October 2025 in Review: Key Construction Materials and Building Standards Published

Looking back at October 2025, the construction sector experienced a concentrated wave of standard publications focusing on critical infrastructure systems. Five major standards were released, all falling under the category of plastics piping systems for hot and cold water installations (the EN ISO 15875 series covering parts 1, 2, 3, and 5), along with a technical report offering a comprehensive international comparison for seismic design in lifts and escalators (ISO/TR 25741-1:2025). This monthly overview provides a retrospective, analytical summary tailored for industry professionals, quality managers, compliance officers, and engineers aiming to stay current and compliant in an evolving regulatory landscape. Whether you missed these documents at publication or are now tasked with their implementation, this article distills the context, requirements, and implications of October’s standardization activity.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

October 2025 marked a pivotal period in the Construction Materials and Building standards landscape. The month saw the synchronous release of several closely linked EN ISO 15875 standards, further cementing the harmonization and modernization of requirements for crosslinked polyethylene (PE-X) piping systems. These standards collectively provide an integrated framework for materials, pipes, fittings, and the overall system’s fitness for purpose—addressing the full lifecycle from specification to installation and testing within buildings.

In parallel, ISO published a technical report with significant implications for designers and regulatory bodies dealing with seismic safety in vertical transportation systems. By bringing together global requirements for lifts and escalators under seismic conditions, ISO/TR 25741-1:2025 provided an invaluable comparative tool for standards writers and conformity assessment professionals working internationally.

Compared to previous months, October’s activity reflects a deliberate, systems-oriented approach—moving beyond piecemeal updates to produce a coherent suite of interlocking standards. It signals the construction sector’s acceleration towards reliability, global interoperability, and enhanced safety—especially in plumbing and building system resilience.

Standards Published This Month

EN ISO 15875-1:2025 – General Requirements for PE-X Piping Systems

Plastics piping systems for hot and cold water installations – Crosslinked polyethylene (PE-X) – Part 1: General (ISO 15875-1:2025)

EN ISO 15875-1:2025 establishes the foundational requirements for crosslinked polyethylene (PE-X) piping systems intended for hot and cold water distribution, including both human consumption (domestic) and heating applications within buildings. This standard outlines the general principles, scope of application, range of service conditions, design pressures, and system dimension classes.

Key coverage includes definitions, responsibilities for specifying standards within the series, and guidance on service classes. Critically, it defines interoperability with further parts of the ISO 15875 series, ensuring consistent specification of materials, testing, and performance.

This standard is targeted at pipe and system manufacturers, specifiers, engineers, building designers, and compliance professionals responsible for plumbing and HVAC installations in both residential and commercial construction.

EN ISO 15875-1:2025 aligns system performance criteria with major European and international standards, ultimately supporting harmonized installation and testing practices across borders.

Key highlights:

• Defines the general scope and applicability for PE-X hot/cold water piping, including temperature/pressure classes
• Lays the basis for interoperability across components covered in Parts 2 (Pipes), 3 (Fittings), and 5 (Fitness for Purpose)
• Specifies reference service conditions and responsibilities for purchasers/specifiers

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 15875-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 15875-2:2025 – Specifications for PE-X Pipes

Plastics piping systems for hot and cold water installations – Crosslinked polyethylene (PE-X) – Part 2: Pipes (ISO 15875-2:2025)

EN ISO 15875-2:2025 provides exhaustive requirements for the pipes themselves within the broader piping system. Covering both barrier and non-barrier PE-X pipes, it stipulates dimensions, material properties, marking, and a suite of mechanical, physical, and chemical characteristics necessary for reliable performance in hot and cold water distribution.

Testing protocols set out in this standard enable transparent product assessment, ensuring resilience under specified pressures and temperatures. The standard also requires compliance for connections to fittings per Part 3 and joints per Part 5, enforcing a systems approach.

Manufacturers, quality managers, and procurement teams involved in plumbing system specification will find EN ISO 15875-2 essential, particularly in supporting product certification and regulatory approval across diverse international markets.

Key highlights:

• Specifies mandatory characteristics (e.g., pressure ratings, wall thickness, oxygen permeability) for PE-X pipes
• Addresses barrier layers for oxygen diffusion prevention where required
• Integrates dimensional and material marking requirements for traceability

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 15875-2:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 15875-3:2025 – Fittings for PE-X Piping Systems

Plastics piping systems for hot and cold water installations – Crosslinked polyethylene (PE-X) – Part 3: Fittings (ISO 15875-3:2025)

EN ISO 15875-3:2025 concentrates on the fittings aspect—both plastic and non-plastic—for integration into PE-X piping systems. Covering mechanical and electrofusion fittings, the document provides criteria for material suitability, endurance under mechanical and chemical loads, as well as marking protocols.

Fittings must comply with specific hydrostatic and dimensional requirements to ensure compatibility with pipes made to Part 2, and jointing per Part 5. The standard enables specifiers and installers to ensure reliable, watertight system assembly, which is particularly critical when dealing with mixed-material connections or specialized heating/portable water applications.

The update improves convergence with international material standards and introduces more rigorous identification and verification methods for fittings.

Key highlights:

• Covers both mechanical and electrofusion fittings (plastic and non-plastic materials)
• Sets performance, endurance, and marking criteria to support system integrity
• Mandates compatibility testing with pipes and system assemblies

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 15875-3:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 15875-5:2025 – Fitness for Purpose of PE-X Systems

Plastics piping systems for hot and cold water installations – Crosslinked polyethylene (PE-X) – Part 5: Fitness for purpose of the system (ISO 15875-5:2025)

EN ISO 15875-5:2025 provides the ultimate verification step: confirming that the assembled piping system (including pipes, joints, and fittings) delivers fitness for purpose in real-world, in-service conditions. Drawing on a suite of rigorous test methods (pressure, bending, pull-out, thermal cycling, and leak tightness under vacuum), the standard mandates proof of system endurance against operational, installation, and accidental stresses.

This specification is particularly relevant to system installers, commissioning agents, and project specifiers, offering test protocols to demonstrate reliability and compliance prior to handover.

The 2025 edition includes enhanced methods for larger diameter piping, and includes references to wider material and performance standards, solidifying its international applicability.

Key highlights:

• Defines mandatory system-level fitness tests (pressure, bending, pull-out, thermal cycling, leak tightness)
• Applies to complete assemblies: pipes (Part 2), fittings (Part 3), joints
• Strengthens installation quality control and end-user confidence

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 15875-5:2025 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TR 25741-1:2025 – Seismic Standards for Lifts and Escalators: Rule-by-Rule Comparison

Lifts and escalators subject to seismic conditions – Compilation report – Part 1: Rule by rule comparison

ISO/TR 25741-1:2025 stands out as a technical report—rather than a product or system standard—providing an extensive comparative analysis of various global standards addressing lifts and escalators under seismic conditions. Its rule-by-rule format juxtaposes requirements from EN 81-77:2018 (EU), ASME 17.1 16 CH 8.4 (USA), CSA B44-16 CH 8.4 (CAN), NZS 4332-1997 and NZS1170.5-2004 (New Zealand), AS 1735.1:2016 and AS 1735.5:2001 (Australia), and BSLJ / GFS:2016 (Japan).

By highlighting differences and underlying rationale, the report acts as a roadmap for standards writers, regulatory bodies, and multinational constructors aiming to design and certify seismic-safe lifts and escalators. Professionals can use the report to forecast international market requirements and preempt potential compliance gaps in seismic-prone regions.

This report will be particularly valuable to consultants, technical committees, and global project teams—supporting harmonized approach and “design for compliance” strategies across borders.

Key highlights:

• Side-by-side comparison of elevator and escalator seismic standards across five major economies
• Helps identify underlying patterns, differences, and rationales in regulatory requirements
• Supports the global convergence of safety and performance standards

Access the full standard:View ISO/TR 25741-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

A retrospective view of October 2025 publications reveals some highly significant convergence points:

• Systems Integration: The simultaneous update to four interconnected EN ISO 15875 parts underscores an industrywide move toward system-wide specification, testing, and compliance—reducing ambiguity for designers and installers.

• International Harmonization: Adherence to both ISO and CEN principles within PE-X system standards, and the publication of a globally comparative seismic report, reflect the industry's push for cross-border interoperability and acceptance of products and installations.

• Performance and Endurance: Robust fitness-for-purpose testing is now central. Stakeholders are expected not just to specify components but to prove performance of the installed system under real conditions.

• Focus on Safety and Resilience: The technical report on seismic standards for lifts and escalators demonstrates the sector’s prioritization of occupant safety and disaster resilience in public and commercial infrastructure.

• Emerging Areas: Seismic safety for vertical transport highlights a trend towards recognizing beyond-the-building hazards—including earthquakes and their impact on essential services.

In summary, October’s standards align with construction’s evolution toward reliability, safety, international supply chain alignment, and robust system-level scrutiny.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

For organizations affected by these newly published standards, a structured approach to compliance is essential:

1. Gap Assessment: Audit current systems and specifications against the new requirements, focusing on both component (e.g., pipes, fittings) and system-level (fitness for purpose) compliance.
2. Documentation Alignment: Update procurement documents, installation manuals, and quality control protocols to reflect new EN ISO 15875 part references and test methods.
3. Training and Competency: Ensure design teams, installers, and QA personnel are briefed on revised criteria—particularly marking, dimensional accuracy, system testing, and requirements around mixed-material joints.
4. System Testing: Prioritize end-to-end physical verification of piping system fitness for purpose before sign-off. For large or complex installations, review test bench accreditation and traceability.
5. Seismic Reporting: For projects in seismic regions, consult ISO/TR 25741-1:2025 for cross-jurisdictional standard requirements, and engage relevant authorities early during the design phase.
6. Timeline: Factor in the CEN/ISO transition timelines indicated in the standard forewords to ensure compliance by the withdrawal dates of superseded standards.
7. Continuous Monitoring: Stay alert to future updates—particularly in parts 4 and 7 of the ISO 15875 series, and ongoing technical reports in seismic resilience.

Useful resources for further action include:

• iTeh Standards’ full-text access and document tracking
• National standards bodies’ transition and implementation guides
• Training workshops and certification programs aligned with EN ISO 15875

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

The month’s publications marked an important leap forward in the Construction Materials and Building sector:

• EN ISO 15875 suite: Organizations now have access to a fully harmonized, end-to-end set of system requirements for PE-X piping, facilitating compliance, procurement, and long-term reliability in plumbing systems.
• ISO/TR 25741-1:2025: The sector gains a powerful comparative tool for global seismic compliance in elevators and escalators, directly supporting global project delivery and regulatory navigation.

For industry professionals, these standards underscore the need for proactive systems thinking, evidence-based performance demonstration, and international alignment. Staying current with standards not only protects end-user safety and supports regulatory compliance but also sharpens global competitiveness and future-proofs projects.

Explore the full details, requirements, and practical guidance for each new standard directly via iTeh Standards to ensure your organization remains at the forefront of safe, compliant, and reliable construction.