Why European enquiries ask “E23 or E17” first

European engineering firms often specify pultruded FRP profiles simply as “EN 13706 E23” or “EN 13706 E17”. These are not product codes but flexural modulus grades from the standard. Understanding them is how you judge whether a supplier's profile can enter a European project's material list.

How the standard is structured

EN 13706:2002 has three parts:

• Part 1 — designation system for profiles: how section shape, dimensions and orientation are described;
• Part 2 — test methods and general requirements: how flexural, tensile, impact, water absorption, Barcol hardness and other properties are measured;
• Part 3 — specific requirements by profile type, whose core is the E23 and E17 grades.

What E23 and E17 mean

The number after “E” is the effective flexural modulus in GPa:

Grade	Effective flexural modulus	Typical use
E23	Not less than 23 GPa	Load-bearing structures, long spans, high stiffness
E17	Not less than 17 GPa	General structures, medium spans

EN 13706-3 defines only E23 and E17; there is no E10 grade. “E10” occasionally appears in the market, but it is not a grade in this standard. When specifying E23 or E17, state the profile type and test direction as well.

What it covers — and what it does not

EN 13706 is a pultruded profile standard, not a grating standard. It defines the material grade and test methods for the profile itself; it does not define grating load tables, spans or installation. For grating on European projects, also check:

• Drainage covers and vehicular load: EN 124-1 and EN 1433;
• Industrial platforms, walkways and stairs: EN ISO 14122-2;
• Structural actions: EN 1991-1-1;
• Reaction to fire: EN 13501-1 and its test methods.

What to verify when purchasing

• Whether the supplier declares E23 or E17, and which test report supports it;
• Whether the report follows EN 13706-2 and whether the specimen direction matches the load direction in service;
• Whether the profile designation follows EN 13706-1 and the section and wall thickness are traceable;
• Whether third-party or notified-body involvement is required by the project.

Edition history

The current edition of EN 13706-1/-2/-3 is the 2002 edition, which is the edition listed in our library. For amendment status, check the current catalogue of CEN or the relevant national standards body.

Where to find it

The official entry is in the Niteck FRP grating standards library. For the difference between molded and pultruded products, see molded vs pultruded; for product data, see specifications, for checking against project conditions.

This article explains the standard and does not replace its text; the current edition governs all criteria and test conditions.