Construction Materials and Building Standards Summary – October 2025 (Part 4 of 5)

Looking back at October 2025, the Construction Materials and Building sector experienced a consequential month in terms of standardization. Five significant standards were released, each shaping different facets of building performance, from electrical installations to environmental declarations and structural resilience. This comprehensive overview provides construction professionals—engineers, compliance officers, quality managers, and procurement specialists—with critical insights into these developments, highlighting why staying informed and proactive is essential for industry competitiveness and regulatory alignment.

Monthly Overview: October 2025

October 2025 stood out for the Construction Materials and Building industry with the publication of five influential standards. The month reflected a marked emphasis on harmonized safety principles, lifecycle transparency, sustainability, and robust structural performance against exceptional actions.

The spotlight fell on:

• The fundamental revision of low-voltage electrical installation requirements,
• Dual standards governing environmental product declarations (EPDs) for plastic piping, both outside and inside building structures,
• And notable Eurocode updates, aiming at fortifying structures against accidental and seismic events.

Compared to prior months, October saw more standards addressing sustainability and accident mitigation—trends aligning with evolving regulations, climate challenges, and stakeholder demands for verifiable performance.

These publications suggest a steady shift toward integrating lifecycle thinking, risk-based design, and digital-ready approaches across the sector. The alignment with international standards (notably EN 15804 and Eurocodes) also signals ongoing efforts to streamline regulatory acceptance and encourage interoperability across European and global markets.

Standards Published This Month

FprHD 60364-1:2025 – Low-voltage Electrical Installations – Part 1

Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 1: Fundamental principles, assessment of general characteristics, and definitions

This sixth edition marks a pivotal revision to the IEC 60364-1 series, establishing foundational safety requirements for low-voltage electrical installations. The scope was not only expanded—addressing new use cases such as prosumer installations and energy efficiency—but also technically restructured to ensure better clarity, consistency, and risk-based application.

The standard introduces updated definitions, strengthens provisions for periodic verification (ensuring protection throughout the installation’s lifetime), and accommodates innovations and new materials for which product standards may not yet exist—provided an equivalent safety level is maintained. It recognizes contemporary needs like standby supply systems and introduces the system-referencing conductor (SRC) symbol for enhanced system clarity.

Who should comply: Electrical designers, installers, building owners, facility managers, safety officers, and organizations responsible for design or operation of low-voltage systems.

Alignment: The standard aligns with global efforts to harmonize electrical installation practices, providing a unified framework for safety and performance.

Key highlights:

• Fully restructured and renumbered document for intuitive navigation
• Expanded scope to include energy efficiency, safety services, and prosumer systems
• Additional requirements for innovations not covered by legacy standards
• Enhanced requirements for periodic verification throughout service life
• Introduction of the system-referencing conductor (SRC) concept

Access the full standard:View FprHD 60364-1:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 16903:2025 – Plastic Piping Systems Buried Outside the Building Structure

Plastic piping systems buried outside the building structure – Environmental product declarations – Product category rules complementary to EN 15804

EN 16903:2025 sets detailed product category rules (PCR) for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) of plastic piping systems when installed underground, external to buildings. Complementing the generic EN 15804+A2 standard, this document tailors lifecycle assessment and declaration guidance to the specificities of buried plastic piping—including pipes, fittings, manholes, and inspection chambers.

It delineates system boundaries, installation and use-phase scenarios, reference service life, and end-of-life considerations—enabling manufacturers and procurement bodies to deliver and request robust, harmonized environmental data. Applications covered extend to water, sewer, drain, and gas pipelines, but not GRP or district heating pipes.

Who should comply: Manufacturers of plastic piping products, sustainability professionals, infrastructure specifiers, and public clients seeking EPD-compliant procurement.

Alignment: Strengthens the sector’s alignment with climate action targets and customer demands for transparent, comparable environmental information.

Key highlights:

• Defines functional/declared units and system boundaries specific to piping
• Specifies required processes for all lifecycle stages from production to end-of-life
• Includes modules for installation, use, and end-of-life scenarios, per EN 15804+A2
• Excludes GRP and district heating pipes for clearer application focus

Access the full standard:View EN 16903:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 16904:2025 – Plastics Piping Systems Inside the Building Structure

Plastics piping systems inside the building structure – Environmental product declarations – Product category rules complementary to EN 15804

EN 16904:2025 mirrors the ambitions of EN 16903, but uniquely addresses piping systems situated within building structures. It sets forth PCR for EPDs on products including pipes and fittings (and metal fittings) used for potable water, heating/cooling, radiators, soil, and waste discharge. Insulated pipes are explicitly excluded, maintaining a focus on bare piping.

The standard clarifies how to define functional and declared units, determine system boundaries, and incorporate the peculiarities of both pressure and non-pressure applications. It assures consistent, comparable EPDs—crucial for green building certifications, regulatory compliance, and supply chain transparency.

Who should comply: Building product manufacturers, building services engineers, sustainability consultants, and EPD program operators.

Alignment: Ensures accurate, harmonized life cycle assessments and declarations, facilitating green procurement, climate risk reporting, and eco-labelling in building interiors.

Key highlights:

• Applies to both pressure and non-pressure internal piping systems
• Addresses use-phase, installation, and end-of-life modules
• Specifics for incorporation of metal fittings within EPD scope
• Excludes insulated pipes for scope clarity

Access the full standard:View EN 16904:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 1991-1-7:2025 – Eurocode 1, Part 1-7: Accidental Actions

Eurocode 1 – Actions on structures – Part 1-7: Accidental actions

EN 1991-1-7:2025 delivers guiding principles and detailed methodologies for safeguarding buildings and civil engineering works against accidental actions—such as vehicle impact or internal explosion. Part of the second-generation Eurocodes, this version harmonizes design strategies for robustness, tying systems, and the risk-based assessment of exceptional loads.

It covers accidental loads not included elsewhere (like explosions or debris impact), offering classification, modeling, and risk assessment guidance. This document provides actionable info for criticality grading (consequence classes), scenario analysis, and selection of mitigation measures.

Who should comply: Structural engineers, designers, risk managers, contractors, and anyone tasked with resilience-based design for buildings or infrastructure.

Alignment: Central to achieving performance- and risk-based regulatory compliance across Europe; supports harmonization with national annexes and ties to revised EN 1990 for robustness.

Key highlights:

• Strategies for tying systems and identification of key members
• Coverage of various accidental action types (impacts, explosions, debris)
• Methodology for consequence classes and risk assessment
• Clarity on scope limitations (e.g., not covering seismic or ship berthing events)

Access the full standard:View EN 1991-1-7:2025 on iTeh Standards

EN 1998-4:2025 – Eurocode 8, Part 4: Earthquake Resistance for Silos, Tanks, Pipelines, Towers, Masts, and Chimneys

Eurocode 8 – Design of structures for earthquake resistance – Part 4: Silos, tanks, pipelines, towers, masts and chimneys

EN 1998-4:2025 addresses seismic design for an array of critical infrastructure components, building upon the broader Eurocode 8 framework. The revised standard clarifies and expands requirements for on-ground and elevated silos, tanks (above, underground, buried), pipeline systems, towers, masts, and chimneys. Its guidance covers both structural integrity and the performance of ancillary components, setting out criteria for modeling, limit state verification, and the superposition of seismic actions.

The holistic approach reflects latest research and best practices for earthquake risk reduction in industrial and municipal facilities.

Who should comply: Structural engineers, plant designers, municipal infrastructure planners, and regulatory authorities in seismic-risk regions.

Alignment: Supports harmonized, risk-informed design across the EU, facilitating resilience and life-safety compliance in both new and existing structures.

Key highlights:

• Encompasses both above- and underground structures (e.g., pipelines, tanks)
• Comprehensive approach to multiple structural and operational configurations
• Detailed modeling and verification for seismic actions
• Provides limit state design guidance for Significant Damage, Damage Limitation, and Fully Operational scenarios

Access the full standard:View EN 1998-4:2025 on iTeh Standards

Common Themes and Industry Trends

Key Patterns in October 2025 Publications

A number of clear directions emerge from this month’s standards:

• Higher Emphasis on Life-cycle Sustainability: The dual publication of EPD standards for both internal and external piping affirms the drive for harmonized LCA-focused procurement and reporting, responding to regulatory and client imperatives.
• Integrated Safety & Robustness: The updated Eurocodes on accident and seismic actions demonstrate sectoral efforts to embed resilience thinking—be it against accidental impacts, explosions, or earthquakes.
• Adaptation to Change and Technological Advancement: Updates to the low-voltage electrical installations standard (FprHD 60364-1) show active response to new technology adoption (prosumer, energy efficiency) and innovation, ensuring installations are future-ready.
• Data Transparency and Comparability: PCR-based EPD standards (EN 16903/EN 16904) elevate expectations for verifiable, transparent, and comparable environmental impacts—a prerequisite for credible green claims, certification, and regulatory compliance.

Industry Sectors Most Impacted

• Construction Product Manufacturers (particularly in piping, electrical equipment, and structural components)
• Engineering Consultancies and Design Firms (navigating the new Eurocode provisions)
• Building Clients, Asset Managers, and Public Authorities (requiring compliance in procurement and lifecycle reporting)

Emerging areas of focus are clear: sustainability (especially through EPDs), resilience (against accidents and seismic actions), and digital-readiness to manage new requirements or integrate with BIM and LCA software.

Compliance and Implementation Considerations

Practical Guidance for Affected Organizations

1. Gap Assessments and Training:

   • Evaluate current design/procurement procedures for gaps versus new requirements (especially EPD PCRs and Eurocode updates).
   • Organize targeted training/familiarization for engineering, design, and procurement teams.

2. Priority Implementation Actions:

   • For electrical designers/installers: Immediate adoption of the new structural and periodic verification processes in FprHD 60364-1 for new projects.
   • For product manufacturers: Develop/upgrade EPDs in line with EN 16903 and EN 16904, ensuring environmental data is available for both internal and buried piping systems.
   • For structural engineers: Review analysis and design methodologies to ensure seamless compliance with revised Eurocode provisions covering accidental actions and earthquake resistance.

3. Timeline and Transition:

   • Many of these standards will have implementation grace periods; consult your national authorities and project specifications.
   • Prioritize updates for new project phases and when re-certifying products or systems.

4. Resources and Support:

   • Leverage iTeh Standards for access to full standards texts, technical commentaries, and implementation checklists included in each document.
   • Engage with industry bodies and sector working groups for shared best practices and rollout strategies.

5. Future-proofing:

   • Monitor related upcoming standards (such as the further Eurocode and EN 15804 amendments) to anticipate cascading impacts on your compliance posture.

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from October 2025

The October 2025 standards set a forward-looking tone for the Construction Materials and Building sector: advancing robustness, safety, and sustainability. Professionals should pay particular attention to:

• The fundamentally revised low-voltage electrical requirements—now aligned with new technology and risk management practices.
• The dual PCR-based EPD standards, crucial for lifecycle-based procurement and reporting requirements both inside and outside buildings.
• The updated Eurocodes, essential for the safety and risk mitigation of structures in a changing world.

Staying current with these standards is more than a regulatory obligation—it is an opportunity to lead in delivering safer, greener, and more resilient built environments. Dive deeper into each standard, assess implications for your practice, and leverage iTeh Standards (https://standards.iteh.ai) as your go-to resource for full document access and guidance.

Empower your teams. Enhance your competitiveness. Prepare for tomorrow’s challenges—by learning from October 2025’s milestone publications.