It defines the conventional useful lifetime, as well as rules that allow evaluating the remaining use potential in the event of a failure before the normal end­of­use date.

NOTE These rules allow estimating the residual value of the films. These provisions only apply to the film itself and the damage it has undergone. Any other problem falls within the scope of professional practices and the general terms and conditions of sale.

Purpose

NWI decided in the framework of SReq M/584 "Plastics recycling and recycled plastics"