November 2025: New Standards Raise Accessibility, Vandal Resistance, and Sealant Testing in Building Materials

Elevator accessibility, building durability, and precise sealant performance are all taking a leap forward this November 2025, thanks to three important new international standards. In the continually advancing field of construction materials and building, these standards promise to shape safer, more inclusive, and robust infrastructure worldwide. This article provides expert insight for professionals by detailing the scope and impact of these latest guidelines.

Overview / Introduction

Construction materials and building safety aren’t just about strength—they’re about enabling access, withstanding everyday challenges like vandalism, and ensuring tested performance of vital components. Standards play a central role in:

• Protecting users and workers
• Enforcing best practice across the industry
• Guaranteeing long-term reliability and reproducibility

In this update, we analyze three significant standards published in November 2025:

• EN 81-82:2025 — Improving the accessibility of existing lifts for all users, including those with disabilities
• EN 81-83:2025 — Upgrading vandal resistance for existing lifts
• ISO 13640:2025 — Defining specifications for substrates used in sealant testing

Read on for an overview of how each standard transforms compliance, quality assurance, and building management.

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN 81-82:2025 - Improving Lift Accessibility

Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – Existing lifts – Part 82: Rules for the improvement of the accessibility of existing lifts for persons including persons with disability

The newly published EN 81-82:2025 standard is a major advancement for existing elevators, mandating upgrades that make lifts more navigable and user-friendly for everyone—including those with various disabilities.

The standard builds on earlier editions (notably EN 81-80 and EN 81-70), offering a comprehensive methodology to identify accessibility barriers and prioritize practical improvements for lift owners and engineers. It introduces an effectiveness matrix for customizing upgrades based on users’ needs (e.g., mobility, vision, hearing, dexterity). A key feature is its checklist-driven approach, aligned to latest EU and international best practices.

Scope and Requirements

• Applies to permanently installed lifts serving defined landing levels for persons and goods
• Details how to implement accessibility improvements per EN 81-20:2020 and EN 81-70:2021+A1:2022
• Focuses on accessibility barriers, risk assessments, and improvement prioritization
• Excludes destination control systems

Who Needs to Comply?

• Building owners and managers
• Lift maintenance providers and manufacturers
• Compliance officers and design engineers
• National regulatory authorities

Practical Implications & Changes

• Upgrade options for manual doors, car sizes, control devices (buttons, panels), handrails, car and landing signals
• Focus on realistic retrofitting given technical and economic factors
• Encourages documentation and iterative audits as building usage changes
• Simplifies use via a single unified checklist

Notable updates over the previous edition include:

• Integration of all technical requirements into a single, normative checklist (Annex A)
• Alignment with the most recent related standards
• Structured process for both effectiveness evaluation and documentation

Key highlights:

• Systematic accessibility audits for existing lifts
• Prioritized improvement strategies based on users’ needs and building context
• Legally non-binding but sets a strong benchmark for national regulation

Access the full standard: View EN 81-82:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 81-83:2025 - Enhancing Vandal Resistance in Lifts

Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – Existing lifts – Part 83: Rules for the improvement of the resistance against vandalism

Vandalism can compromise both the safety and service life of lifts in public and private settings. EN 81-83:2025 responds to these threats by laying out requirements for retrofitting existing lifts to resist vandal attack, referencing and building upon EN 81-71:2022.

Scope and Requirements

• Covers all permanently installed lifts designed for persons or goods, wherever exposure to vandalism is a concern
• Details technical and procedural upgrades for risk reduction, including:
  • Enclosures and doors (strength, material, lock integrity)
  • Ventilation and inspection traps
  • Machinery access points
• Categories set according to assessed risk level for vandalism
• Includes a prioritized checklist (Annex A) for systematic hazard identification and protection selection

Target Users

• Building and facility managers
• Maintenance and engineering teams
• Safety and quality regulators
• Property developers

Implementation & Updates

• Use of a unified, state-of-the-art checklist to evaluate and identify vulnerabilities
• Modular improvement—owners can prioritize ‘high’ risk areas and phase in further measures over time
• Aligned with EN 81-71:2022, which represents current best practice for vandal-resistant lift design
• Now transforms prior technical specification into a fully ratified European standard

Notable modifications from previous versions:

• Technical specification (TS) now a full European Standard (EN), setting higher minimum requirements
• References and requirements updated to match latest standards
• Integration and simplification of technical requirements for efficient application

Key highlights:

• Structured, practical methodology for vandal resistance upgrades
• Emphasizes strong documentation and recurring assessment
• Prioritizes cost-effective solutions based on building use and risk

Access the full standard: View EN 81-83:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO 13640:2025 - Specifications for Sealant Test Substrates

Building and civil engineering sealants – Specifications for test substrates

Testing the performance of building sealants requires rigorously standardized substrates. The new ISO 13640:2025 defines procedures for producing mortar, glass, and anodized aluminium substrates, ensuring reproducible and comparable test results for quality assurance and R&D.

Scope and Requirements

• Prescribes the composition, dimensions, and preparation procedures for test substrates
• Covers:
  • Mortar substrates (specific proportions, curing, dimensional tolerances)
  • Glass substrates (dimensions, types, cleaning, surface prep)
  • Anodized aluminium substrates (surface treatments, sizes, anodization process)
• Ensures test reproducibility, but does not replicate all characteristics of actual construction materials — the aim is comparability between sealant performances
• Allows agreed-upon adjustments where applicable

Who Should Use It?

• Manufacturers and testing labs for building and civil engineering sealants
• R&D teams developing new sealing solutions
• Quality control departments in construction materials supply
• Certification bodies and industry regulators

Implementation & Updates

• New edition expands and clarifies substrate specifications
• Embedded reminders for interface dimensions and dimension agreements
• Updated to reflect latest industry and technical committee consensus

Key highlights:

• Uniform, reliable test procedures for evaluating sealant performance
• Supports quality assurance and regulatory compliance
• Incorporates feedback from practical use and modern construction demands

Access the full standard: View ISO 13640:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

How These Standards Affect Businesses

The publication of these standards elevates operational expectations for building owners, regulatory agencies, maintenance providers, sealant manufacturers, and procurement professionals. Compliance now means:

• Lifts: Upgrading safety, accessibility, and resistance against vandalism
• Materials Testing: Applying stricter protocols for in-house and third-party testing

Organizations will need to:

• Audit all existing lifts for accessibility and vandal resistance
• Identify risk and priority areas with new checklists
• Update procurement and project specifications
• Train staff and coordinate with certified contractors

Compliance Considerations & Timelines

• EN-based standards (EN 81-82, EN 81-83): National bodies may mandate compliance within a set timeframe. Voluntary adoption signals commitment to safety and inclusivity.
• ISO-based standard (ISO 13640): Quality certifications and tender requirements may soon mandate compliance in both Europe and internationally.

Benefits of Adopting These Standards

• Reduced liability and insurance risk
• Enhanced safety for all users
• Fewer operational disruptions (e.g., vandalism-related repairs)
• Better marketability and reputational trust for sustainable, accessible buildings
• Consistent and defensible quality in material testing and product approval

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Potential legal exposure
• Loss of contract bids due to insufficient standards alignment
• Increased repair, downtime, and operational costs
• Reputational damage with clients and users

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements

• Audit/Checklist-Based Methodology: All three standards emphasize systematic assessment—checklists are central for both accessibility and vandal resistance upgrades.
• Risk Assessment: Prioritization is based on the likelihood and impact of hazards or deficiencies, a hallmark of quality and safety management systems.
• Retrofitting Realism: Both EN 81-82 and EN 81-83 are explicit about technical and economic feasibility, advocating phased or alternative improvements where necessary.
• Material Preparation: ISO 13640 is highly prescriptive regarding substrate composition and preparation, ensuring valid, repeatable testing.

Best Practices for Implementation

1. Initiate a thorough audit using the annexed checklists before specifying upgrades.
2. Engage specialized contractors with experience in retrofitting lifts and preparing test substrates.
3. Document all compliance efforts for risk management, insurance, and future upgrades.
4. Participate in staff training on the updated standards—knowledge helps bridge gaps between regulation and day-to-day operations.
5. Liaise with national bodies to understand compliance timelines and local regulation overlays.
6. Benchmark testing methods between suppliers, especially for sealant products, to ensure cross-laboratory comparability.

Testing & Certification Considerations

• Certification bodies will increasingly require documented conformity to these standards.
• For sealants, consistent test substrate production per ISO 13640 will be essential for global market acceptance.
• Lift modernizations should be inspected and certified per the relevant EN standards after upgrades.

Conclusion / Next Steps

November 2025 marks a watershed for construction material and building standards, advancing accessibility, durability, and test rigor. For professionals seeking compliance, safety, and quality, now is the time to:

• Audit your assets and processes against these standards
• Engage with certified suppliers and contractors
• Secure early training and implementation to maximize benefit and minimize risk
• Monitor ongoing developments and consider subscribing to authoritative sources like iTeh Standards

Stay competitive, inclusive, and reliable—explore these full standards today to future-proof your projects and operations!