TS EN 1330-9

TS EN 1330-9 is a terminology standard for non-destructive testing that defines the terms specific to acoustic emission (AE) testing. It provides a common technical language for AE practice, helping users apply the same meanings to the concepts used when describing signal generation, detection, and interpretation in this method.

Technical context of acoustic emission terms

Acoustic emission testing is based on the release of short-lived elastic waves from a material or structure when internal events occur, such as deformation, crack growth, leakage, or related stress-driven processes. In that context, clear terminology matters: concepts such as source, sensor, signal, event, counts, amplitude, and location are central to how AE data are discussed and reported. Well-defined terms support consistent communication across laboratories, industries, and application areas.

What this standard covers

• It covers only terms specific to the acoustic emission method.
• It forms the AE part of the broader non-destructive testing terminology series.
• Its focus is vocabulary and definitions, not general AE procedures or acceptance criteria.
• Terminological consistency helps reduce ambiguity in reporting and technical exchange.

Rather than prescribing how to perform AE inspections, this standard serves language standardization. Its main value lies in conceptual clarity: it helps prevent the same term from being interpreted differently in different settings, which is especially important in a technique where signal interpretation is central.